IPL's valuation hits $18.5B amid record-breaking 2025 season – NewsBytes

The Indian Premier League (IPL) has witnessed a massive 12.9% jump in its enterprise value, now pegged at an impressive $18.5 billion, according to Houlihan Lokey’s 2025 IPL Brand Valuation Study. The report also highlights a standalone brand value increase of 13.8% for the league, which now stands at $3.9 billion. This growth further cements IPL’s position among the world’s most valuable sports leagues.
Sponsorship surge
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) recently sold four associate-sponsor slots to My11Circle, Angel One, RuPay, and CEAT. The deal fetched ₹1,485 crore, a whopping 25% increase from the last cycle. Meanwhile, Tata Group renewed its title sponsorship till 2028 with a five-year deal worth ₹2,500 crore.
Franchise growth
In a major reshuffle among franchises, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) topped the charts with a brand value of $269 million, up from $227 million. Mumbai Indians climbed to second place with a valuation of $242 million. Chennai Super Kings (CSK) slipped to third place at $235 million after a disappointing season. Punjab Kings (PBKS) recorded the highest year-on-year growth with an impressive 39.6% increase in their brand value.
Record viewership
IPL 2025 set new viewership records across digital and television platforms. JioHotstar recorded 1,370 million views during the opening weekend (March 22-24), a whopping 35% YoY jump. The platform also witnessed a peak concurrent viewership of 340 million and total watch time of over 21,860 million minutes. Star Sports attracted an impressive 253 million unique TV viewers, up by 14% from last year.
Historic finale
The IPL 2025 season ended with a historic final where RCB beat PBKS to win their maiden title. The match garnered over 678 million views on JioHotstar, surpassing even the India-Pakistan clash during this year’s ICC Championship. Harsh Talikoti from Houlihan Lokey said, “The league’s ability to attract global investors and sponsors reflects its status as a premier sports property with enduring appeal.”

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