RCB Becomes World’s First $300 Million Cricket Team… IPL Also Creates New Business Record

Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) has created history by achieving a brand value of $312 million (approx. ₹2,985 crore), earning the distinction of becoming the world’s first cricket team valued at over $300 million. Meanwhile, according to Houlihan Lokey’s 2026 report, the business value of the IPL has grown to $20.6 billion, placing it among the fastest-growing and most valuable sports leagues in the world.

The Indian Premier League (IPL) is continuously setting new records not only due to the boundaries and sixes hit on the field, but also in the business world. According to the 2026 brand valuation report, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) has become the first cricket team in the world whose brand value has crossed the 300 million dollar mark. The current brand value of RCB is estimated at 312 million dollars (approximately ₹2,985 crore).

According to a report by global investment bank Houlihan Lokey, the business enterprise value of the IPL has also increased to 20.6 billion dollars. This is 11.4 percent higher compared to last year, and the league has registered double-digit growth for the second consecutive year. Meanwhile, the standalone brand value of the IPL has increased by 10.3 percent to reach 4.3 billion dollars. Since 2023, the brand value of the league has increased by more than 1.1 billion dollars.

RCB retained its position as the most valuable IPL franchise for the second consecutive year. Its brand value increased by 16 percent in one year, rising from 269 million dollars in 2025 to 312 million dollars. Mumbai Indians is in second place on the list of most valuable franchises with 264 million dollars. Following them, Kolkata Knight Riders and Chennai Super Kings are in third and fourth place respectively, with a brand value of 245 million dollars and 244 million dollars.

Race to Invest in Franchises:

The report states that major investment deals this year have further strengthened IPL’s commercial power. A consortium consisting of Blackstone, Bolt Ventures, Aditya Birla Group, and Times of India Group acquired RCB at a valuation of 1.78 billion dollars. Meanwhile, Rajasthan Royals’ valuation stood at 1.65 billion dollars. These deals have made IPL franchises even more attractive to global investors.

1.06 Billion Screens Reached by IPL

The dominance of IPL on digital platforms continues to grow steadily. According to data from the official broadcaster JioHotStar, the IPL 2026 season reached 1.06 billion screens, while a 7 percent growth was recorded in total viewership. Connected TV remained the fastest-growing platform, where reach witnessed a jump of 26 percent. In contrast, traditional TV ratings recorded a decline of 18.8 percent. Driven by digital viewership, premium sponsorships, and expensive media rights, the total revenue of IPL reached over 1.8 billion dollars. Punjab Kings co-owner Ness Wadia said that he always believed IPL would be among the biggest sports leagues in the world, but such rapid it was not expected that it would achieve this position. He said that today, when global investors are investing in IPL franchises, it proves their thinking and decision taken in 2008 to be correct.

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