The Indian Premier League (IPL) is a juggernaut in world sports. Fans across the globe tune in to watch the cash-rich league featuring the best of the best. It has led to a meteoric rise in the league's brand value. Since the inaugural edition in 2008, it has increased by a whopping 433 per cent and the number is expected to go north only. IPL is not just the best cricket league but it is giving tough competition to top leagues of other sports as well. Ahead of the IPL 2025 which is scheduled to start on March 22, here's a look at the brand vanue of the T20 phenomenon that is IPL.
What is the brand value of IPL?
When the IPL started in 2008, there were eight franchises and the valuable of the league was approximately Rs 2,900 crore. 14 years later, it was again expanded to 10 teams with Gujarat Titans (GT) and Lucknow Super Giants' (LSG) addition. The teams were forced for Rs 1,275 crore per year. As a result, the IPL's brand value increased to Rs 90 thousand crores (10.7 billion dollars). IPL is now the second most expensive league in the world. America's National Football League (NFL) is at the top with a valuation of over Rs 1 lakh crore (18 billion dollars).
How much is the cost of one match of IPL?
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) sold the media rights of the IPL from 2023-2028 for a whopping Rs 48,931 crore. IPL is now a money-minting machine as BCCI earns around Rs 119 crore per match. This number is higher per match when compared to the likes of NBA, English Premier League (EPL) and Bundesliga. In this department as well, NFL is at top as it earns Rs 300 crore per match (36 million dollars) as per the 2022-23 agreement.
What is the value of IPL teams and who is at the forefront?
The eight original IPL teams have come a long way in monetary terms as well. As per Forbes, the eight teams' value has increased from 67 million dollars in 2009 to 1.04 billion dollars in 2022. The last recorded rise was 24 per cent. From 2023-24, it increased by a whopping 13 per cent. Comparing it to the NFL, the average brand value of a team is on a 15 per cent increase year on year, valued at 5.93 billion dollars.
As per a report by Brand Finance in 2024, Chennai Super Kings (CSK) is leading at 122 million dollars followed by Mumbai Indians (MI) at 119 million dollars. Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) have not won a single title but they are at the third position with a brand value of 117 million dollars. Sunrisers Hyderabad recorded the fastest growth as they are valued at 85 million dollars, which is a 76 per cent increase.
"The IPL ecosystem is today worth $1.3 billion and is closely watched and emulated worldwide," Brand Finance India MD Ajimon Francis said. "Franchise teams like CSK, MI, RCB, KKR, and RR are today global brands with their active participation in several T20 leagues across the globe."