The Indian Premier League (IPL), cricket's premier annual competition, has recorded a stunning increase in its aggregate business value, which rose 13% year-on-year to $18.5 billion—roughly ₹1.6 lakh crore.
At the same time, the value of the league brand has risen 14% to almost $4 billion (₹33,000 crore), as per a new report published by global investment bank Houlihan Lokey.
In a record year, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB)—the 2025 title winners—were crowned the highest-ranked team in brand value amongst the 10 franchises of the league. The brand of the team is valued at $269 million, which placed them atop ranking after their first title triumph in the history of the IPL, which was established 18 years ago.
RCB is closely trailed by Mumbai Indians with a worth of $242 million, Chennai Super Kings with a worth of $235 million, and Kolkata Knight Riders with a worth of $227 million.
"IPL continues to redefine sports commercialisation—not just through cricketing brilliance but via record-breaking auctions, major sponsorship deals, technological innovation, and its growing global presence," the report underscored.
Terms the IPL a "global phenomenon" that combines sport, entertainment, and business, the report welcomed the league's impact beyond cricket. "Its influence now reaches far beyond the cricketing fraternity, transforming fan engagement, commercial models, and the structure of the sport itself," it added.
The report also attributed to the IPL the impetus for the establishment of many short-form cricket leagues across the world. This spread has changed the contemporary cricket calendar and entrenched the IPL as a commercial and cultural pillar.
Advertising Boom and Record Viewership
Among the standout business numbers for the 2025 IPL was the 50% increase in ad revenues, which jumped to approximately $600 million (about ₹5,000 crore). The RCB-Punjab Kings final attracted over 678 million eyeballs—more than the viewership of the India-Pakistan, high-stakes match during this year's ICC Championship.
According to the report, the IPL offers a rare combination of predictable earnings and disciplined cost control, making it a standout investment in the global sports industry. Much of the league’s revenue is anchored by long-term media rights deals and up-front sponsorship agreements negotiated by the BCCI, providing franchises with stable, annuity-like income streams.
For the elite teams, as much as 80% of the expenditure is tied up even before the tournament begins," the report added. "On the spending side, the ₹120 crore payroll cap per team serves as an in-built check on rising salaries—a malady that afflicts numerous overseas sports leagues—and also promotes competitive balance.
From the angles of profitability and sustainability, IPL is observed to possess a more robust business model than even the English Premier League (EPL) and National Basketball Association (NBA). According to the report, "For institutional investors, the IPL is more than a cricket tournament—it is a high-growth entertainment asset within the ecosystem, with appeal to a rapidly growing base of fans that increasingly value premium digital content and possess growing disposable income.
Read also| Watch| Triumph Amid Turmoil: Akash Deep’s Sister Applauds His Edgbaston Brilliance
