The Indian Premier League achieved a significant milestone in 2026, with its business value rising 11.4% year-on-year to $20.6 billion, according to a study by investment bank Houlihan Lokey. This marks the second consecutive year the league has recorded double-digit growth in business value, driven by growing revenues, digital viewership, and record franchise transactions. The league's standalone brand value increased 10.3% to $4.3 billion, adding more than $1.1 billion since 2023. Based on per-match valuation, the IPL has now become the world's second-largest sports property, trailing only the American football league, the NFL. The report notes that the IPL's continued growth is attributed to its robust commercial model, which combines central media rights, title and associate sponsorships, franchise partnerships, ticketing, licensing and digital content. The latest jump in valuation was fueled by a combination of record-breaking franchise deals, expanding digital audiences and growing institutional investor interest.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru emerged as the first cricket franchise globally to achieve a brand value of $312 million, representing a 16% increase from the previous year and making it the first franchise to cross the $300 million mark. The franchise's valuation has been fuelled by its maiden IPL title in 2026, sustained fan engagement, a powerful digital presence, strong sponsorship portfolio and the enduring popularity of former captain Virat Kohli. Behind RCB in the latest rankings are Mumbai Indians at second with $264 million (+9.1% growth), followed by Kolkata Knight Riders at $245 million (+7.9% growth) who overtook Chennai Super Kings to secure third place. As per Houlihan Lokey's 2026 IPL Brand Valuation Study, RCB's position atop the valuation charts stems from deeper commercial fundamentals: a massive digital footprint, brand maturity, and an intensely loyal fan base.
The year witnessed two of the league's biggest ownership transactions, with RCB being acquired by a consortium including Blackstone, Bolt Ventures, Aditya Birla Group, and The Times of India at a reported valuation of just under $1.78 billion (₹16,663 crore). As reported by Houlihan Lokey, this transaction represents one of the largest transactions in global sports franchise history and highlights the growing appetite among institutional investors for IPL assets as franchise valuations continue to climb. During 2026, Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Rajasthan Royals changed ownership in transactions valued at $1.78 billion and $1.65 billion respectively, setting new benchmarks for IPL franchise valuations and reinforcing the league's position as one of the world's most valuable sports properties. The Mittal family and Adar Poonawalla also acquired Rajasthan Royals at a reported $1.65 billion valuation, further demonstrating deep global investor confidence in the league's durable business model.
A fundamental evolution in fan viewing habits is driving the IPL's soaring market valuation, effectively turning digital platforms into the league's primary arena. During the 2026 season, overall viewership expanded 7% year-on-year to hit an unprecedented 1.06 billion screens, according to JioStar. This growth was spearheaded by Connected TV, which surged by 26% even as traditional linear television ratings fell by 18.8%. The sheer scale of this migration was evident right from launch, with the opening weekend alone drawing 515 million viewers and accumulating an astonishing 32.6 billion minutes of watch time. With overall league revenues surpassing $1.8 billion for the season, this massive pivot toward digital streaming enables both broadcasters and franchises to move beyond traditional broadcasts, leveraging precise digital metrics to unlock highly targeted advertising partnerships and data-backed sponsorship models that maximize value far beyond the physical stadium.
