The 18th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) delivered record-shattering viewership and strong commercial returns.
The 2025 season began with 1.37 billion JioCinema views and 340 million peak concurrent viewers over its opening weekend (March 22–24), driving a combined 49.5 billion minutes of watch-time across digital and television platforms, the Economic Times reported.
Advertisers reportedly committed approximately ₹5,000 crore in league-wide ad spend, with over twenty sponsors, including My11Circle, CEAT, Dream11, RuPay, and Swiggy Instamart, and Tata Group continuing as title sponsor under a ₹2,500-crore, five-year deal extending through 2028.
According to Houlihan Lokey’s 2025 IPL Brand Valuation Study, the IPL’s total enterprise value rose 12.9% to $18.5 billion, underpinned by a ₹48,390-crore media-rights cycle (₹9,678 crore per season), over ₹3,000 crore in sponsorships, ₹200–300 crore in match-day revenue and ₹150–250 crore in merchandising and digital services. The tournament’s standalone brand value also climbed 13.8% to $3.9 billion.
RCB’s First IPL Win
Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s (RCB) maiden championship not only ended an 18-year title drought but also propelled it to the top of franchise valuation charts.
RCB became the most valuable team at $269 million, ahead of Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings (CSK), valued at $242 million and $235 million, the Houlihan Lokey report stated.
The June 3 final between RCB and Punjab Kings delivered 678 million digital streams and India’s highest sports-event television ratings since the 2011 World Cup final, helping RCB’s franchise valuation jump from $227 million in 2024 to $269 million in 2025, surpassing Chennai Super Kings and Mumbai Indians.
The IPL 2025 final became the most-watched match in T20 cricket history, amassing an unprecedented 49.5 billion minutes of watch-time. On television, the final garnered 253 million unique viewers and a watch-time of 15 billion minutes. Digitally, it reached 678 million views, with 340 million peak concurrent viewers and 21.8 billion minutes of watch-time.
IPL Business Model
The IPL’s revenue stems from four primary sources. First, broadcast and streaming rights generate substantial income. In the current five-year cycle (2023–27), television and digital partners paid approximately ₹48,390 crore (about ₹9,678 crore per season) to broadcast every match live.
Second, sponsorship and advertising around the league generate over ₹3,000 crore annually, with brands paying to be title sponsors, official partners (fantasy, tire, banking, etc.), and to run advertisements during broadcasts and on digital platforms.
Third, match-day revenue from ticket sales, hospitality packages, and in-stadium branding contributes another ₹200–300 crore per season.
Finally, teams and the central league office earn from merchandise, licensed products, and digital services (apps, NFTs, pay-per-view events), adding roughly ₹150–250 crore.
All central revenues, such as media and league-wide sponsorships, are pooled and split, with 80% distributed equally among the ten franchises and 20% allocated for the BCCI’s costs, prize money, and cricket development, ensuring both large and small teams benefit from the league’s overall growth.
Global Impact
Cricket’s T20 format is set to reach new audiences worldwide with its Olympic debut at the 2028 Los Angeles Games, featuring both men’s and women’s tournaments, marking the sport’s first appearance since 1900 and introducing cricket to North American viewers, the Hindu reported.
IPL franchise owners are capitalizing on this momentum by investing in overseas competitions, such as South Africa’s SA20, the UAE’s ILT20, and Major League Cricket in the USA, creating year-round global cricket properties.
As digital consumption grows and new markets emerge, experts forecast the IPL’s total enterprise value could exceed $25 billion by 2030, driven by expanded broadcast rights, international sponsorships, merchandise sales, and fan-engagement initiatives across multiple continents.
