The Indian Premier League's (IPL) value as a business enterprise has reportedly grown 12.9 per cent to become 18.5 billion US dollars, while the cash-rich league's standalone valuation is said to have risen 13.8 per cent to USD 3.9 billion. Meanwhile, the end of a 17-year trophy drought has helped Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) upstage Chennai Super Kings (CSK) from the top franchise spot with a valuation of USD 269 million, according to the report.
Investment bank Houlihan Lokey's findings also suggest that the Ambani family-run Mumbai Indians' valuation has jumped to USD 242 million, which has helped the franchise become the second most valuable one after RCB. A "disappointing" season made the India Cements' N Srinivasan-owned CSK descend to number 3 in 2025, from top spot in the year-ago period, with the brand valued at USD 235 million, it said.
Highest Growth For Punjab Kings
Kolkata Knight Riders, owned by Shah Rukh Khan, were in fourth place in brand value with USD 227 million, while Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) stood fifth with a valuation of USD 154 million. Punjab Kings (PBKS) grew the most in percentage terms with a 39.6% rise in 2025, reaching USD 141.0 million and ranking ninth, largely due to their strong performance as runners-up under new captain Shreyas Iyer.
PBKS chief executive Satish Menon said the franchise saw the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI)-run IPL as a scalable business model with high visibility, secure revenue streams, and strong brand-building potential. "We now operate with the mindset of a media-sport brand with multiple revenue verticals, not just a cricket team — and that's where real profitability lies," he said, adding that they have now built the franchise into a sustainable sports business.
The investment bank's director for financial and valuation advisory, Harsh Talikoti, said franchise valuations have soared, media rights deals have reached record highs, and brand partnerships have diversified across sectors.
The report said the Tata Group extended its title-sponsorship commitment through 2028 in a lucrative five-year deal worth USD 300 million, while there was a 25 per cent jump at INR 1,485 crore in the sale of four associate sponsorship slots given to My11Circle, Angel One, RuPay and CEAT.
Meanwhile, the IPL viewership numbers continued to soar, as the 2025 edition saw JioHotstar registering 1,370 million views during the opening weekend (22 to 24 March), which is a 35% year-on-year jump, with 340 million peak concurrent viewers and 21,860 million minutes watched. Star Sports notched up 253 million unique TV viewers, which is 14% more than last year, taking the overall watch time to 49,560 million minutes.
(With PTI inputs)
