Watch- Ravi Shastri unfiltered at Toss; hypes Andy Pycroft, takes a dig at new sponsor Apollo Tyres

The former Indian head coach and broadcaster Ravi Shastri joked about the infamous jersey curse at the toss, as the opening Test of the two-match Test series got underway on Thursday, October 2, at the Narendra Modi Cricket Stadium in Ahmedabad.

Interestingly, Andy Pycroft was the match referee for the first India-West Indies Test. Well, the Indian cricket team’s jersey sponsors have faced major setbacks over the last two decades.

Ravi Shastri’s witty jab at the jersey curse goes viral as he welcomes Apollo Tyres

As the Indian Test captain, Shubman Gill, came for the toss in the brand-new jersey with Apollo Tyres as the main sponsor, Ravi Shastri took a playful dig at the so-called jersey curse. Shastri, who is known for his sharp wit, couldn’t resist hinting at the string of bad luck that the past sponsors faced.

SHORTS

View More

Your daily dose of cricket!

Loading...

Read Also: Mohsin Naqvi denies apology reports, dumps Asia Cup trophy at ACC HQ and retreats to Pakistan in shame

Supporters have often ended the sponsorship deals with the BCCI, but now the former Indian captain hopes Apollo Tyres will last for a long time.

Introdusing Neeraj Kanwar, Managing Director and Vice Chairman of Apollo Tyres, Shastri wished that their partnership with BCCI lasts for a long time.

Ravi Shastri said at the toss, “Hopefully, this new jersey with Apollo Tyres will last for a long, long time.”

Ravi Shastri announcing Andy Pycroft. 🤣🤣 https://t.co/5k32WZzLFO

— A-Man (@ratedAMAN) October 2, 2025

Ravi Shastri on the toss: “Hopefully, this new jersey with Apollo Tyres will last for a long, long time.” 🤣🤣

All the best Team. pic.twitter.com/tPPDVFp0oO

— Kawal(Amrinder Gill Fanclub) (@bandaofrabb) October 2, 2025

The curse of the Blue Jersey

Actually, over the years, India’s cricket jersey sponsors have faced a streak of unexpected troubles that the cricket fraternity now calls the jersey curse. Dream11 had to end its ₹358-crore deal early with the BCCI after the 2025 Online Gaming Bill banned real-money gaming ads.

Byju's had made the successful entry in 2019, and they even renewed their deal in 2023 when it was worth $22 billion, but soon after, they faced heavy financial losses, layoffs, and a sharp drop in value.

Before that, Paytm’s stint from 2015 to 2019 ended as they struggled with controversies and regulatory pressure. Sahara India Pariwar, the longest-serving sponsor of India’s jersey from 2001 to 2013, saw its empire collapse under SEBI’s crackdown, with its chairman even landing in jail.

Read Also: Watch- Dhruv Jurel shows wicketkeeping masterclass in Ahmedabad

Oppo’s high-profile deal in 2017 lasted only two years, as the brand pulled out over poor returns amid India-China tensions. Star India also faced its own battles, from antitrust investigations to Hotstar’s heavy losses before merging with Jio.

Ravi Shastri’s playful welcome for Andy Pycroft steals the show in Ahmedabad

Additionally, Shastri gave a rousing welcome to Andy Pycroft at the Narendra Modi Stadium. Announcing Pycroft as the match referee for the match, the well-known broadcaster said, “Back in the house, all the way from Dubai, in the hot seat.”

Notably, Pycroft was in the headlines a few days back during the Asia Cup 2025. The Zimbabwean was dragged into the bad by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), accusing the ICC official of working in favor of the BCCI and the Indian cricket team.

PCB had lodged a complaint with the ICC against Pycroft over the “handshake saga” during the Asia Cup 2025. Well, Shastri was also commentating in the tournament; given that, the way he introduced the ICC official left everyone, and even Andy himself, smiling.