The withdrawal of Dream11 as Team India's lead jersey sponsor in late August created an unexpected challenge for Indian cricket, coming just days before the Asia Cup 2025 was set to begin. The timing of the exit, following the passage of the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Bill, 2025, left a critical gap in jersey availability at one of the most important moments in the cricket calendar.
With the tournament approaching rapidly, ensuring players had access to the iconic Blue jersey became an urgent priority. As the BCCI's official kit and merchandise partner since June 2023, adidas was positioned to address the situation through its existing production capabilities and supply chain infrastructure.
Sources tell us the company mobilised its resources to redesign, manufacture, and distribute the new jerseys within the tight timeline, ensuring the team could take the field without any visual disruption to their established identity. The episode underscores how quickly the sports merchandising landscape can shift, and the operational challenges that arise when major sponsorship changes occur close to significant tournaments.