IPL's Meteoric Rise: Brand value exceeds Rs 90,000 crores, outshining international sports leagues; check list here

Since its inception in 2008, the Indian Premier League (IPL) has faced numerous questions regarding its future, its impact on cricket, and its sustainability. Fast forward to 16 years later, the IPL is in its 17th season, and many of those initial doubts have been put to bed. The league has flourished remarkably from its beginnings, captivating audiences both within India and internationally, and has been played continuously without interruption.

Today, the IPL stands as the world's largest cricket league, competing with and even surpassing long-established sports leagues globally. As of now, the IPL is considered the world's second most valuable sports league, with financial reports from various global financial firms estimating its brand value to be around $11 billion.

The rise and rise of Indian Premier League (IPL)

The brand value of the IPL has skyrocketed by 433% since 2008. According to a report published in Brand Finance on December 2023, the IPL's brand value was estimated to be around $10.7 billion (approximately Rs 90,000 crores), trailing only behind the National Football League (NFL) of the US. The NFL, which started in 1920, had a valuation of $17 billion in 2021.

 Furthermore, the IPL saw a significant investment in advertisements in 2023, spending Rs 15,000 crores, which is six times more than what was spent in its inaugural year, 2008.

This growth in value can be understood considering that when the rights for the eight franchises were sold in 2008, the total valuation was Rs 2,900 crores. In contrast, the sale of two new teams in 2022 alone amounted to Rs 1,275 crores for just one year.

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Per-match-cost of top 5 sports leagues in the world

2nd highest cost-per-match

The IPL holds the distinction of having the second-highest cost-per-match broadcast in the world. For the period from 2023 to 2028, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) sold the IPL media rights for Rs 48,391 crores, earning the BCCI Rs 119 crores per match. This surpasses the revenue from a single match in leagues such as the NBA, English Premier League, and Bundesliga. Only the NFL has a higher broadcasting fee per match at Rs 141 crores. In 2018, the IPL ranked third in this regard.

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Regarding the valuation of IPL teams, a Forbes report indicates that in 2009, the average valuation of the eight franchises was $67 million, which skyrocketed to $1.04 billion by April 2022. Between 2008 and 2021, the valuation of IPL teams grew by 24%, compared to 10% in the NFL and 16% in NBA teams.

In 2022, the Mumbai Indians were the most valuable IPL team, with a valuation of $1.3 billion. According to Forbes, the valuation of Mumbai Indians equals the combined worth of six major league basketball and 27 National Hockey League teams.

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