The brand value of IPL teams is ranked every year by consultancy Brand Finance. In its 2023 report, Mumbai Indians led with about $87 million. In the latest report, released on 9 December 2025, Mumbai Indians again topped the list at $108 million, Royal Challengers Bengaluru were second at $105 million and Chennai Super Kings remained the strongest brand.
What Brand Finance measures
Brand Finance is a brand valuation consultancy that publishes an annual study of the Indian Premier League. It gives two kinds of numbers: the brand value of each franchise in US dollars, and a Brand Strength Index (BSI) score out of 100, which rates the strength of each brand.
It also estimates the total value of the IPL ecosystem, which covers the league, its teams, media rights and sponsorship. Other firms publish their own IPL valuations with different methods, so figures from different reports should not be mixed.
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Brand value of IPL teams: 2023 report
The 2023 report, covered by TSA in December 2023, made these points:
- Mumbai Indians kept the top spot as the most valuable IPL franchise brand, with brand value up 5% to about $87 million.
- Chennai Super Kings was the strongest IPL brand, with a BSI score of 81.8 out of 100.
- The total IPL ecosystem value was put at $10.7 billion, which the report described as crossing the decacorn mark.
- The 2023 season reached about 505 million TV viewers and 450 million digital viewers.
Latest report: IPL 2025 brand values
Brand Finance released its 2025 study on 9 December 2025. It found that the IPL ecosystem value fell 20%, from $12.0 billion in 2024 to $9.6 billion in 2025. The report said this was only the second fall in a decade, after the COVID-19 year of 2020.
| Rank (2025) | Team | Brand value | BSI score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mumbai Indians | $108 million | 85.0 |
| 2 | Royal Challengers Bengaluru | $105 million | 89.5 |
| 3 | Chennai Super Kings | Not stated in the release | 92.6 |
Chennai Super Kings scored 92.6 out of 100, making it the strongest IPL brand for the third year in a row. Values for the remaining seven teams were published in the full report chart and are not listed in the press release.
Why the IPL’s value dropped in 2025
Brand Finance linked the fall to three main factors:
- Geopolitical tension: the report cited the tense situation in the region during the 2025 season.
- Suspension of matches: the BCCI suspended several matches, including the playoffs, for a week over safety concerns.
- Mega auction reshuffle: uncertainty after the mega auction and the movement of players between teams.
There were positives too. Online viewing hit a record of over 384.6 billion minutes of watch time in IPL 2025, and the Women’s Premier League drew 103 million TV viewers across 15 games, with sponsorship revenue rising.
RCB: from title win to brand pressure
Royal Challengers Bengaluru won their first IPL trophy in 2025, after 18 years of trying. The win helped lift them to second place in Brand Finance’s value list.
However, the report noted that a stampede during the title celebrations at the team’s home stadium created strong negative sentiment, and said the franchise needs to work on restoring positive momentum. RCB went on to win the IPL again in 2026, beating Gujarat Titans by five wickets in the final.
What makes an IPL team brand strong
The IPL’s franchise model is studied by other sports leagues because it has built team brands that fans follow year after year. A few patterns stand out from the reports:
- Consistency: Chennai Super Kings has topped the strength index for three straight years, helped by steady results and a loyal following.
- Fan loyalty: RCB built one of the most loyal fan bases in the league long before its first title, which is why its brand ranked high even in lean years.
- Trophies: wins give a short-term lift in value and sponsor interest.
- Reputation: as RCB’s 2025 celebrations showed, off-field events can hurt sentiment even in a winning season.
How team brand values have changed
| Measure | 2023 report | 2025 report |
|---|---|---|
| Most valuable team | Mumbai Indians (about $87 million) | Mumbai Indians ($108 million) |
| Strongest brand (BSI) | Chennai Super Kings (81.8) | Chennai Super Kings (92.6) |
| IPL ecosystem value | $10.7 billion | $9.6 billion (down from $12.0 billion in 2024) |
Recent champions also shape brand value. Chennai Super Kings won in 2023, Kolkata Knight Riders in 2024 and Royal Challengers Bengaluru in both 2025 and 2026. The IPL’s media rights for 2023 to 2027 were sold to Viacom18 and Star Sports in 2023 for about $6.4 billion, which remains a key part of the league’s value.
The 2023 and 2025 reports both came out in December, so a fresh update may follow the 2026 season. For more sports business stories, see our finance and buzz sections.
Further reading: here.
Frequently asked questions
Which IPL team has the highest brand value?
Mumbai Indians, at $108 million in Brand Finance’s report released in December 2025. Royal Challengers Bengaluru were second at $105 million.
Which is the strongest IPL brand?
Chennai Super Kings, with a Brand Strength Index of 92.6 out of 100 in the 2025 report. It has held this position for three years in a row.
What is the total value of the IPL?
Brand Finance valued the IPL ecosystem at $9.6 billion in 2025, down 20% from $12.0 billion in 2024.
What was the brand value of Mumbai Indians in 2023?
About $87 million, up 5% from the previous year, which made it the most valuable IPL franchise brand in 2023.
Sources: Brand Finance, IPL 2025 press release, Indian Premier League, Wikipedia.
