The Indian Premier League’s value has surged to an estimated $20.6bn (£15.5bn), according to a report by investment bank Houlihan Lokey. The T20 competition rose 10.3% over the past year, helped by ownership deals involving two of its biggest franchises, and now ranks as one of the world’s most valuable sports brands.
The report said that “On a per-match basis, only the NFL ranks ahead of the globally,” highlighting the league’s growing commercial strength. The IPL, which began in 2008, has become a major revenue source for the Board of Control for Cricket in India and was estimated to generate more than $11bn (£8.27bn) a year for the Indian economy in 2020.
Which franchise is the most valuable?
Royal Challengers Bengaluru, home to former India captain Virat Kohli and second only to the NFL in per-match brand value for the past two seasons, retained its position as the league’s most valuable franchise with a brand value of $312m (£234.5m).
The team was recently acquired by a consortium including the US asset management giant Blackstone in a deal worth nearly $1.8bn (£1.35bn), the most expensive franchise transaction in IPL history. Rajasthan Royals also changed hands in a deal valued at $1.65bn (£1.24m), with the Indian steel tycoon Lakshmi Mittal and his family joining the SII vaccine billionaire Adar Poonawalla in taking control.
What did Houlihan Lokey say about the market?
“Cricket’s evolution into a globally owned, institutionally backed asset class has accelerated further in 2026, with the IPL continuing to redefine the global sports landscape,”Houlihan Lokey’s Harsh Talikoti said. He added:
“These latest transactions further demonstrate the confidence investors continue to place in the long-term value creation opportunity,”in a statement.
The report said the latest franchise deals underline how the IPL’s commercial appeal continues to expand as investors back the long-term value of cricket’s premier T20 league.
Key Facts
- The IPL’s estimated value is now $20.6bn (£15.5bn), up 10.3% in a year.
- Houlihan Lokey said only the NFL ranks ahead of the IPL globally on a per-match basis.
- Royal Challengers Bengaluru is the league’s most valuable franchise at $312m (£234.5m).
- Blackstone was part of a consortium that bought Royal Challengers Bengaluru for nearly $1.8bn (£1.35bn).
- Rajasthan Royals changed hands in a $1.65bn (£1.24m) deal involving Lakshmi Mittal’s family and Adar Poonawalla.
