Apollo Tyres has officially signed a massive sponsorship deal with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), becoming the lead jersey sponsor of Team India. The tyre company won the rights with a record-breaking bid of INR 579 crore, beating out Canva (INR 544 crore) and JK Cements (INR 477 crore) in a competitive three-way race.
Big Win for Apollo Tyres
This is Apollo Tyres’ first-ever partnership with Indian cricket. The deal will last for two-and-a-half years and will cover 121 bilateral matches and 21 ICC games. The agreement works out to nearly INR 4.77 crore per match, with exact values varying based on whether the game is a regular series or a big ICC tournament like the World Cup.
The Gurgaon-based company, which operates in more than 100 countries, is now stepping onto the biggest cricket stage in the world. “Cricket's unmatched popularity in India and worldwide makes it an honour for us to become the National Team Lead Sponsor of Team India,” said Neeraj Kanwar, Vice-Chairman and Managing Director of Apollo Tyres. “This partnership is about national pride, strengthening consumer trust, and supporting Indian sport at the highest level.”
Why a New Sponsor Was Needed
The BCCI was looking for a new jersey sponsor after Dream11’s deal was cancelled. The Indian government recently banned all real-money gaming companies, which led to Dream11’s exit from the sponsorship space. That left the Indian team without a sponsor during the Asia Cup.
But despite concerns in the industry that not many companies would be interested due to the ban, Apollo Tyres stepped up with a bid that’s INR 200 crore more than Dream11’s previous deal (worth INR 358 crore). The bidding was managed by Mumbai-based WPP Media, which helped Apollo assess the value of this partnership.
What’s Next?
Apollo Tyres’ logo will first appear on Team India jerseys during the India A vs Australia three-match ODI series in Kanpur on September 30, October 2, and October 5. The BCCI has already told the selectors to finalize the India A squad early to get the jerseys ready in time.
After that, the logo will be seen in the two-Test home series against the West Indies starting October 2, and then during the white-ball series in Australia. Cricket fans are already excited about seeing a new brand on the iconic Indian jersey.
A Symbol of Growth in Indian Cricket
“This partnership is more than just a business deal. It shows the global appeal and strength of Indian cricket,” said BCCI Secretary Devajit Saikia. “Apollo’s involvement is a sign of how deeply cricket touches every part of life in India.”
Interestingly, in a recent article of CricketMan2, the popular cricket analyst mentioned how new sponsors like Apollo Tyres entering Indian cricket prove that the sport continues to attract major investments, even during uncertain times.
Final Thoughts
Apollo Tyres is now a key part of Team India journey. As cricket continues to grow in popularity both in India and around the world, deals like this one show just how powerful the sport has become—not only as entertainment but also as a platform for big businesses to connect with millions of fans.
With the logo set to debut soon, fans will be watching closely as a new chapter begins for both Team India and Apollo Tyres.