Apollo Tyres bags India jersey rights for INR 579 crore. Apollo Tyres will be India's new jersey sponsor The sponsorship deal, worth Rs. 579 crore, spans three years and covers 121 bilateral games and 21 ICC matches.
Apollo Tyres bags India jersey rights for INR 579 crore
Apollo Tyres has emerged as the new front-of-jersey sponsor for the Indian cricket team, securing the rights with a record-breaking bid of INR 579 crore, according to official and reliable sources.
This sponsorship deal marks a significant milestone for Indian cricket, especially following the withdrawal of the previous sponsor Dream11 due to new government regulations banning real-money gaming platforms.
Key Details of the Deal:
- Value: INR 579 crore
- Duration: Approximately 2.5 years, from September 2025 to March 2028
- Matches Covered: Around 121 bilateral games and 21 International Cricket Council (ICC) matches, including Asian Cricket Council (ACC) events
- Per Match Cost: Works out to around INR 4.77 crore per game, with slight price variations depending on match type (bilateral vs ICC)
- Competitors: Apollo Tyres won against strong bids from Canva (INR 554 crore) and JK Cement (INR 477 crore)
- Selection Process: Managed via a competitive bidding process overseen by BCCI, with Mumbai-based WPP Media advising Apollo Tyres on their successful bid
Context:
- Dream11’s sponsorship contract, valued at INR 358 crore, ended recently due to government legislation under the "Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act 2025" that prohibits real-money online gaming advertisements.
- Following Dream11’s exit, the Indian cricket team played the 2025 Asia Cup without a jersey sponsor.
- To find a new sponsor, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) floated a tender excluding companies associated with betting, cryptocurrency, tobacco, alcohol, and certain other conflict categories to maintain sponsor compatibility and integrity.
Significance of Apollo Tyres Sponsorship:
- Apollo Tyres is an Indian multinational tyre manufacturer headquartered in Gurugram with a presence in over 100 countries.
- This marks Apollo Tyres' first foray into Indian cricket sponsorship, which they consider a strategic move linking them to a sport that resonates deeply with Indian fans.
- The sponsorship deal highlights the immense commercial appeal and value associated with Indian cricket despite regulatory challenges.
- It signals renewed confidence and commercial vitality in associating with one of the world’s most followed sports teams.
Upcoming Appearances:
- Apollo Tyres’ branding will be visible starting from the India A vs Australia three-match 50-over series beginning in September 2025.
- The first major international appearance as the Indian cricket team jersey sponsor will be at the two-Test home series against West Indies scheduled from October 2, 2025.
- Following that will be the away white-ball series in Australia.
Additional Notes:
- Other companies like Shank Air (UP-based) and Omniyat (Dubai-based) had shown interest but did not participate actively in bidding.
- BCCI's base price was set at INR 3.5 crore for bilateral games and INR 1.5 crore for ICC matches. Apollo Tyres bid significantly above these base prices.
- The sponsorship deal underlines Indian cricket’s continuing financial strength and brand value amid a shifting regulatory landscape.
Summary:
Apollo Tyres’ landmark INR 579 crore jersey sponsorship deal with the BCCI is a new chapter in Indian cricket’s commercial journey. It brings fresh optimism and a high-profile partnership at a critical time, ensuring that the Indian cricket team continues to have a stable and lucrative jersey sponsor through 2028.
Timeline of Events Leading to the New Jersey Sponsor
July 2023:
- Dream11, a fantasy gaming platform, secured the Indian cricket team's lead jersey sponsorship rights with a three-year deal reportedly worth around INR 358 crore.
- Dream11's branding appeared on Indian team jerseys across all formats, including men's and women's senior, A, and Under-19 teams.
Early 2025:
- The Government of India introduced the "Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act 2025," banning advertisements by real-money gaming platforms.
- Dream11, involved in real-money gaming, was compelled to exit the sponsorship deal prematurely due to the new regulations.
- This left the Indian cricket team without a jersey sponsor during major events, including the ongoing 2025 Asia Cup.
September 2, 2025:
- The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) floated a fresh Expression of Interest (EOI) for the Indian team's jersey sponsorship.
- The tender explicitly barred companies related to real-money gaming, betting, cryptocurrency, alcohol, and other restricted sectors to comply with government rules.
- Brands invited included companies from various industries excluding banned categories.
September 12, 2025:
- BCCI Vice President Rajiv Shukla confirmed that the new jersey sponsor would be finalized within 15-20 days.
- He highlighted a competitive bidding process with multiple interested parties but no clear frontrunner yet.
September 16, 2025:
- The bidding process was formally conducted.
- Leading bids included Apollo Tyres, Canva, and JK Cement.
- Apollo Tyres submitted the highest bid of INR 579 crore (over approximately 2.5 years).
- Canva followed with INR 554 crore and JK Cement INR 477 crore.
- Other interested brands like Shankh Air and Omniyat either didn’t meet eligibility or did not participate actively.
September 15-16, 2025 (Announcement):
- Apollo Tyres was officially announced as the new front-of-jersey sponsor for the Indian cricket team.
- The deal covers around 121 bilateral matches and 21 ICC matches from September 30, 2025, to March 31, 2028.
- Apollo Tyres’ sponsorship fee works out to about INR 4.5 crore per bilateral match and INR 1.72 crore per ICC game.
- The sponsorship will feature on jerseys for both men’s and women’s teams across formats.
- Apollo Tyres’ logo will debut on Indian jerseys starting the India A vs Australia 50-over series in late September 2025 and also during the upcoming India vs West Indies home Test series in October 2025.
This timeline reflects the significant shift in Indian cricket sponsorship following regulatory changes and highlights Apollo Tyres’ strategic entry into this prestigious sports marketing space, securing one of the most valuable sponsorship deals in Indian sports history.
Apollo Tyres Limited shares
As of September 16, 2025, Apollo Tyres Limited shares are trading actively on the Indian stock exchanges with positive momentum:
- On the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), the share price closed at ₹486.80, up by ₹7.50, a 1.56% increase from the previous close of ₹479.30.
- On the National Stock Exchange (NSE), the share price recorded a close of ₹486.25, rising ₹7.05 or 1.47% from the previous close of ₹479.20.
- The day's trading range on NSE was between ₹479.75 (low) and ₹491.00 (high).
- The stock has a 52-week high of ₹584.90 and a 52-week low of ₹370.90.
- Market capitalization stands around ₹30,882 crore.
- The stock opened at ₹480.5 and saw steady volume activity over the day.
The recent positive movement in Apollo Tyres shares may be linked to its recent announcement as the new jersey sponsor for the Indian cricket team in a high-value contract worth INR 579 crore, enhancing the company's brand visibility and commercial profile.
(Source: Latest trading data from BSE and NSE as of September 16, 2025)
If detailed insights into BCCI sponsorship processes, Apollo Tyres' marketing strategies, or historical Indian cricket sponsorship trends are desired, those can be arranged.
