BCCI Secures ₹270 Crore AI Sponsorship Deal for IPL 2026
In a major commercial win ahead of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has finalized a ₹270 crore sponsorship agreement with Google’s artificial intelligence platform, Gemini. The three-year deal marks one of the most high-profile technology partnerships in Indian cricket history and underscores the growing involvement of AI brands in the sport.
The partnership is set to come into effect from the upcoming IPL season, scheduled from March 26 to May 31, 2026, and positions Gemini as a key sponsor across league branding and fan initiatives. Industry insiders say the deal reflects both IPL’s vast global appeal and the increasing value tech companies place on sports marketing in India’s booming cricket ecosystem.
This development also highlights a shift in cricket sponsorship dynamics. Last year, regulatory changes banned real-money gaming platforms from advertising, forcing brands like Dream11 to exit major cricket deals. In response, BCCI secured Apollo Tyres as the national team’s jersey sponsor in a separate ₹579 crore agreement, while the Tata Group continues as the IPL’s title sponsor.
The entry of Google’s Gemini follows similar moves by other AI platforms; for instance, ChatGPT is among the sponsors of the Women’s Premier League (WPL), signalling growing interest from artificial intelligence companies in Indian sports. BCCI officials believe these partnerships will not only boost commercial revenues but also help enhance fan engagement and further modernise cricket’s digital presence.
As the IPL’s commercial landscape evolves, the Gemini deal is likely to pave the way for deeper collaborations between technology innovators and one of the world’s most watched sporting leagues.
