Premiums For Premier League

Apr 24, 2026 | 21:08 IST

IPL teams’ sharply rising valuations are thanks to a smart business model, upgrade in ownership quality & real earnings potential. Expect another boom if media rights see competition again

When Royal Challengers Bengaluru changed hands for ₹16,600cr in March, followed by Rajasthan Royals at ₹15,100cr, the cricket world gasped. Two franchises sold for nearly five times the original price of all eight IPL teams combined. IPL now commands a place alongside NFL and NBA, in global sports league valuations. How does a cricket tournament, operating merely 8-10 weeks annually, command such valuations? The answer lies in the convergence of media, technology, consumer behaviour, and financial engineering – these define IPL today.

Global benchmarks offer a sobering comparison. Average valuation of NFL teams exceeds $7bn, with media rights contributing roughly $312mn annually per franchise, a 22x valuation multiple. Apply that logic to IPL, where media rights average ₹484cr per team, and you would expect ₹10,600cr. Yet, recent deals hover around ₹16,000cr.

TOI

TOI

Premiums For Premier League

IPL teams’ sharply rising valuations are thanks to a smart business model, upgrade in ownership quality & real earnings potential. Expect another boom if media rights see competition again

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TOI

Premiums For Premier League

IPL teams’ sharply rising valuations are thanks to a smart business model, upgrade in ownership quality & real earnings potential. Expect another boom if media rights see competition again

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