Indian cricket is staring at a massive financial shortfall following the government’s clampdown on fantasy sports platforms. Industry estimates suggest that the exit of fantasy giants such as Dream11, MPL, and My11Circle could wipe out close to ₹7,000 crore in sponsorship and advertising revenues. For a sport that has grown used to these platforms being central to its commercial ecosystem, the loss is both immediate and severe.
The impact begins at the very top with the BCCI. Dream11 had been one of the board’s biggest commercial partners, holding the men’s team jersey rights and spending hundreds of crores annually on sponsorship. Fantasy platforms also frequently backed bilateral series, IPL franchises, and grassroots tournaments. With their sudden withdrawal, the BCCI must now scramble to fill the gap at a time when few industries are willing to invest at the same scale.
Broadcasters are another sector feeling the heat. Fantasy sports advertising accounted for nearly a quarter of ad revenues during marquee tournaments like the IPL and ICC events. Without them, Star Sports and JioCinema face a sharp decline in ad sales. While sectors such as FMCG, financial services, and auto may step in, none match the aggressive spending habits of fantasy operators. This threatens the profitability of broadcast deals that run into billions of dollars.
The ripple effects are already being felt by franchises and domestic players. IPL teams had fantasy operators as either title sponsors or major partners, often contributing to a significant chunk of their annual income. Beyond that, many cricketers outside the national team benefitted from endorsement deals with these platforms, boosting their personal earnings. State associations too had found reliable partners in fantasy sports, which were keen to expand into regional markets. The disappearance of these deals puts pressure on local cricket structures, potentially curtailing opportunities for emerging players.
The fan experience is not untouched either. Fantasy platforms had successfully created a new layer of engagement, blending live cricket with interactive gaming. This kept younger audiences invested and spending time around the sport, something traditional advertisers struggled to replicate. With fantasy sports now off the table, cricket risks losing a key element of its modern-day fan culture. At the same time, broadcasters may be forced to pass on lost revenues through higher subscription rates or steeper ticket prices at stadiums.
What this episode exposes is cricket’s overreliance on a single revenue category. For years, fantasy sports were the financial cushion propping up escalating player salaries, media rights valuations, and event hosting costs. The ban has ripped that away, leaving the system exposed. The BCCI, while still the richest cricket board in the world, will need to aggressively diversify its sponsorship base—whether through fintech, e-commerce, or even emerging tech sectors like AI.
In the short term, though, the reality is clear: the ban has left a ₹7,000 crore hole in Indian cricket’s economy. Unless new partners emerge quickly, the sport’s financial engine will run at a lower gear, forcing stakeholders to rethink strategies that had seemed bulletproof only a year ago.
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