The India cricket team title sponsor is a very important part of the game. Over many years, the India cricket team title sponsor has changed many times. Every time a new India cricket team title sponsor comes, the team gets a new logo on their shirt. These sponsors pay a lot of money to be seen on the shirts of the players. So, over the years from 1993 to the year 2026 who all were the India cricket team title sponsor?
ITC Limited (1993-2001)
The story of the India cricket team title sponsor started in 1993. Before this time, the team did not have one big brand on their chest. The BCCI decided to bring in ITC Limited as the first-ever India cricket team title sponsor. ITC Limited is a huge company in India. They used two of their famous brands for the sponsorship. These brands were Wills and ITC Hotels.
This partnership as the India cricket team title sponsor lasted for 8 years. It began in June 1993 and ended in May 2001. During this time, the Indian team wore jerseys that had the Wills logo. Many people remember the 1996 Cricket World Cup because the Indian players had “Wills” written on their yellow and blue shirts. Because ITC Limited was the first India cricket team title sponsor, they helped set the path for other brands.
The deal with ITC Limited was very successful. However, rules about advertising certain products changed in India. This meant that ITC Limited had to stop being the India cricket team title sponsor in 2001.
Sahara India (2001-2013)
After ITC Limited left, a new brand took over. This brand was Sahara India. Many fans think of Sahara India when they think of the India cricket team title sponsor. This is because they stayed with the team for a very long time. Sahara India was the India cricket team title sponsor for 12 years.
The partnership started in June 2001. It went all the way until December 2013. During these 12 years, the Indian team won many big trophies. They won the 2007 T20 World Cup and the 2011 ODI World Cup while Sahara India was the India cricket team title sponsor. The players wore blue jerseys with the Sahara logo in white or gold.
Sahara India was a very loyal India cricket team title sponsor. Even when there were small problems, they stayed with the BCCI. However, in 2013, the deal finally came to an end. Sahara India remains the longest-serving India cricket team title sponsor in the history of Indian cricket.
Star India (2014-2017)
When Sahara India left, the BCCI needed a new India cricket team title sponsor. This time, they picked a big media company. Star India became the India cricket team title sponsor in January 2014. Star India is the company that shows many cricket matches on television.
The deal for the India cricket team title sponsor with Star India lasted until March 2017. This was a shorter deal than Sahara, but it was still very important. During these three years, the Indian team played many games at home and away. The logo on the shirt was the Star logo with a blue background.
Star India paid a good amount of money to be the India cricket team title sponsor. But as the price of sponsorship went up, other companies started to show interest. When the contract ended in 2017, the BCCI looked for a new brand that could pay even more money.
Oppo India (2017-2019)
In 2017, the world of the India cricket team title sponsor saw a huge change. A smartphone company named Oppo India won the rights. Oppo India signed a very big deal to be the India cricket team title sponsor. They agreed to pay INR 1,079 crore to the BCCI. This was a record amount of money for an India cricket team title sponsor at that time.
The deal was supposed to last for five years, from 2017 to 2022. However, things did not go as planned. Oppo India felt that they were not getting enough profit from the deal. They thought the price was too high for what they were getting back. Because of this, Oppo India decided to stop being the India cricket team title sponsor early.
They stayed as the India cricket team title sponsor from May 2017 until August 2019. Even though it was a short time, the Oppo logo was very famous on the blue jersey. Before they left, Oppo India worked with the BCCI to find someone else to take over the contract.
Byju’s (2019-2023)
When Oppo India left, the rights were transferred to Byju’s. Byju’s is an education technology company. They became the India cricket team title sponsor in September 2019. This was a big moment because it was the first time an education company was the India cricket team title sponsor.
Byju’s was the India cricket team title sponsor during the difficult years of the pandemic. They continued to support the team while matches were played in empty stadiums. The partnership lasted for nearly four years, ending in March 2023.
The Byju’s logo was seen on the shirts during many tours to Australia, England, and South Africa. As the India cricket team title sponsor, Byju’s became a household name across India. But like Oppo, Byju’s also had some financial changes and decided not to renew the deal as the India cricket team title sponsor after March 2023.
Dream11 (2023-2025)
After Byju’s finished their term, the BCCI announced Dream11 as the new India cricket team title sponsor. Dream11is a fantasy sports platform. They signed a deal in July 2023 that was supposed to last until March 2026. They were paying about INR 358 crore to be the India cricket team title sponsor.
However, this partnership also ended sooner than people thought. Dream11 decided to pull out of the deal in August 2025. During their time as the India cricket team title sponsor, the team reached the finals of many tournaments. The Dream11 logo was bright and easy to see on the blue jersey. Since they left in August 2025, the BCCI had to quickly find a new brand to be the India cricket team title sponsor.
Apollo Tyres (2025-2028)
In late 2025, the BCCI announced that Apollo Tyres would be the new India cricket team title sponsor. This was a very big announcement for the team. The first game with Apollo Tyres as the India cricket team title sponsor was the Women’s ODI World Cup opener between India and Sri Lanka.
The deal with Apollo Tyres is a two-and-a-half-year deal. It will end in March 2028. Apollo Tyres is paying INR 579 crore to the BCCI for this period. As the India cricket team title sponsor, their logo is now seen on the shirts of both the men’s and women’s teams.
One of the first big matches for the new India cricket team title sponsor featured players like Shubman Gill in the 2nd Test against the West Indies in Delhi. Apollo Tyres is a very strong brand in India, and they are now the face of the team’s jersey.
How the BCCI Chooses the India Cricket Team Title Sponsor
The process of picking an India cricket team title sponsor is very detailed. The BCCI puts out an invitation for brands to bid. Brands from all over the world can try to become the India cricket team title sponsor. They have to show how much money they can pay and how they will support the team.
The BCCI looks at the money, but they also look at the reputation of the company. Being the India cricket team title sponsor is a very big job. The logo is seen by millions of people every time the team plays. This is why the India cricket team title sponsor is usually a very big and rich company.
When a brand becomes the India cricket team title sponsor, they get many benefits. They can use the players in their advertisements. They also get tickets to the matches and space in the stadiums. In return, the money from the India cricket team title sponsor helps the BCCI build better stadiums and pay the players.
Summary of India Cricket Team Title Sponsors Through the Years
Here is a quick look at all the brands that have been the India cricket team title sponsor:
- ITC Limited (Wills/ITC Hotels): 1993 to 2001.
- Sahara India: 2001 to 2013.
- Star India: 2014 to 2017.
- Oppo India: 2017 to 2019.
- Byju’s: 2019 to 2023.
- Dream11: 2023 to 2025.
- Apollo Tyres: 2025 to 2028.
Each India cricket team title sponsor has brought something different to the team. Some stayed for a long time, like Sahara India. Others were there for a shorter time, like Oppo India. But all of them are a part of the history of the Indian cricket team.
The journey of the India cricket team title sponsor has been very interesting. From the early days of ITC Limited to the long years of Sahara India, and now to the current era of Apollo Tyres, many brands have shared the team’s journey. Each India cricket team title sponsor has contributed to the growth of cricket in India.
The BCCI continues to manage these deals to make sure the team has the best support. As of 2026, Apollo Tyres is the proud India cricket team title sponsor, and their logo will be on the Indian jersey for the next few years.
The post India Cricket Team Title Sponsor: A Complete History of Every India Cricket Team Title Sponsor appeared first on Sportzcraazy.
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