Dream11 exits as Team India sponsor, BCCI opens bidding for new title partner — Here’s who can apply

5 days ago 1

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has officially invited bids from entities to acquire the title sponsorship rights of the national team. On Tuesday, September 2, the board announced the issuance of an Invitation for Expression of Interest (IEOI), laying down the detailed terms and conditions governing the submission and evaluation of bids.

Key dates and application process

The last date for purchasing the IEOI documents is September 12.
The deadline for submission of bid documents is September 16.
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Interested bidders must pay a non-refundable fee of Rs 5 lakh, plus applicable Goods and Services Tax (GST), to access the IEOI.
Proof of payment must be emailed to (sponsorship@bcci.tv), following the procedure in Annexure A.

"Any bidder wishing to submit a bid is required to purchase the IEOI. However, only those satisfying the eligibility requirements set out in the IEOI and subject to the other terms and conditions set out therein, shall be eligible to bid. It is clarified that merely purchasing the IEOI does not entitle any person to bid," it said in a release.

Background: End of Dream11 Partnership

The bidding process comes after the BCCI ended its association with fantasy sports platform Dream11. Last month, the BCCI Secretary Devajit Saikia had confirmed to IANS that the board's association with Dream11 had ended following the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Bill, 2025 was passed in Parliament.

Dream11 had taken over as the lead sponsor of the Indian cricket team in July 2023 under a Rs 358 crore, three-year deal, replacing edtech company Byju’s.

Requirements and restrictions

The bidder must note the following requirements and restrictions pertaining to eligibility with respect to the IEOI.

A bid may only be submitted by:

(i) the person/entity which has purchased a copy of this IEOI upon payment of the IEOI fee; or

(ii) any person/entity which is in the same Group as such person/entity.

The IEOI fee paid by the bidder (whether successful or unsuccessful) shall not be refunded or adjusted against any other payment obligation of the bidder in any circumstances, IANS informed, citing the board.

Eligibility and Financial Requirements

To qualify as a bidder, entities must meet one of the following financial conditions, based on the last three audited financial years:

Minimum average turnover of Rs 300 crore, or
Minimum average net worth of Rs 300 crore.

In addition, bidders must satisfy the ‘Fit and Proper Person’ criteria. Under which the bidder:

(i) not having been convicted by a court of a criminal offence or offences involving moral turpitude, economic offence or fraud;

(ii) not having any conflict of interest as per the BCCI Conflict of Interest Rules;

(iii) absence of conviction for any offence punishable with imprisonment for 2 (two) years or more in any jurisdiction;

(iv) absence of categorisation as a wilful defaulter by the Reserve Bank of India; and/or

(v) a person having integrity and reputation will be deemed a 'Fit and Proper Person' to submit a bid.

Restrictions on Certain Businesses

Under the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act, 2025, the bidder, including any of its group companies, who is engaged in online money gaming, betting or gambling services or similar services in India or anywhere in the world; provides any online money gaming, betting or gambling services or similar services to any person in India; and has any investment or ownership interest in any person engaged in betting or gambling services in India is not permitted to submit a bid.
Bidder, including any of its Group companies, should not be directly or indirectly engaged in the business of crypto trading or crypto exchange or crypto token, or any business of a similar nature.
Bidders are prohibited from submitting bids through surrogate brands. Surrogate branding refers to any attempt to indirectly submit a bid on behalf of a different entity or Person through the use of a different entity or person. This includes, but is not limited to, the use of different names, brands, identity or logos.

Prohibited and Locked Brand Categories

A bidder operating or engaged in multiple brand/product categories, one of which falls under either the blocked brand categories or prohibited brand categories, shall not be permitted to submit a bid in respect of such blocked brand categories or prohibited brand categories.

The prohibited brand categories are:

Alcohol products
Betting or gambling services;
Cryptocurrency;
Online money gaming or any such activities prohibited under the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act, 2025;
Tobacco; and
One which is likely to offend public morals such as, including but not limited to, pornography.

The existing sponsors of the BCCI under the brand categories like Athleisure and sportswear manufacturers; banks, banking & financial services and non-banking financial companies; non-alcoholic cold beverages; fans, mixer grinders and safety locks; and insurance fall under locked brand categories.