4 Teams Reeling Without Jersey Sponsor After Dream11 Ban Ahead Of IPL 2026

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The recent ban imposed by the Indian government on all forms of real-money gaming has triggered a major sponsorship shake-up across the Indian Premier League (IPL).

The move, enforced in August, has left several franchises searching for new backers after Dream11 - one of the biggest fantasy gaming platforms in India - withdrew from all existing sponsorship agreements.

Dream11 had previously been associated not just with multiple IPL franchises, including Gujarat Titans, Sunrisers Hyderabad, Kolkata Knight Riders, Punjab Kings, and Delhi Capitals, but also with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) for both the men's and women's national teams.

Following the ban, the company has pulled out of all these deals and significantly scaled down its operations in the country.

The fallout has been immediate, with at least four teams still reeling from the sudden loss of a major revenue source. However, some franchises have already begun to secure replacements ahead of the IPL 2026 season. Among them, the Gujarat Titans became the first to officially announce a new principal sponsor. The 2022 IPL champions unveiled Birla Estates, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Aditya Birla Real Estate Limited (ABREL), as their new jersey partner for the upcoming edition.

While the financial terms of the deal remain undisclosed, the Titans' move signals a positive step amid a period of uncertainty. Reports suggest that the Lucknow Super Giants are set to bring JK Cements on board, while the Punjab Kings are close to finalizing a partnership with CP Plus, a surveillance technology company.

As other teams continue to scout for sponsors, the fallout from the Dream11 exit highlights the growing dependence of sports franchises on digital and fantasy gaming sectors - a dynamic now undergoing a rapid reset.