The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has announced the release of an Invitation for Expression of Interest (IEOI) for acquiring the National Team Lead Sponsor Rights. The board has effectively banned cryptocurrency-related companies from participating.
According to the press release by BCCI, the IEOI outlines the bidding process for reputed entities seeking to sponsor Team India’s national cricket team. BCCI Honorary Secretary Devajit Saikia stated that the documents detail terms for bid submission and evaluation.
To access the IEOI, interested parties must pay a non-refundable fee of INR 5,00,000 plus applicable Goods and Services Tax (GST). Indian entities are required to pay a total of INR 5,90,000 into BCCI’s INR account at Bank of Maharashtra, while foreign entities must remit USD 5,675 to the USD account via the specified correspondent bank.
BCCI Sets Strict Rules for National Team Sponsor Bidding
To bid for Team India’s sponsorship, companies need an average turnover or net worth of INR 300 crore over the past three audited years. They must also be deemed a ‘Fit and Proper Person’ by the BCCI, meaning no criminal convictions, no conflicts of interest, and not listed as a willful defaulter by the Reserve Bank of India.
Companies involved in crypto trading, exchanges, tokens, or similar activities are banned from bidding, as are those in alcohol, betting, online gaming (per the 2025 Gaming Act), tobacco, or anything offensive like pornography. The Board has taken a similar initiative to the one it took during IPL 2025.
Blocked Brand Categories due to existing sponsors include athleisure, sportswear, financial services, non-alcoholic beverages, and insurance; bids in these categories are restricted to current sponsors. Surrogate branding through proxies is forbidden. Merely purchasing the IEOI does not guarantee bidding rights.
BCCI Prohibits Crypto, Surrogate Ads in WPL and IPL
Additionally, this is not the first time that the BCCI has taken action against surrogate and cryptocurrency firms. On February 18, 2023, the BCCI prohibited cryptocurrency advertisements in the Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2023. The BCCI sent a 68-page advisory to the WPL teams, specifying the activities that could not be advertised.
Furthermore, on March 19, 2025, the BCCI banned cryptocurrency and tobacco advertisements during the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025. This initiative was taken in response to an order from India’s health ministry, which instructed the BCCI to prohibit all forms of promotional advertisements.
Also Read: Crypto Under Fire in Indian Parliament Panel’s Cybercrime Report
