According to a study by the investment bank Houlihan Lokey, the business value of the Indian Premier League (IPL) is projected to reach $20.6 billion by 2026. This underscores the ongoing double-digit growth of the world's richest cricket league and strengthens its position as one of the leading global sports assets.
Growth of the IPL brand value
The Houlihan Lokey 2026 study showed that the standalone value of the IPL brand increased to $4.3 billion, which is 10.3 percent higher compared to the previous year. In terms of match value, the league ranks only behind the National Football League globally.
Investor attraction and team growth
The league, launched in 2008, attracts owners who are also prominent national figures, such as Mukesh Ambani, India's second richest person, and Bollywood star Shah Rukh Khan. Annually, the league brings together the best players from around the world to the cricket-loving nation for approximately a two-month season.
Harsh Talikoti, Director of Financial and Valuation Advisory at Houlihan Lokey, noted that 'the IPL represents a unique blend of sport, media, and consumer opportunity, underpinned by strong revenue visibility, disciplined cost structure, and an expanding global audience.' The investment bank also reported that the business value of the IPL grew by 11.4 percent in 2026.
Significant team acquisition deals
Team valuations are rapidly rising amid several major deals. In May, a consortium led by steel billionaire Lakshmi Mittal and vaccine magnate Adar Punavalla announced the purchase of the Rajasthan Royals franchise for an amount equivalent to $1.65 billion. This followed the March sale of a stake in Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) to the consortium, which includes billionaire Kumar Mangalam Birla and The Times of India Group, by the alcohol company United Spirits Ltd. for just under $1.8 billion.



