The Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Bill 2025 has triggered a massive shake-up in Indian cricket, particularly in the brand endorsement ecosystem. With fantasy sports giant Dream11 pulling out as the official sponsor of Team India, the BCCI is expected to bring in a new partner soon but the real financial blow may hit the players themselves.
Cricketers to Lose a Chunk of Brand Income
For years, Indian cricketers have been the face of major fantasy platforms. Rohit Sharma, Jasprit Bumrah, Hardik and Krunal Pandya endorsed Dream11, while Shubman Gill, Yashasvi Jaiswal and Mohammed Siraj were associated with My11 Circle. Virat Kohli had a deal with MPL, and MS Dhoni with Winzo.
Industry insiders estimate that the ban on real-money gaming sponsorships could wipe out Rs 150-200 crore annually from players’ endorsement earnings.
Virat Kohli, who earns around Rs 175–200 crore annually through endorsements, could lose Rs 10–12 crore from the MPL deal.
Rohit Sharma’s endorsement income may drop by Rs 6–7 crore.
For Dhoni, the hit could be Rs 4–6 crore per brand deal.
For young stars like Siraj and Sundar, the loss is even bigger in proportion, as fantasy platform deals account for up to 33–100% of their endorsement portfolios.
IPL Teams to Take a Hit Too
The ripple effect of the bill extends to IPL franchises. My11 Circle, an associate sponsor of the league, had signed a Rs 125 crore deal with BCCI, with three years still remaining. Teams like KKR, LSG and SRH are expected to lose Rs 10–20 crore per season in sponsorship revenue.
Advertising Industry Faces Rs 10,000 Cr Setback
According to Karan Taurani of Elara Capital, the online gaming ban could result in a Rs 8,000-10,000 crore dent in annual advertising spends. “Nearly 80% of revenue from real-money gaming ads will vanish. This will impact digital advertising and cricketers’ brand value significantly,” he said.
What’s Next?
While the BCCI will likely recover quickly with new sponsors, players and franchises may face a longer period of financial adjustment. With fantasy gaming contributing 15–20% of digital ad spends, the bill could force brands and athletes to rethink their endorsement strategies.
