The Indian Premier League (IPL) ecosystem has witnessed a notable decline in its overall valuation, slipping by 8% to ₹76,100 crore from the previous year’s ₹82,700 crore. According to a recent report, this depreciation stems primarily from two key factors — the merger of major media broadcasters and the nationwide ban on real money gaming (RMG) platforms.
Key Drivers Behind the Decline
The downturn in the IPL’s ecosystem value has been largely shaped by significant off-field developments. The merger between Viacom18 and Disney Star in 2024 resulted in reduced competition for media rights, directly influencing overall revenue potential. Simultaneously, the ban on RMG companies, which were among the largest advertisers in both pre-match and in-match segments. It has severely curtailed the league’s commercial inflows.
This is the second consecutive year of decline for the IPL ecosystem, following a peak valuation of ₹92,500 crore in 2023. As per D&P Advisory’s annual valuation, the league’s value had already dipped to ₹87,000 crore in 2024. It reflects growing commercial headwinds in the IPL ecosystem.
Revenue Streams Under Pressure
Media rights continue to form the backbone of IPL’s revenue structure. The withdrawal of RMG companies from sponsorship and advertising has created a substantial funding gap for franchises, broadcasters, and ancillary partners. The report further notes a pronounced reduction in advertising, broadcast, and sponsorship revenues across the ecosystem.
While the annual sponsorship pool, “excluding media rights,” still remains significant at an estimated ₹1,500–2,000 crore, the loss of RMG advertisers has also had a ripple effect on fintech players and associated sectors that thrived on the same digital audience.
Franchise Valuation Holds Ground
Despite the overall ecosystem slowdown, franchise brand valuations have remained relatively resilient. The report highlights that the top four franchises such as Chennai Super Kings (CSK), Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), Mumbai Indians (MI), and Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) continue to command the highest brand equity. CSK and KKR have emerged as the top two franchises in revenue rankings, while RCB has climbed to third place, underscoring the enduring appeal of team-based loyalty and regional engagement.
Innovation and Digital Engagement
Looking forward, the report envisions e-sports as a promising new frontier for the IPL’s ecosystem. With millions of digitally native fans, e-sports collaborations — through co-branded tournaments, interactive activations, and live integrations — offer the potential to fill sponsorship gaps and create scalable engagement models.
The report emphasizes that innovative, compliant partnerships will be crucial for sustaining growth. Emerging strategies such as immersive “holds” — experiences designed to capture and retain mental engagement — are expected to redefine audience interaction.
The key stakeholders like OML Entertainment and Delhi Capitals are already exploring new formats of fan engagement, intellectual property expansion, and cross-platform collaborations. A growing focus on fintech, FMCG, and e-commerce partnerships, coupled with emotionally resonant brand storytelling, is likely to shape the next chapter of the IPL’s commercial evolution.
