BCCI in talks with Google Gemini and others for domestic title rights

New Delhi, 22 August — The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) remains without a title sponsor for the national team's home series after the tender process concluded on 13 August with unsatisfactory responses.

The invitation, released on 20 July, allowed interested firms to buy the ITT files until 4 August and to seek clarifications until 5 August. The lack of competitive offers has forced the board to keep negotiations open with a shortlist of candidates.

Among the prospects, Google Gemini has emerged as a serious contender, alongside automotive marketplace Spinny and insurance giant SBI Life. The incumbent sponsor, IDFC First Bank, currently pays INR 4.2 crore per match. Raising the base fee to INR 4.75 crore is seen as a major impediment to closing a new contract, especially as the present agreement covers a two‑year span, while the previous three‑year deal ended in 2023.

According to internal BCCI estimates, the board expects to organise roughly 35 revenue‑generating matches within the rights window, subject to its exclusive scheduling authority.

A small group of agencies—GroupM, ITW and Sportsi Solutions—have already secured the ITT paperwork for a non‑refundable fee of INR 1 lakh. The board also issued an RFQ for associate partnership rights, with the final quotation deadline set for 25 August, which will only be activated once a title sponsor is confirmed.