The Indian Premier League (IPL) has reached a new milestone in its business journey, with its total valuation soaring to USD 18.5 billion, marking a 12.9% increase from last year. The league’s standalone brand value also climbed by 13.8%, now standing at USD 3.9 billion, underscoring IPL’s growing global commercial appeal.
A major headline this season is the rise of Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) as the most valuable IPL franchise, following their historic first-ever title win. RCB’s brand value surged to USD 269 million, overtaking Mumbai Indians (USD 242 million) and Chennai Super Kings (CSK). Despite CSK seeing a small increase, they dropped to third in the rankings.
The 2025 IPL Brand Valuation Study by Houlihan Lokey also noted remarkable growth for Punjab Kings (PBKS), with a 39.6% increase in brand value – the highest among all franchises. Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) followed closely with a 34% rise.
On the commercial front, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) recorded ₹1,485 crore in sponsorship revenue, a 25% rise over the previous cycle, with support from brands like My11Circle, Angel One, RuPay, and CEAT. Additionally, Tata Group renewed its title sponsorship in a landmark ₹2,500 crore deal, extended through 2028.
The 2025 IPL season also broke viewership records across both digital and TV platforms.
- On JioHotstar, the opening weekend alone brought in 1.37 billion views, a 35% increase from last year.
- Peak concurrent viewers hit 340 million, with 21.86 billion minutes of content watched.
- On TV, Star Sports reached 253 million unique viewers, marking a 14% year-on-year growth.
The final match, featuring RCB vs PBKS – both seeking their maiden title – set a new benchmark with 678 million views on JioHotstar, surpassing even the India-Pakistan clash at the ICC Championship.
Harsh Talikoti, Director at Houlihan Lokey, commented:
“IPL is setting new standards in global sports business. Franchise values, sponsorships, and media rights are all hitting historic highs. With its unique mix of sports, entertainment, and commerce, the IPL has become a global case study in how to commercialise and scale a sports property.”
Satish Menon, CEO of Punjab Kings, added:
“From the start, IPL was more than a cricket league – it was a scalable business model with strong visibility and long-term revenue potential. Today, we operate like a sports-media brand with diverse income streams, content strategies, and long-term IP assets.”
The IPL’s success story reflects its position as one of the world’s most valuable sports leagues, continuing to shape the future of cricket, sports media, and entertainment commerce globally.
