The Indian Premier League (IPL) has reached new financial heights in 2025, with a total valuation of $18.5 billion, marking a 12.9% year-over-year growth. The spotlight on Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) has crowned the most valuable IPL team after winning their first-ever championship this year.
RCB’s brand value surged from $227 million in 2024 to $269 million in 2025, dethroning traditional powerhouses like Mumbai Indians (MI) and Chennai Super Kings (CSK). This growth reflects the power of on-field success combined with strong digital and commercial engagement.
IPL Team Brand Value Rankings 2025
| Rank | Franchise | Brand Value ($M) | Change (%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) | 269 | +18.5% |
| 2 | Mumbai Indians (MI) | 242 | +18.6% |
| 3 | Chennai Super Kings (CSK) | 235 | +1.7% |
| 4 | Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) | 227 | — |
| 5 | Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) | 154 | +1.3% |
| 6 | Delhi Capitals (DC) | 152 | — |
| 7 | Rajasthan Royals (RR) | 146 | — |
| 8 | Gujarat Titans (GT) | 142 | +0.7% |
| 9 | Punjab Kings (PBKS) | 141 | +39.6% |
| 10 | Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) | 122 | +34.0% |
IPL Team Brand Value 2025
1. Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) – $269M (+18.5%)
- RCB finally clinched their first-ever IPL title, leading to a massive surge in merchandise sales, sponsor interest, and social media engagement.
- Virat Kohli’s presence, strong digital storytelling, and a viral fan base boosted brand equity.
- RCB became the most valuable IPL team in history.
2. Mumbai Indians (MI) – $242M (+18.6%)
- Consistent Performer: Despite not reaching the final, MI’s deep-rooted brand and strong corporate backing from Reliance Industries ensure high valuation.
- Fan Engagement: Known for leveraging influencer marketing and grassroots digital campaigns.
- Retention Value: Iconic brand loyalty keeps MI in the top 2, even without a recent title.
3. Chennai Super Kings (CSK) – $235M (+1.7%)
- Brand Hit: A bottom-table finish in 2025 hurt CSK’s dominance. The decline marked their fall from the No. 1 spot.
- Loyal Base Still Strong: MS Dhoni’s legacy continues to draw value, but performance is key going forward.
- Concern: Aging squad, fewer viral campaigns, and fewer post-season revenues affected growth.
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4. Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) – $227M (No Change)
- Flat Growth: No significant performance leap or commercial revamp led to a stable but non-growing valuation.
- Strengths: Celebrity ownership (Shah Rukh Khan), emotional fan connect, and historical success keep the brand solid.
- Opportunity: Need to reignite excitement with new youth stars or global expansion to break valuation plateau.
5. Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) – $154M (+1.3%)
- Mediocre Season: A quiet campaign on-field and modest social buzz limited their brand acceleration.
- Digital Presence: Lower influencer engagement compared to top-tier franchises.
- Strength: Consistent investment in young Indian players builds long-term retention.
6. Delhi Capitals (DC) – $152M (No Change)
- Stagnant Growth: Lack of title contention and injuries to star players like Rishabh Pant led to no valuation movement.
- Strengths: Strong presence in Delhi-NCR region and stable ownership.
- Weakness: Lower pan-India and international fan pull compared to MI, CSK, RCB.
7. Rajasthan Royals (RR) – $146M (No Change)
- Legacy vs Present: Despite being the inaugural IPL winner, recent years have been underwhelming for RR.
- Potential: Has a loyal youth following due to investments in emerging players and grassroots scouting.
- Challenge: Needs a brand refresh or title run to move higher in rankings.
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8. Gujarat Titans (GT) – $142M (+0.7%)
- Young But Stable: Two strong seasons (finalists and champions) in 2022–23 gave them a solid base. But 2025 saw a dip in performance.
- Investor Confidence: Attracting interest due to Ahmedabad market and ownership stability.
- Limitation: Relatively new brand with limited legacy appeal.
9. Punjab Kings (PBKS) – $141M (+39.6%)
- Biggest Gainer of 2025
- Runner-Up Finish: Reaching the IPL 2025 final sparked a massive jump in brand value.
- Digital Strategy: High virality with bold content, memes, and fan engagement campaigns helped build value.
- Momentum: Most improved franchise in terms of both revenue and social sentiment.
10. Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) – $122M (+34.0%)
- New & Growing: Entered in 2022 and rapidly built a strong identity.
- Smart Auctions & Marketing: Balanced squad, aggressive branding, and strong ownership propelled LSG into the top 10.
- Rising Star: With a growing fan base and playoff appearances, LSG is set for higher future valuation.
What Made RCB the Most Valuable IPL Team 2025?
- Historic IPL Title: Their maiden title win drew massive media attention and fan support.
- Fanbase & Digital Reach: RCB’s social media engagement ranked highest during the season.
- Strategic Partnerships: Sponsorships saw a spike after the title win.
- Merchandise Sales: Highest jersey and merchandise sales among all franchises.
The combination of sporting triumph and media-savvy branding made RCB the undisputed most valuable IPL team.
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Record-Breaking Viewership in IPL 2025
- Opening Weekend: 1.37B views across JioCinema and Star Sports
- Final Match (RCB vs PBKS): 678M views – the most-watched T20 match in history
- Total Watch Time: 49.5 billion minutes
- TV Audience: 253M unique viewers on Star Sports
IPL’s $18.5 Billion Ecosystem: Where the Money Comes From
- Media Rights: Central broadcasting deals continue to underpin franchise revenue.
- Title Sponsorship: Tata extended its partnership for 5 years with a $300M deal.
- Ad Revenue: A staggering $600M+ generated from ads in 2025.
- Sponsorship Boom: My11Circle, RuPay, CEAT, and others signed massive associate deals.
- Digital Growth: Viral moments, memes, and short video content helped teams monetize their reach.
IPL as a Global Sports Business
With cricket heading to the 2028 LA Olympics, the IPL is now seen as a global business asset. Foreign investors are buying stakes in IPL teams, while franchises like Punjab Kings expand into leagues like the Caribbean Premier League (Saint Lucia Kings).
“We now operate like a media and lifestyle brand, not just a team,” said Satish Menon, CEO of PBKS.
This evolution is key to the IPL’s continued global expansion and profitability
Q: Which is the most valuable IPL team in 2025?
A: Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) is the most valuable IPL team with a brand value of $269 million.
Q: What is the brand value of IPL in 2025?
A: The IPL’s total valuation reached $18.5 billion in 2025, a 12.9% increase from last year.
Q: Why did RCB’s brand value rise in 2025?
A: RCB’s title win, increased sponsorships, and digital dominance led to an 18.5% brand value jump.
Q: How much is CSK worth in 2025?
A: Chennai Super Kings’ brand value dropped to $235 million in 2025 after a poor season.
SEE ALSO: IPL Winners List 2008 to 2025: Year-wise Champions, Runners-Up, and IPL 2025 Winner
