A new report by Houlihan Lokey reveals the IPL’s business valuation has jumped 12.9% to USD 18.5 billion. Royal Challengers Bengaluru tops the franchise list, while media and sponsor revenues hit record highs.
July-8, 2025: The Indian Premier League (IPL) continues its meteoric rise in the global sports business landscape. According to the latest report by global investment bank Houlihan Lokey, the IPL’s overall valuation has surged to USD 18.5 billion (₹1.58 lakh crore) in 2025 — a 12.9% increase from last year.
The standalone brand value of the IPL has grown by 13.8% to USD 3.9 billion, driven by skyrocketing viewership, multi-sector sponsorships, and rising franchise appeal across the globe.
🏆 RCB Becomes Most Valuable IPL Franchise
Fresh off their 2025 championship win, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) emerged as the most valuable franchise with a brand valuation of USD 269 million, up from USD 227 million last year.
Also Read: Here’s Who All We Spotted Cheering for Djokovic at Wimbledon 2025—Photos Go Viral
Here’s how the top franchises ranked:
- 🥇 RCB – USD 269 million
- 🥈 Mumbai Indians (MI) – USD 242 million (up from USD 204M)
- 🥉 Chennai Super Kings (CSK) – USD 235 million (drops to 3rd spot)
- 🔼 Punjab Kings (PBKS) – Posted highest YoY growth of 39.6%
📊 BCCI’s Sponsorship Boom & Viewership Milestone
Also Read: Why Is Real Madrid Pushing to Reschedule Their La Liga Opener Against Osasuna?
The BCCI’s ability to monetise the IPL ecosystem is also gaining traction:
- 💸 Sale of four associate sponsor slots — My11Circle, Angel One, RuPay, and CEAT — fetched ₹1,485 crore, marking a 25% increase over the last cycle.
- 📺 The IPL 2025 final shattered streaming records, garnering 67.8 crore views on JioCinema — more than the India-Pakistan Champions Trophy clash.
- 🤝 The Tata Group extended its title sponsorship till 2028 with a 5-year deal worth USD 300 million (₹2,500 crore).
💬 Expert Speak
“The IPL continues to set benchmarks in sports business. Franchise valuations have soared, media rights deals have reached record highs, and brand partnerships have diversified across sectors,”
— Harsh Talikoti, Director, Financial & Valuation Advisory, Houlihan Lokey
📈 Why It Matters
- The IPL is now more valuable than some European football leagues.
- The model of sports + entertainment + digital monetization is becoming a global case study.
- With valuations rising and viewership booming, more international investors and sponsors are likely to enter the IPL ecosystem.
🏷️ Tags:
IPL Valuation 2025, RCB Most Valuable Team, IPL Brand Value, IPL Franchise Rankings, IPL Sponsorships 2025, BCCI Business Model, IPL Streaming Views, Houlihan Lokey Report, IPL Economic Impact, Sports Business India
📢 Hashtags:
#IPL2025 #RCBChampion #IPLValuation #CricketBusiness #RCB #MumbaiIndians #CSK #BCCI #IPLRecords #SportsEconomy #FranchiseCricket #IndianCricket #JioCinema