Copyright The Cricket Times
Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) have emerged as the most valuable team in the Indian Premier League (IPL) T20, according to the IPL 2025 Brand Valuation Report by Houlihan Lokey. RCB leaves all IPL teams behind RCB’s brand value has skyrocketed to $269 million, reflecting an impressive 18.5% year-on-year growth – the biggest surge among all franchises. The team’s first-ever IPL title win, coupled with an expanding global digital footprint and record-breaking fan engagement, has propelled them to the top. Under the leadership of Rajat Patidar, RCB have turned years of fan devotion into measurable brand strength. Their victory parade in Bengaluru, which drew over half a million fans, highlighted the franchise’s booming popularity and commercial power. Mumbai Indians hold strong at No. 2 Despite RCB’s meteoric rise, Mumbai Indians (MI) continue to hold their ground as one of cricket’s most powerful brands, maintaining the second position with a brand value of $242 million. Supported by Reliance Industries, MI’s success comes from strategic sponsorships, merchandising excellence, and consistent on-field performance. Their 19% annual growth reflects stability and adaptability, even amid increasing competition. CSK falls to third for the first time in nearly a decade Chennai Super Kings (CSK), long regarded as one of the most iconic IPL teams, have dropped to third place for the first time in almost ten years. Their brand value saw only a marginal rise to $235 million, indicating a 1.7% growth – the slowest among the top three franchises. Analysts attribute this to a below-par IPL 2025 campaign and the reduced involvement of MS Dhoni, who took on a limited playing role this season. However, CSK’s fan loyalty, strong legacy and stable team under Ruturaj Gaikwad continue to make them one of the most trusted brands in world cricket. Punjab Kings lead as fastest-growing franchise Among the rising franchises, Punjab Kings (PBKS) recorded the highest brand value growth – an astonishing 39.6% increase compared to last year. The credit goes to their rebranding strategy, a revitalized management led by Bollywood actress Preity Zinta, and a young, energetic squad led by Shreyas Iyer. IPL’s overall brand value soars in 2025 The Indian Premier League’s brand ecosystem continues its impressive upward trajectory. The league’s overall business valuation reached a remarkable $18.5 billion, while the stand-alone brand value rose 13.8% to $3.9 billion. This surge is largely driven by lucrative media rights deals, global streaming partnerships, and record levels of fan engagement during the 2025 season. Also READ: Kane Williamson replaces Zaheer Khan as Lucknow Super Giants’ strategic advisor ahead of IPL 2026 Top 10 IPL teams by brand value ( October 2025) RankTeamBrand Value (USD Million)Growth (%)1Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB)26918.5%2Mumbai Indians (MI)24218.6%3Chennai Super Kings (CSK)2351.7%4Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR)2275.1%5Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH)15416.7%6Delhi Capitals (DC)15216.0%7Rajasthan Royals (RR)1469.8%8Gujarat Titans (GT)14214.5%9Punjab Kings (PBKS)14139.6%10Lucknow Super Giants (LSG)12234.1%
