Is the India jersey curse driving prominent sponsors to ruin?
Another brand, currently sprawled proudly across the India cricket jersey, has been pushed into the shadows. Why 'another'? Because Dream11, the current title sponsor, is joining a list of prominent names that departed into darkness and fell prey to the infamous India jersey curse. The gaming giant has taken a massive blow after Indian legislation recently passed the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Bill. The ban on real money gaming in India is set to force Dream11 into rolling back a major part of its operations, in turn raising alarms over whether the brand can retain its spot on the India jersey.
Dream11 joins the long list of victims of the India jersey curse
Dream11 emerged as the leader of the online gaming industry in India over the years. However, systematic and consistent blows, coming as sanctions from the Indian government, have had a massive impact. While the giant survived the GST implications a couple of years back, this time, the blow is bigger than before. The Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Bill has directly taken aim at the real money gaming sector, effectively banning the activity in the country. Moreover, under this new provision, the endorsement or promotion of such entities also carries a heavy penalty.
The ban means that Dream11 is likely to take a huge hit. The recent blow, meanwhile, has left its position on the India jersey in limbo. With sanctions against promoting real money gaming brands, the India jersey for the upcoming Asia Cup 2025 is likely to be sans the Dream11 engraving. However, it would not be the first time for a brand to exit the scene unceremoniously after featuring on the Indian cricket jersey. If anything, the Dream11 debacle has reminded the masses of the fate that the likes of Sahara, Oppo, and Byju’s suffered, among other brands, falling prey to the India jersey curse.
Dream11 has kept up the pattern, a rather puzzling one, of a brand going into a downward spiral after association with Indian cricket jersey. The Sahara Group, an Indian conglomerate present across real estate, financing, media, and sports, was a prominent India jersey sponsor. However, the partnership that lasted over a decade saw Sahara losing its grip on the industry. By the time Sahara left the India jersey in 2013, the conglomerate was declared bankrupt.
Then came the likes of Star, Oppo, and Byju’s, and each of them faced similar fates after adorning the India cricket jersey. Star, the leader of Indian television, was steadily phased out of the scene as OTT and streaming giants gradually rose to dominate the arena. Oppo, a mobile phone brand that initially claimed a significant spot in the Indian market, could not keep up its presence after relations between India and China soured. The political tensions between the border-sharing neighbours saw Oppo meekly departing the scene.
Byju’s was as quick in its rise as the unique brand offering learning assistance to Indian students. However, soon after its success, the EdTech giant fell to widespread scrutiny. From allegations of cheating students and their families monetarily to the constant updates about the dire conditions of employees, Byju’s not only failed but also fell from grace.
Dream11 claimed the title sponsorship of the Indian jersey in 2023. However, within just two years of association, the gaming organization is already on its way out. The reasons for the downfall of these brands are different, largely unrelated to Indian cricket. However, one cannot help but notice how most of the brands that once featured on the India jersey failed, time and again reiterating the unmistakable India jersey curse.
