The Indian government’s recent ban on real-money online gaming is set to have one of the most significant financial impacts on cricket in recent history. With fantasy gaming giants pulling out of sponsorships and endorsements, top Indian cricketers are projected to collectively lose between ₹150–200 crore.
Star Players Face Heavy Losses
According to a Cricbuzz report, India’s biggest names will be the hardest hit:
- Virat Kohli earns nearly ₹10–12 crore annually through his deal with MPL.
- MS Dhoni and Rohit Sharma reportedly make around ₹6–7 crore each through partnerships with Winzo and Dream11.
- Younger cricketers like Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar, who earned close to ₹1 crore a year, may lose almost a third of their total endorsement earnings.
For many upcoming players, the loss is even more damaging since these gaming brands were their only major sponsors.
IPL Can Absorb the Hit, Smaller Leagues May Collapse
The IPL, the world’s richest cricket league, could lose nearly ₹125 crore annually after gaming companies withdraw. However, given its global clout and multiple revenue streams, the tournament is expected to recover quickly.
The same cannot be said for smaller tournaments. The European Cricket Network has already suspended operations, with Indian gaming company investments drying up. For such leagues, the ban is nothing short of a survival crisis.
A Blow to Advertising and Brand Value
The impact of the ban goes well beyond cricket. Industry reports suggest:
- Online gaming made up 7–8% of India’s advertising market, worth nearly ₹8,000–10,000 crore annually.
- Within digital advertising, the segment accounted for as much as 15–20%.
Karan Taurani, Vice-President at Elara Capital, noted:
“Their brand value and income are bound to decline. While players endorse multiple products, the real money gaming segment contributed significantly to their endorsement revenue, which could drop by 20–25%.”
What This Means for Indian Cricket
The online gaming ban has created a ripple effect across cricket. While established stars like Kohli, Dhoni, and Rohit can still attract a variety of endorsements, younger cricketers stand to lose the most, with their limited brand deals now vanishing.
For leagues, advertisers, and athletes, the absence of online gaming money represents a massive shift in cricket’s commercial ecosystem—and one that may take years to replace.
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