BCCI Invites Bids for Indian Cricket Team Lead Sponsor
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Tuesday invited bids from interested entities to acquire the national cricket team’s lead sponsor rights. The board released an Invitation for Expression of Interest (IEOI) outlining detailed terms and conditions for submission and evaluation of bids.
The last date to purchase IEOI documents is September 12, while the deadline for submitting bid documents is September 16. The move comes after the BCCI’s association with fantasy sports company Dream11 ended following the passage of the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act, 2025, in Parliament.
Dream11 had signed a three-year deal worth ₹358 crore in July 2023 to replace edtech company Byju’s as the team’s lead sponsor. BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia had confirmed in August that deliberations were underway to find a new lead sponsor.
The IEOI will be available on payment of a non-refundable fee of ₹5 lakh plus applicable taxes. Bidders are required to email payment details to sponsorship@bcci.tv, after which the IEOI documents will be shared. The board clarified that purchasing the IEOI does not automatically entitle a person or entity to submit a bid; eligibility criteria must also be met.
Eligibility conditions include a minimum average turnover or net worth of ₹300 crore over the past three years. Bidders must meet the ‘Fit and Proper Person’ criteria, which requires a clean legal record, no conflicts of interest, and integrity in business practices. Entities involved in online money gaming, gambling, crypto trading, or prohibited sectors such as alcohol, tobacco, and pornography are barred from bidding. Surrogate bids through alternate brands are also prohibited.
The BCCI reserves the right to amend or cancel the IEOI process at any stage without providing a reason.