The BCCI is proud to announce a BCCI sponsorship deal that is of 270 Crores of worth. They have signed a Rs. 270 Crore sponsorship with Google’s AI platform Gemini, just ahead of IPL 2026. This is one of the largest sponsorships of the past few years for Indian cricket.
The sponsorship demonstrates the commitment of technology companies to investing heavily in cricket. The Technology Industry is putting its money where its mouth is, as AI is no longer just a buzzword but has become a primary sponsor of one of the largest sporting events in the world.
What is the Rs 270 Crore BCCI sponsorship deal?
The Board of Control for Cricket in India and Google’s Gemini have fixed an official partnership worth INR 270 crores over three years, covering the IPL 2026 plus the subsequent two IPL seasons, reported The Economic Times.
As part of this partnership Gemini will be recognized as an IPL Sponsorship Partner however they will provide a considerably high sponsorship value, therefore they will rank higher than a regular sponsor on the list of Major partners of IPL. The tech giant selected cricket as a platform to connect with millions of cricket fans within and outside of India.
Why are AI platforms entering Indian cricket?
The BCCI sponsorship deal reveals that the big changes in AI platforms are not just developers and businesses using them, but AI wants a place on India’s largest entertainment platform.
An existing example of this trend is in women’s cricket, as OpenAI is sponsoring the ongoing Women’s Premier League. The Women’s Premier League has an influx of new commercial opportunities and international participants.
AI is now entering into the men’s cricket arena as well. Gemini is demonstrating that AI has a desire for relevance and visibility among cricket fans. Technology and sport are pushing each other into new areas; all parties are merging together for enhanced global participation.
How does Gemini’s IPL deal compare with other major cricket sponsors?
Here are some big sponsorship numbers in Indian cricket right now:
| Sponsor | League / Role | Value |
|---|---|---|
| Tata Group | IPL Title Sponsor | ₹2,500 crore long-term rights (mint) |
| Apollo Tyres | India Team Jersey Sponsor | ₹579 crore (NDTV Profit) |
| Google Gemini | IPL Official Sponsor | ₹270 crore (The Economic Times) |
| ChatGPT | WPL Premier Partner | Commercial partner (smaller deal) (The Economic Times) |
The above table shows that high value Cricket Sponsorship is common, while Gemini is strong but their sponsorships is not on the same level as the title rights of The Tata Group. However, it is one of the largest AI-linked sponsorships linked to sports in India.
What will fans actually see and experience from this Gemini partnership?
In addition to what are done with the high value sponsorships, fans have the potential to see more of Gemini on the fields during IPL.
Some examples of this may be:
- The Gemini logo on digital boards
- Various online campaigns that engage fans through X
- Through the use of AI, there may also be highlights & insights generated from matches.
- There will potentially be some special offer promotions tied up with the Broadcasters (TV) & Digital Platforms around the matches
Cricket fans can expect to see the Gemini brand present during live action on television and via social media posts, as well as through unique Fan Experiences.
Through these types of campaigns, the aim is to help make the fan feel as though they are a small part of the IPL story via the use of AI. At the end of the day, while the money is one component of the Sponsorship, building a connection between the Tech Brand and the Cricket Fan is equally important.
Why does this BCCI sponsorship deal matter for Indian cricket’s future?
The BCCI’s recent sponsorship agreement is particularly important for four primary reasons:
- A new sponsor entering the market means new source of revenue for the BCCI, especially as the sponsorship marketplace continues to change.
- The sponsorship also shows how large international corporations perceive value in Indian sporting properties.
- Another way to look at the sponsorship deal is that it demonstrates that many of the newer Artificial Intelligence (AI) companies are actively trying to establish a presence in mainstream culture.
- The technology and entertainment industries are now becoming better linked as a result of this sponsorship deal.
The new interest in partnering with the BCCI expressed by AI companies is the direct result of the Indian Government’s implementation of a ban on real-money gaming sponsorship of cricket teams and leagues. This ban created a need for BCCI to find alternative brand partners for their team uniforms and league sponsorships.
On the flip side, large international corporations, such as Tata Group, continue to hold the title sponsorship rights for the Indian Premier League (IPL), reinforcing the fact that large corporations still see value in cricket’s global reach.
Wrapping it up
The agreement between BCCI and Google Gemini illustrates the interest of technology companies in investing in Indian cricket and the growth of Indian cricket’s economy as a whole. Not only will this provide financial growth for BCCI and Indian cricket, it also shows how AI brands are establishing themselves in the marketplace as technology continues to shape different industries, similar to how platforms like Jio are building people-first AI ecosystems. The sponsorship will play a significant role in how viewing, interacting, and connecting with fans evolves for years to come.
