Mumbai -The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has officially invited Expressions of Interest (EOI) for acquiring the lead sponsor rights for the Indian national cricket team. The move marks the beginning of a new sponsorship cycle and outlines a detailed and stringent eligibility framework for potential bidders.
The governing body issued an Invitation for Expression of Interest (IEOI), setting out comprehensive terms and conditions for bid submission and evaluation. The IEOI document will be made available upon payment of a non-refundable fee of ₹5 lakh, plus applicable GST. Interested parties must purchase the IEOI by September 12, and the deadline for submitting bid documents is September 16.
However, BCCI clarified that purchasing the IEOI does not automatically confer the right to bid.
“It is clarified that merely purchasing the IEOI does not entitle any person to bid,”
the board stated, emphasizing that only those meeting specific eligibility criteria will be permitted to participate.
Financial & Legal Prerequisites
To qualify, each bidder must demonstrate an average annual turnover or net worth of at least ₹300 crore over the last three audited financial years. Bidders must also be deemed a ‘Fit and Proper Person,’ with BCCI reserving absolute discretion in determining eligibility.
“In order to determine whether a Person is a Fit and Proper Person, the BCCI may take into account any factor, as may be deemed fit by the BCCI, including without limitation any one or more of the following criteria: (i) not having been convicted by a court of a criminal offence or offences involving moral turpitude, economic offence or fraud; (ii) not having any conflict of interest as per the BCCI Conflict of Interest Rules; (iii) absence of conviction for any offence punishable with imprisonment for 2 (two) years or more in any jurisdiction; (iv) absence of categorisation as a wilful defaulter by the Reserve Bank of India; and /or (v) a Person having integrity and reputation; and the BCCI reserves the right to reject any bid from any bidder which in the BCCI’s opinion and at its sole and absolute discretion does not satisfy this criteria,” the board outlined.
Restrictions on Business Sectors
Entities involved in online money gaming, betting, gambling, or cryptocurrency businesses are barred from bidding. The BCCI has explicitly cited compliance with the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act, 2025.
“To clarify, a bidder, including any of its Group companies, engaged in any activities/business that is prohibited under the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act, 2025 is not permitted to submit a bid,”
the IEOI stated.
Additionally, surrogate branding practices—attempts to bid under a proxy name or brand—are strictly prohibited.
“Bidders are prohibited from submitting bids through surrogate brands. Surrogate branding refers to any attempt to indirectly submit a bid on behalf of a different entity or Person through the use of a different entity or person. This includes, but is not limited to, the use of different names, brands, identity or logos,”
the board warned.
Blocked and Prohibited Categories
BCCI has listed specific Blocked Brand Categories due to existing sponsorships. These include:
- Athleisure and Sportswear Manufacturers
- Banks and Financial Services
- Non-Alcoholic Cold Beverages
- Fans, Mixer Grinders, Safety Locks
- Insurance
“Do note that, no bidder, except the relevant existing sponsor of the BCCI in the said Brand Categories, may bid for the said Brand Categories listed above,”
the IEOI added.
Prohibited Categories, on the other hand, include alcohol, online gambling, cryptocurrency, tobacco, and any brands that could be seen as offensive to public morals, such as pornography.
With this announcement, BCCI signals its intent to secure a new commercial partner under a more scrutinized and transparent process, following the end of the previous sponsorship cycle. The successful bidder will be entitled to one of the most high-profile branding opportunities in Indian sports.
