India’s fantasy sports platform Dream 11 has bagged the title sponsorship for the upcoming IPL 2020 to be played in UAE from September 19 onwards. The deal will run from August 18 to December 31, 2020. 

BCCI had to float papers for a new title sponsor after Vivo backed out of this edition owing to anti-China sentiments in the country in the aftermath of Galwan Valley clashed between soldiers from India and China. Vivo is a Chinese smartphone maker and is contracted as an IPL title sponsor till 2022, which may now be extended till 2023.

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Meanwhile, IPL chairman Brijesh Patel confirmed that Dream 11 paid INR 222 crores for title sponsorship and beat offers from the likes of Unacademy, Tata Group, and Byju's.

The IPL 2020, which was supposed to begin on March 29, was suspended indefinitely due to the ongoing Coronavirus pandemic. It was only after ICC postponed the ICC T20 World Cup 2020, which was to be held in Australia, that a window opened for BCCI to host the IPL.

However, due to spike in COVID-19 cases in India, BCCI shifted the entire tournament to UAE, after receiving an invitation from Sri Lanka as well. UAE has previously hosted the first half of the IPL in 2014.  

(ANI inputs)