BCCI to finalise India’s jersey sponsor soon

Team India’s jersey sponsorship puzzle is set to be solved soon. BCCI vice president Rajiv Shukla confirmed on Saturday that the board will finalise the new sponsor within the next 15-20 days, ending the unusual phase of India playing without a brand on their shirt.

The search for a new partner began after the BCCI’s Rs 358-crore-per-year deal with Dream11 was terminated prematurely. The exit followed the implementation of the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Bill, which outlawed real-money gaming apps, thereby disqualifying Dream11 from continuing as a sponsor.

In response, the BCCI floated a fresh tender with stricter eligibility rules. Companies from industries such as real-money gaming, betting, cryptocurrency, and alcoholic beverages have been barred from bidding. “The tender process has been released and there are a lot of bidders. I think it will be finalised in 15-20 days,” Shukla said at a CREDAI event in Singapore. Pressed on whether a frontrunner had emerged, he replied: “No, there is no name yet. We will tell you after it’s finalised.”

Shukla also touched on the recent GST hike on IPL tickets, which has pushed them into the 40 per cent slab on par with casinos and race clubs. A Rs 500 ticket will now cost Rs 700, while a Rs 2,000 ticket will rise to Rs 2,800. International and domestic matches, however, remain taxed at 18 per cent. “It will definitely have an impact, but I am hopeful that crowds will continue to turn up,” he said.

Responding to criticism that the BCCI enjoys tax exemptions, Shukla stressed: “We pay income tax like a corporate company. We also pay GST and never take a single rupee grant from the government.”

Highlighting women’s cricket, he underlined the board’s investment in equal pay, improved facilities, and more tournaments. “The only challenge is that stadiums must fill up. We are doing everything from our side; now people should come and support women’s games,” he said.