Post their victory in the 2025 Indian Premier League (IPL), not only did Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) add sporting glory to their already well-established brand, which has arguably the biggest fanbase in the league, but the franchise also made significant strides on the commercial front.

As per a study done by global investment bank, Houlihan Lokey, Inc., the Bengaluru-based franchise is now the league's most valuable franchise. The feat was previously held by Chennai Super Kings but RCB have dethroned CSK from the top spot after growing by a stunning margin of 18.5%

RCB are now valued at a whopping value of $269m, while being at $227 in 2024. As far as CSK are concerned, they grew by 1.7% to $235 but have slipped by two places to the third spot following a 10th place finish. Mumbai Indians (MI) have also gained a place and are now the second most valued franchise in the league with an 18.6% growth.

There were no major changes in spots after the top three, but the league's least valued team saw a major rise as Punjab Kings (PBKS) and Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) gained by 39.6% and 34.1%. PBKS had an impressive season as they reached the final after 11 years After securing Shreyas Iyer's arrival, LSG made a big move in the auction by signing Indian cricket superstar Rishabh Pant.

IPL's Most Valued Teams (as per Houlihan Lokey, Inc.)

Team	Valuation (USD)	Rise from 2024
RCB	269m	18.5%
MI	242m	18.6%
CSK	235m	1.7%
KKR	227m	5.1%
SRH	154m	16.7%
DC	152m	16%
RR	146m	9.8%
GT	142m	14.5%
PBKS	141m	39.6%
LSG	122m	34.1%

Overall, the league's value rose by 12.9% to a whopping $18.5 million. The stand-alone value of the league also increased by 13.5% to $3.9 billion.

“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.

“From day one, we saw IPL as more than a cricket league—it was a scalable business model with high visibility, secure revenue streams, and strong brand-building potential. It was a heady mix of sports and entertainment, which eventually had the potential to deliver huge audiences and revenues. We now operate with the mindset of a media-sport brand with multiple revenue verticals, not just a cricket team—and that’s where real profitability lies. Over time, we have built a sustainable sports business—one that spans multiple leagues, drives platform-level content, attracts global brands, and creates IPs that outlast a season," said Saitsh Kumar, CEO of Punjab Kings.