In a major commercial shift for the league, My11Circle has officially returned as a primary partner for TATA IPL 2026, but with a significant catch: the platform is no longer a “Real Money Gaming” (RMG) sponsor.
Following the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act, 2025, which effectively banned real-money fantasy sports in India, My11Circle has successfully pivoted its business model to Free-to-Play (F2P) to comply with new regulations and maintain its high-profile association with the BCCI.
1. The 2026 Sponsorship Deal
While My11Circle was previously the “Official Fantasy Partner,” its role in 2026 has been restructured to fit the new legal landscape.
- Official Season Long Fantasy: My11Circle remains the host of the Official TATA IPL Season Long Fantasy 2026.
- The Pivot to “Free”: The 2026 game is strictly a non-monetary contest. Users compete for leaderboard rankings and physical prizes (merchandise, tickets) rather than cash pools.
- Valuation: Despite the move away from RMG, the deal remains one of the IPL’s most valuable. My11Circle’s original 5-year bid (2024–2028) was worth ₹625 crore (~$14.7M/year). Sources indicate the contract was “re-negotiated and preserved” in late 2025 after the company agreed to strip all betting and real-money elements from the platform.
2. The Competition: “AI Wars” Replace “Gaming Wars”
For the first time in nearly a decade, the IPL boundary boards are not dominated by rival fantasy apps. The exit of Dream11 as a central sponsor (due to the same RMG ban) has opened the door for a new category of “Big Tech” spenders.
| Category | 2025 Main Sponsor | 2026 Main Sponsor |
| Title Sponsor | TATA | TATA (Extended to 2028) |
| Fantasy Partner | My11Circle (RMG) | My11Circle (Free-to-Play) |
| New “Anchor” Partner | — | Google Gemini (AI Mode) |
| Digital Broadcaster | JioCinema | JioStar (Combined Entity) |
3. Key Features of the 2026 Fantasy Game
To keep engagement high without the “cash” incentive, My11Circle has introduced several new gamification features for the 2026 season:
- Unlimited Transfers (Wildcard): A new booster allowing users to rebuild their entire team mid-week.
- Indian Warrior/Foreign Stars: Special boosters that double points for specific player categories.
- Social Leagues: Deep integration with WhatsApp and X (formerly Twitter) to allow private, non-monetary “bragging rights” leagues among friends.
4. Why the BCCI Kept My11Circle
The BCCI reportedly chose to work with My11Circle to maintain “continuity” for the fan base.
“The transition to a Free-to-Play model ensures we stay compliant with the 2025 Gaming Act while keeping the 50 million+ fantasy players engaged,” noted a senior official. “The goal is to move the ‘fantasy’ experience from a gambling-adjacent activity to a pure fan-engagement tool.”
