The recently implemented Online Gaming Bill has sent shockwaves across Indian cricket, leading to a sharp financial hit for both past and present players. According to a Cricbuzz report, the withdrawal of fantasy gaming companies from the sponsorship and endorsement market could cost cricketers an estimated ₹150–200 crore.
Some of the biggest names in Indian cricket—Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and MS Dhoni—stand to lose heavily from this change, as a significant portion of their brand income was tied to gaming platforms.
Kohli, who was associated with MPL, reportedly earned close to ₹10–12 crore annually from the deal. Rohit Sharma’s partnership with Dream11 was valued at around ₹6–7 crore per year, while Dhoni earned a similar amount through his contract with WinZO. For these legends, the bill has erased some of the most lucrative contracts in their endorsement portfolios.
Younger Players and Smaller Leagues Affected
The damage is not restricted to senior cricketers alone. A number of younger and mid-tier players who relied on these gaming endorsements for steady income are now facing a financial crunch. Many of them earned anywhere between ₹50 lakh to ₹1 crore each year, a figure that made up a large part of their endorsement revenue. Players like Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar could lose as much as one-third of their total brand income.
This ripple effect extends to cricket leagues as well. While the Indian Premier League may be able to cushion the blow of losing sponsorship worth nearly ₹125 crore annually from My11Circle, smaller tournaments are in a more vulnerable position. The European Cricket Network, for example, has already suspended operations because its funding largely depended on Indian gaming companies. Domestic leagues without strong corporate backing may face similar existential challenges.
Wider Impact on Advertising and Brand Value
The repercussions are not confined to cricketers alone—India’s advertising ecosystem is also taking a substantial hit. Online gaming companies accounted for around 7–8% of total ad spending, and nearly 80% of that chunk, roughly ₹8,000–10,000 crore annually, is expected to vanish. This sector previously contributed 15–20% of overall digital advertising spend, making the ban a significant disruption.
Industry experts believe this could bring down the brand value of players, with endorsement earnings projected to fall by 20–25%. Karan Taurani of Elara Capital highlighted that the removal of gaming sponsorships will not only impact individual cricketers’ income but also reshape the dynamics of sports advertising in India. In short, the Online Gaming Bill has triggered a chain reaction that could permanently alter the financial landscape of cricket and sports marketing in the country.
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