BCCI Sets INR 4.85 Crore Reserve Price for Title Rights as Talks With Potential Sponsors Begin

India's cricket board had set August 13, 2026, as the deadline for receiving bids for the title sponsorship of its home international season. No significant interest materialised from that process, with either no bidders coming forward or the offers received falling short of expectations.

As reported by Cricbuzz, BCCI is now in direct negotiations with potential corporate partners, including Google Gemini, Spinny and SBI Life, as it works to lock in a title sponsor before the home season begins. West Indies are scheduled to arrive in India on September 27 for the opening home international of the season.

The new rights cycle spans two years, running until March 31, 2028, and covers roughly 35 home internationals comprising 10 Tests, 12 ODIs and 13 T20Is. It is worth noting that the three-match T20I series against Afghanistan in mid-September falls under the Afghanistan Cricket Board's hosting rights and does not count towards BCCI's home international tally for this period.

BCCI had floated its Invitation to Tender on July 20, 2026, priced at a non-refundable INR 1 lakh, with August 5 as the last date to purchase the document. Sports marketing agencies GroupM, ITW and Sporty Solutions were among those who acquired the ITT.

What base price has BCCI set for the title rights?

BCCI has pegged the reserve price at INR 4.85 crore per match, which is roughly 15.5 per cent above the INR 4.2 crore per match that current title sponsor IDFC First Bank pays. IDFC First Bank secured those rights in September 2023.

At the base price, BCCI stands to earn at least INR 171 crore over the two years from title sponsorship alone. For context, the previous cycle covered 55 home internationals, and IDFC First Bank paid approximately INR 231 crore across that term.

"For tendering purposes only, and without constituting any representation, warranty, commitment or minimum guarantee by BCCI, BCCI presently expects that it may host approximately 35 (thirty-five) Chargeable Matches during the Rights Period, subject always to the final schedule determined by the BCCI in its sole and absolute," BCCI was quoted as saying by Cricbuzz.

What are the terms for associate partner rights?

Running alongside the title sponsorship exercise, BCCI put out a Request for Quotation for Associate Partner Rights carrying an August 25, 2026 deadline. The RFQ document states:

"The reserve price for the Rights for each Chargeable Match during the Rights Period is as follows: INR 95,00,000 (Indian Rupees Ninety-Five Lakhs only) per Chargeable Match."

A separate clause adds:

"If the Brand/Product Category of the Associate Partner is cold beverages, the reserve price shall instead be INR 1,15,00,000 (Indian Rupees One Crore Fifteen Lakhs only) per Chargeable Match."

BCCI's terms draw a clear sector boundary between the two sponsorship tiers, meaning a brand operating in the same category as the title sponsor is not eligible to come on board as an associate partner. With the home season opener less than five weeks away, the board is under pressure to conclude at least the title sponsorship deal before West Indies land in India.