Team India senior cricketer Shikhar Dhawan has joined fantasy sports platform MyTeam11 as their new brand ambassador. The newly appointed captain of the IPL franchise Punjab Kings is expected to be seen in a series of promotional campaigns for MyTeam11 in the months ahead.

Dhawan, often referred to as “Gabbar” by the cricket community and fans, was one of the key figures in India’s 2013 Champions Trophy victory. The company is banking on the popularity of the cricketer to promote their platform.

Speaking about the association, Dhawan said, “MyTeam11 empowers the fans to be a part of the on-field action and put their knowledge of sports to test. It allows the fans to step in the shoes of a captain and make decisions which help their team to win. I am thrilled to associate with MyTeam11, a brand which takes fan engagement to a whole new level and makes the fans more connected to the game.”

MyTeam11 co-founder and CEO, Vinit Godara, said, “We are extremely delighted to have Shikhar on board as our brand ambassador. Over the years, Shikhar has been a consistent performer in international cricket for India and is admired throughout the nation. His ability to fearlessly face the toughest situations and lead as the anchor resonates with our brand’s core values.”

“He also enjoys a high level of popularity & credibility in the cricket community, which is consistent with the brand’s goal of becoming the most reputable and trustworthy homegrown fantasy sports app in India. With his addition to our team, we hope to further spark the growth of our brand in India,” he added.

Meanwhile, MyTeam11 was granted major relief by the Rajasthan High Court on a GST show cause notice by Director General of GST Intelligence (DGGI) last month. The court noted that the practice of fantasy sports does not constitute gambling or betting but rather classifies as a game of skill and that the subject is no longer res integra in regard to the services provided by a comparable company, Dream11.