The Indian Premier League's 10 franchises are valued at an average of $1.7 billion each, with a revenue multiple of 22.9 times, the highest among major global sports leagues, according to Sportico. Mumbai Indians lead the rankings at $2.1 billion,...
By ET Bureau |
PTI
Ahmedabad: Royal Challengers Bengaluru's Virat Kohli, Krunal Pandya and Bhuvneshwar Kumar and their family members celebrate with the tournament trophy after the team won the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 title, in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, late Sunday, May 31, 2026.
The Indian Premier League's 10 franchises are valued at an average of $1.7 billion each, with an average revenue multiple of 22.9 times-the highest among major sports leagues in the world, according to US-based sports business publication Sportico.
Mumbai Indians tops Sportico's rankings for 2026 at $2.1 billion, followed by Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) at $1.85 billion. Chennai Super Kings is valued at $1.75 billion, Kolkata Knight Riders at $1.73 billion and Delhi Capitals at $1.7 billion. Rajasthan Royals and Sunrisers Hyderabad are valued at $1.65 billion and $1.62 billion, respectively. Gujarat Titans is worth $1.58 billion, while Punjab Kings and Lucknow Super Giants are valued at $1.53 billion and $1.5 billion, respectively.
The valuations follow two major ownership transactions in 2026. A consortium comprising the Aditya Birla Group, Bolt Ventures, The Times of India (publishers of The Economic Times) and a fund managed by Blackstone agreed to acquire RCB for approximately $1.78 billion. Rajasthan Royals was acquired by a group involving Lakshmi Mittal and Adar Poonawalla in a deal valued at $1.65 billion.
Sportico said the two transactions were completed at revenue multiples exceeding 20 times, highlighting investors' willingness to pay a premium for the IPL's strong commercial prospects. The league's average revenue multiple of 22.9 compares with 14.6 for the National Basketball Association (NBA) and 12.7 for the National Football League (NFL).
The IPL's valuations have risen sharply since its launch in 2008, when the original eight franchises were sold for a combined $724 million, or an average of about $90 million each. Mumbai Indians attracted the highest bid at $112 million, while Rajasthan Royals were acquired for $67 million.
Sportico's estimates indicate that average franchise values have increased nearly 1,800% since 2008, outpacing the approximately 800% appreciation in NFL team values and nearly 1,700% growth in NBA franchise values over the same period.
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The IPL's financial appeal rests largely on its central revenue pool, comprising media rights and league-level sponsorships. The current media rights cycle is backed by a five-year package worth approximately $6.2 billion for 2023-27.
Sportico estimates that roughly three-fourths of franchise revenues come from central distributions made by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). Average franchise revenue is estimated at $74.4 million, including $50-55 million from the central pool.
Franchises supplement these earnings through team sponsorships, ticket sales and merchandising. Controlled player costs and access to stadiums owned by state cricket associations also support their financial appeal.
