IPL Franchises Face Loss After Dream11 Exit Shakes the Financial Base of Indian Cricket. The government banned real-money fantasy gaming, and as a result, Dream11 and other gaming companies withdrew from sponsorships. This sudden move created a sponsorship crisis, and now players, franchises, and the cricket board are struggling to deal with the impact.
Indian cricketers lost major endorsement contracts overnight. Virat Kohli raked in over ₹10 crore each year from MPL, while Rohit Sharma and MS Dhoni made around ₹6-7 crore each from Dream11 and Winzo. Unfortunately, all these deals came to a halt right after the ban.
Young players also face heavy losses. For example, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar will lose almost 30% of their endorsement income. While top stars can still rely on other brand deals, younger cricketers depend heavily on fantasy gaming sponsorships. Therefore, the loss hits them even harder.
IPL franchises now face massive financial pressure. Teams like Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), and Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) earned ₹10-20 crore every season from fantasy gaming partners. They lost that income instantly.
In addition, My11Circle paid ₹125 crore annually to the BCCI as an associate sponsor. That partnership ended, too. Consequently, both the franchises and the board struggle to fill this huge gap in revenue.
The effect of Dream11’s exit stretches beyond India. In Europe, the European Cricket Network suspended its operations after Dream11 withdrew support. Cricket leagues around the globe have been leaning quite a bit on funding from fantasy gaming companies.
The advertising market also suffers. Fantasy gaming brands earlier contributed nearly 8% of India’s total ad spending and almost 20% of digital ads. With their exit, experts estimate that the industry could lose more than ₹8,000 crore. As a result, broadcasters, media platforms, and event organizers will also feel the shock.
The BCCI has already started looking for solutions. The board has kicked off the search for a new jersey sponsor for Team India. However, the Asia Cup is approaching quickly, and replacing such massive sponsorships will not be easy. Still, the BCCI must act fast to reduce the damage.
This entire situation highlights how deeply cricket has tied itself to fantasy gaming platforms. Players enjoyed endorsement money, franchises depended on sponsorship revenue, and advertisers benefited from high digital spending. Now, with the ban in place, every part of the cricket ecosystem must adjust.
In conclusion, the future looks uncertain. Teams must search for new investors. Players must chase fresh brand opportunities. And the cricket board must stabilize its finances. Ultimately, IPL Franchises Face Loss After Dream11 Exit marks a turning point for Indian cricket and raises urgent questions about the sport’s dependence on gaming sponsorships.
