Mumbai, India — The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has officially released an Invitation for Expression of Interest (IEOI) for the National Team Lead Sponsor Rights, opening the door for reputed entities to bid for one of the most coveted sponsorship assets in global cricket.
The IEOI outlines the detailed process and eligibility criteria, with the rights offering covering branding and association with Team India across all formats. The document is available upon payment of a non-refundable fee of INR 5,90,000 (inclusive of GST) or USD 5,675 for foreign entities.
BCCI’s IEOI process: Key dates and requirements
- Date of IEOI release: September 2, 2025
- Last date to purchase IEOI: September 12, 2025
- Submission of bid documents: September 16, 2025
Only entities who purchase the IEOI will be eligible to submit a bid. However, purchasing the IEOI does not automatically entitle an entity to bid; they must also meet detailed eligibility requirements set out in the document.
Eligibility and financial criteria
Entities must meet one of the following financial thresholds to qualify:
- Average annual turnover of at least INR 300 crore over the last three audited financial years
- Average net worth of at least INR 300 crore over the same period
Additionally, all bidders must qualify as a ‘Fit and Proper Person’, as per BCCI’s evaluation, with checks around criminal background, financial conduct, conflicts of interest, and reputation.
Prohibited and blocked brand categories
The BCCI has clearly outlined brand categories that are either prohibited or blocked due to existing partnerships:
Blocked Brand Categories:
- Athleisure and sportswear
- Banking and financial services
- Non-alcoholic cold beverages
- Fans, mixer grinders, and safety locks
- Insurance
Only current sponsors in these categories may bid.
Prohibited Brand Categories:
- Alcohol products
- Betting and gambling services
- Cryptocurrency and crypto exchanges
- Online money gaming
- Tobacco
- Any content offensive to public morals (e.g. pornography)
The BCCI has also barred surrogate branding and indirect representation, with all bids required to be made directly by the entity purchasing the IEOI.
How to purchase the IEOI
Entities must transfer the IEOI fee and email confirmation to [email protected] with the subject line “Confirmation of Payment of the IEOI Fee to bid for the National Team Lead Sponsor Rights”. Payment details, including PAN, GST number, and registered address, must be included.
Detailed bank account information for both Indian and foreign entities is provided in the IEOI under Annexure A.
BCCI reserves all rights
The BCCI has clarified that it reserves the right to cancel or amend the IEOI process at any stage without providing reasons, and that the IEOI fee is non-refundable.
With India’s cricket brand being among the most valuable globally, the lead sponsor rights are expected to attract intense interest from top corporations worldwide.
— Devajit Saikia, Honorary Secretary, BCCI
