Indian Cricketers Set To Lose ₹150-200 Crores; Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, MS Dhoni Hit Hardest
The cricket economy in India has been shaken by the Prevention and Regulation of Online Gaming Act 2025, which was passed last week by the Indian Parliament. This landmark decision has banned real money gaming in the country, leaving a massive financial void in the cricketing ecosystem. Sponsorship deals, endorsements, and partnerships that once formed a key part of the revenue stream for both the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and Indian cricketers are now under severe threat. Indian Cricketers Set To Lose ₹150-200 Crores
As per a detailed report, Indian cricketers are likely to suffer losses in the range of ₹150-200 crores collectively, with some of the biggest names in the sport such as Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and MS Dhoni being hit the hardest. Indian Cricketers Set To Lose ₹150-200 Crores
BCCI Ends Dream11 Deal After Ban
The first major fallout of the new law was felt when the BCCI confirmed that it will not be continuing its three-year deal with Dream11, which was the principal shirt sponsor of Team India. The deal, worth ₹358 crores, was supposed to run until 2026. However, with the ban on real money gaming, BCCI is forced to either look for a new sponsor or play upcoming tournaments, including the 2025 Asia Cup, without a sponsor on the jersey.
This development has sent shockwaves through Indian cricket, as Dream11 was one of the biggest investors in the game. Indian Cricketers Set To Lose ₹150-200 Crores
IPL Sponsorships Under Threat
The Indian Premier League (IPL), which thrives on sponsorship deals, is also facing the heat. The IPL currently has a ₹125 crore deal with My11Circle, a fantasy gaming platform. With the new law, this deal too is in jeopardy, which could lead to further financial instability in the world’s most popular cricket league.
For years, fantasy gaming companies have pumped huge amounts of money into the IPL, sponsoring teams, tournaments, and even individual players. Their exit creates a massive gap that might be hard to fill in the short term. Indian Cricketers Set To Lose ₹150-200 Crores
How Much Are Players Losing?
While the BCCI and IPL will have to rework their sponsorship structures, it is the players who are facing immediate and personal financial setbacks. According to Cricbuzz, Indian cricketers collectively stand to lose ₹150-200 crores due to the collapse of deals with real money gaming companies.
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Virat Kohli had a partnership with Mobile Premier League (MPL), reportedly worth ₹10-12 crores.
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Rohit Sharma had a deal with Dream11, valued between ₹6-7 crores.
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MS Dhoni, who was the face of Winzo, also had a similar range of deal.
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Several other players, including Jasprit Bumrah, Hardik Pandya, KL Rahul, Rishabh Pant, Shubman Gill, and Yashasvi Jaiswal, had agreements with companies in the fantasy and real money gaming space.
For some senior players, these deals accounted for 5-10% of their total annual income. However, for younger and upcoming stars, the dependency was much higher. In fact, it is reported that for Mohammed Siraj, nearly 50-100% of his endorsement earnings were tied to such companies. Indian Cricketers Set To Lose ₹150-200 Crores
Why The Ban?
The government’s decision to enforce the Online Gaming Act 2025 comes amid growing concerns about the impact of real money gaming on the youth of India. Reports of financial losses, addiction, and mental health issues linked to online betting and gaming led to mounting pressure on lawmakers.
While the move is being hailed as a step towards social responsibility, it is undeniably a major financial setback for cricket, a sport that heavily relied on gaming companies as commercial partners.
Economic Impact On Cricket
The financial model of Indian cricket has always been driven by corporate sponsorships. With gaming companies now out of the picture, the BCCI and IPL franchises will have to explore other sectors for revenue. Possible replacements include:
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E-commerce brands (Flipkart, Amazon, Meesho)
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Tech companies (Jio, Airtel, Paytm, PhonePe)
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Consumer goods (Pepsi, Britannia, Amul)
However, none of these sectors may match the scale and aggressiveness with which fantasy gaming platforms invested in cricket. Indian Cricketers Set To Lose ₹150-200 Crores
What Lies Ahead?
The big question is how Indian cricket will cope with the absence of fantasy gaming sponsors. With the Asia Cup 2025 and the Champions Trophy 2025 coming up, the BCCI must act swiftly to secure new partners. Meanwhile, players will likely have to diversify their brand endorsements beyond gaming to sectors like fitness, lifestyle, fintech, and fashion. Indian Cricketers Set To Lose ₹150-200 Crores
Experts believe that this disruption, while painful in the short term, may lead to a healthier sponsorship ecosystem for cricket in the long run—one that is less reliant on industries prone to regulatory risks.
The ban on real money gaming has exposed the vulnerability of cricket’s financial ecosystem. For Indian cricketers, especially superstars like Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and MS Dhoni, the loss of endorsement money is a reality they now have to face. Indian Cricketers Set To Lose ₹150-200 Crores
Collectively, players may lose ₹150-200 crores, while the BCCI scrambles to find new sponsors. The next few months will be crucial in determining how well Indian cricket adapts to this new reality, both on and off the field.
