India Likely to Play Asia Cup Without Lead Sponsor Following Dream11’s Exit.

India is expected to participate in the upcoming Asia Cup without a lead team sponsor, after Dream11 terminated its sponsorship agreement with the BCCI last month.

On September 2, the BCCI initiated the process of finding a new sponsor by issuing an invitation for expressions of interest (EOI) for the lead sponsorship rights of the national team. Interested parties have until September 12 to purchase the EOI documents, and final bid submissions are due by September 16. However, with the Asia Cup scheduled to begin on September 9 and conclude on September 28, the team will likely start the tournament without a sponsor on board.

The need for a new sponsor arose after the Indian government enacted the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Bill last month, which bans real-money gaming—Dream11’s core business. Citing an exit clause in the contract that accounts for such regulatory changes, Dream11 formally informed the BCCI of its decision to withdraw. The contract, originally set to run until 2026, was valued at approximately USD 44 million (INR 358 crore).

This is not the first time the BCCI has faced such a situation. In 2019, OPPO, a mobile phone manufacturer, also exited its sponsorship deal prematurely. The gap was later filled by ed-tech firm Byju’s, before Dream11 secured the rights in 2023 for a three-year term.

In the latest EOI document, the BCCI outlined strict eligibility criteria, excluding brands and services related to alcohol, betting, gambling, cryptocurrency, real-money online gaming, tobacco, and any content deemed offensive to public morals, including pornography.

The Indian team is scheduled to depart for the United Arab Emirates on September 4. They are placed in Group A alongside Oman, Pakistan, and the UAE. India will face the UAE and Pakistan in Dubai on September 10 and 14, respectively, and play Oman in Abu Dhabi on September 19.

Group B consists of Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Hong Kong, and Sri Lanka. The top two teams from each group will advance to the Super Four stage, with the top two from that round contesting the final on September 28.