RCB’s first trophy wins them the brand race; IPL hits $3.9 billion value: Report

Royal Challengers Bengaluru's players pose for photographs with the trophy after winning the Indian Premier League T20 final cricket match against Punjab Kings at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on June 4, 2025. (AFP)

Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s maiden Indian Premier League (IPL) title this year has made the Rajat Patidar-led side the most valuable brand of the world’s richest Twenty20 domestic league.

The famous victory, combined with bold strategic moves on and off the field, established RCB as the number one IPL brand in 2025, with a brand value of $269 million, global investment bank Houlihan Lokey said on July 8.

RCB, which ended a 17-year agonising wait to lift their first trophy in June, struck a perfect balance between continuity and reinvention, Houlihan Lokey's 2025 IPL Brand Valuation Study said.

A key move was appointing Patidar as captain while retaining Virat Kohli as a senior batter and mentor — preserving the wisdom of legacy while empowering new leadership, the report added.

The Mumbai Indians (MI) continue to uphold their reputation as one of the IPL’s premier brands, securing the number two spot in 2025 with a brand valuation of $242.0 million.

Ahead of the season, the franchise refreshed its leadership structure, bringing in Mahela Jayawardene as head coach while entrusting Hardik Pandya to lead the side.

Chennai Super Kings (CSK), which has won the IPL five times like MI, continue to be a benchmark for brand stability in the league, holding the third spot, with a brand value of $235 million despite a forgettable outing this year.

The team’s enduring appeal remains anchored in strategic continuity, calm leadership, and the iconic presence of MS Dhoni, the report said.

Punjab Kings (PBKS) recorded the highest year-on-year growth, registering a 39.6 percent increase in brand value over 2024, followed closely by Lucknow Super Giants, which saw a rise of more than 34 percent.

The stand-alone brand value of the IPL has increased by 13.8 percent to $3.9 billion over the past year.

As an indicator of the IPL’s growing appeal, the Board of Control for Cricket in India’s (BCCI) sale of four associate-sponsor slots — My11Circle, Angel One, RuPay, and CEAT — generated Rs 1,485 crore, a 25 percent increase over the previous cycle.

The Tata Group extended its title-sponsorship commitment through 2028 in a lucrative five-year deal worth $300 million (Rs 2,500 crore).

The IPL 2025 witnessed staggering viewership across both digital and television platforms.

During the opening weekend (March 22–24), JioHotstar recorded 1,370 million views, 35 percent year-on-year (YoY) growth, with a peak of 340 million concurrent viewers and 21,860 million minutes watched, the report said.

Simultaneously, Star Sports drew 253 million unique TV viewers, up 14 percent YoY, resulting in a combined 49,560 million minutes of watch time.

The IPL 2025 final between RCB and PBKS recorded more than 67.8 crore views on the official streaming platform JioHotstar, higher than the India-Pakistan clash during the ICC Championship in February.

“The IPL continues to set benchmarks in sports business. Franchise valuations have soared, media rights deals have reached record highs, and brand partnerships have diversified across sectors,” said Harsh Talikoti, Director, Financial and Valuation Advisory at Houlihan Lokey.