Vimal Pan Masala To Be Team India’s New Sponsor? Viral AI Image Fact-Checked

A photo showing actor Ajay Devgn with BCCI vice-president Rajiv Shukla is going viral with the claim that pan masala and tobacco manufacturing company Vimal Pan Masala is poised to become the Indian cricket team’s principal sponsor until 2028. The claim gained traction online after the BCCI recently ended its ₹358-crore sponsorship deal with fantasy sports platform Dream11.

Evidence

1. No Official Announcement from BCCI

• A review of BCCI’s official website and press releases shows no mention of Vimal Pan Masala as a sponsor.
  
• Mainstream media outlets including NDTV, The Hindu, and Hindustan Times reported that BCCI is still in talks with potential sponsors after Dream11’s exit.
  
• Reports suggest Toyota Motor Corporation and a fintech startup are among the companies in discussion.
  

2. Vimal Pan Masala Not Listed as Sponsor

The official BCCI sponsors and partners list does not feature Vimal Pan Masala, further confirming the claim is fabricated.

3. AI-Generated Image Confirmed

• The viral image was tested with AI-detection tools:
  
  • SightEngine: 99% probability AI-generated.
    
  • Hive Moderation: 99.3% probability AI-generated.
    
• These findings confirm the viral photo is not authentic.

Also Read: Ganesh Chaturthi 2025: Viral Video Claiming To Show ‘World’s Largest Ganapati Statue in Chennai’ Is AI-Generated

Verdict

The claim that Vimal Pan Masala has become Team India’s new sponsor is false, while the viral image is AI-generated.

FAQs

Q1. Has BCCI announced Vimal Pan Masala as Team India’s sponsor
No. BCCI has not made any official announcement regarding Vimal Pan Masala as a sponsor.

Q2. Who are the potential sponsors after Dream11’s exit?
Reports suggest Toyota and a fintech startup have expressed interest, but nothing has been finalised yet.

Q3. Is the viral image of Ajay Devgn and Rajiv Shukla real?
No. AI-detection tools confirm the image is AI-generated and not authentic.

Q4. Where can I find the official list of BCCI sponsors?
You can check the official sponsors on the BCCI website (bcci.tv) under its partners and sponsorship section.

Sources
BCCI – Official sponsors and partners list
Hindustan Times report, August 25, 2025
NDTV report, August 24, 2025
The Hindu report, August 26, 2025
SightEngine – AI-Generated Image Detection Tool
Hive Moderation – AI Content Detection Tool