The Indian Premier League (IPL) is more than just a cricket tournament – it’s a mix of sports, entertainment, and massive money. In 2025, the league’s total business value rose to USD 18.5 billion, with its standalone brand value at USD 3.9 billion, showing strong year-on-year growth.
The ownership transition was finalized in March 2026, as United Spirits Limited (USL) completed the full divestiture of its stake for INR 166.6 billion ($2 billion) to a consortium led by the Aditya Birla Group and Blackstone.
In this blog, we’ll reveal the top 10 richest IPL teams as of 2026 and break down what’s driving their financial success.
List of Richest Cricket Teams In IPL
In the table below, I’ve shared a list of the richest cricket teams in IPL, including their net worth and brand value:
| Rank | IPL Team | Brand Value (USD) | Net Worth (INR) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Royal Challengers Bangalore | $269 million | ₹2,327 Crore |
| 2 | Mumbai Indians | $242 million | ₹2,094 Crore |
| 3 | Chennai Super Kings | $235 million | ₹2,033 Crore |
| 4 | Kolkata Knight Riders | $222 million | ₹1,918 Crore |
| 5 | Sunrisers Hyderabad | $154 million | ₹1,331 Crore |
| 6 | Delhi Capitals | $152 million | ₹1,314 Crore |
| 7 | Rajasthan Royals | $146 million | ₹1,262 Crore |
| 8 | Gujarat Titans | $142 million | ₹1,227 Crore |
| 9 | Punjab Kings | $141 million | ₹1,219 Crore |
| 10 | Lucknow Super Giants | $122 million | ₹1,054 Crore |
Now that you know the richest IPL teams, IPL is also the richest cricket league in the world. Let’s see why these team values keep increasing year after year.
1. Royal Challengers Bangalore
The Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) are now the most valuable franchise in the Indian Premier League (IPL), with a brand value of $269 million, a significant rise from the previous year. Known for their massive fan base and strong brand presence, RCB has finally ended their title drought.
After finishing as runners-up in 2009 (under Anil Kumble), 2011 (under Daniel Vettori), and 2016 (under Virat Kohli), RCB appointed Rajat Patidar as captain for the 2025 season—a move that proved historic. Under his leadership, RCB clinched their first-ever IPL title, which also propelled them to the top of the brand value rankings.
In March 2026, the franchise underwent a major ownership change as the Aditya Birla Group-led consortium acquired the team for approximately $1.78 billion. Despite the change in leadership at the corporate level, the team entered the 2026 season as defending champions with Rajat Patidar continuing at the helm.
2. Mumbai Indians
The Mumbai Indians (MI) continue to be one of the most successful and financially strong franchises in the Indian Premier League (IPL). Owned by Reliance Industries through its subsidiary Indiawin Sports, MI’s brand value has grown to approximately $242 million (₹2,094 crore) in 2025.
On the field, MI has lifted the IPL trophy five times in 2013, 2015, 2017, 2019, and 2020, all under Rohit Sharma’s captaincy. As of the 2026 season, the team is now led by Hardik Pandya, who successfully guided them to a resurgent 2025 campaign, reaching Qualifier 2 before a narrow loss..
Despite finishing tenth in 2024, MI showed a strong recovery in 2025, reaching the playoffs and securing their position as the second most valuable brand in the league.
3. Chennai Super Kings
The Chennai Super Kings (CSK) are currently the third most valuable franchise in the Indian Premier League (IPL), with a brand value of $235 million, showing a slight increase from $231 million last year.
CSK has won the IPL title five times—in 2010, 2011, 2018, 2021, and 2023. Their 2023 win under Mahendra Singh Dhoni in a rain-affected final against Gujarat Titans is still one of the most iconic moments in IPL history.
However, after the 2025 season, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) claimed their maiden IPL title and surpassed CSK in brand value, taking the top spot.
For the 2026 season, Ruturaj Gaikwad continues as the captain, though the team is looking to bounce back after a challenging 2025 season where they finished near the bottom of the table due to key injuries. Despite this, CSK remains one of the league’s most powerful teams, backed by loyal fans and major sponsors like TVS Eurogrip and Gulf Oil.
4. Kolkata Knight Riders
The Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) stand as one of the most financially robust franchises in the Indian Premier League (IPL), having a net worth of $222 million. Their financial strength is bolstered by a combination of on-field success and strategic management.
KKR has clinched the IPL title three times: in 2012 and 2014 under the leadership of Gautam Gambhir, and in 2024 with Shreyas Iyer as captain. Ajinkya Rahane took over the captaincy in 2025 and continues to lead the squad in 2026 as they aim for their fourth title.
5. Sunrisers Hyderabad
As of 2026, Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH), owned by the Sun TV Network, stands as a prominent franchise in the Indian Premier League (IPL). The team clinched their maiden IPL title in 2016 under the leadership of David Warner, defeating Royal Challengers Bangalore in a memorable final.
In recent years, SRH has delivered strong performances, finishing as runners-up in both the 2018 and 2024 seasons. The franchise’s brand value surged by over 80%, reaching approximately $154 million in 2025. Heading into 2026, Ishan Kishan was named the new captain to lead a revamped squad
6. Delhi Capitals
The Delhi Capitals are valued at approximately $152 million. DC, owned by the GMR Group and JSW Sports, the team has seen significant growth since its inception as the Delhi Daredevils in 2008.
Despite their strong performances, the Capitals are yet to secure an IPL title. Their closest attempt came in 2020, when they reached the finals under the captaincy of Shreyas Iyer, ultimately falling short against the Mumbai Indians.
Currently, the team is led by Axar Patel, who took over the captaincy in 2025 and led them to a 5th-place finish, narrowly missing the playoffs. With a robust strategic management, the Delhi Capitals continue to be formidable contenders in the league.
7. Rajasthan Royals
The Rajasthan Royals (RR) remain a formidable presence in the Indian Premier League (IPL). The franchise is valued at approximately $146 million, reflecting its consistent performance and robust brand value.
RR clinched their sole IPL title in 2008, under the leadership of the legendary Shane Warne. In recent years, Sanju Samson has captained the team, leading them to a runner-up finish in 2022 and a playoff appearance in 2024.
In 2026, Riyan Parag became the new captain following Sanju Samson’s trade to Chennai Super Kings. Additionally, a US-based consortium led by Kal Somani finalized a massive $1.63 billion acquisition of the team in early 2026.
8. Gujarat Titans
Established in 2022, the Gujarat Titans quickly made their mark in the IPL by clinching the championship in their debut season under the leadership of Hardik Pandya. Gujarat Titans (GT), a relatively new contender, boasts a brand valuation of $142 million.
They continued their strong performance by reaching the finals again in 2023, though they narrowly lost to Chennai Super Kings in a rain-affected match. In 2024, Shubman Gill took over as captain, leading the team through a transitional phase. By 2025, the Torrent Group took over a 67% majority stake in the franchise from CVC Capital Partners.
9. Punjab Kings
The Punjab Kings (PBKS) continue their pursuit of a maiden title. The franchise made headlines by acquiring Shreyas Iyer for a sum of INR 26.75 crore, making him the second most expensive player in IPL history.
Iyer, who previously led Kolkata Knight Riders to an IPL title in 2024, brings a wealth of leadership experience to PBKS. Punjab Kings (PBKS) holds a brand valuation of $141 million.
Despite their efforts, PBKS has yet to secure an IPL championship, with their best performance being runners-up in 2014 under the captaincy of George Bailey.
10. Lucknow Super Giants
The Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) franchise is owned by Indian billionaire Sanjiv Goenka, who heads the RP Sanjiv Goenka Group. Established in 2022, LSG has quickly become a formidable presence in the IPL, reaching the playoffs in both 2022 and 2023, though they finished 7th in the league stage in 2024.
The team is captained by wicketkeeper-batsman Rishabh Pant, who was acquired for a record-breaking ₹27 crore in the 2025 mega auction. Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), a newer addition to the IPL, has a brand valuation of $122 million.
Top 5 Richest IPL Team Owners
Here’s a list of the top 5 richest IPL team owners:
1. Mukesh Ambani (Mumbai Indians)
Mukesh Ambani, India’s richest man, owns the Mumbai Indians through his company, Reliance Industries, which runs the team via IndiaWin Sports. Reliance, a leader in oil, gas, telecom (with Jio), and retail, purchased the Mumbai Indians in 2008 for $111.9 million.
The team’s current valuation is $242 million in 2025. Ambani’s net worth stands at $92.8 billion, making him the wealthiest IPL owner.
2. Torrent Group and CVC Capital Partners (Gujarat Titans)
The Gujarat Titans franchise is co-owned by Torrent Group and CVC Capital Partners. The team, captained by Shubman Gill and coached by Ashish Nehra, won their maiden IPL title in 2022 under Hardik Pandya in their debut season.
CVC acquired the franchise in 2021 for ₹5,625 crore and holds a 33% stake, while Torrent Group owns 67%. Torrent, based in Ahmedabad, is a major player in pharmaceuticals, power, and gas, with a net worth of ₹17.9 billion.
The franchise was valued at $142 million in 2024, with the owners’ combined net worth at $207.98 billion, making them the second-richest IPL owners.
3. N. Srinivasan (Chennai Super Kings)
N. Srinivasan, former BCCI president and Vice Chairman of India Cements, owns the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) franchise. He purchased CSK in 2008 for $91 million. By 2022, CSK became India’s first sports unicorn with a market cap of ₹7,600 crores.
As of 2026, CSK is the most valuable IPL franchise, valued at $235 million—up 9% from the previous year. India Cements has also expanded its cricket presence, acquiring teams in South Africa and the USA.
4. JSW Group and GMW Group (Delhi Capitals)
The Delhi Capitals franchise was purchased by the GMR Group for $84 million in 2008. In 2018, Parth Jindal, Managing Director of JSW Cement and Director of JSW Sports, acquired a 50% stake, becoming a co-owner alongside GMR Group.
As of 2026, the Delhi Capitals are valued at $152 million, ranking among the top IPL teams. GM Rao has a net worth of $3.2 billion, while JSW Group is valued at $24 billion, making them the fourth-richest IPL owners.
5. Dr Sanjeev Goenka (Lucknow Super Giants)
The Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) are owned by Dr. Sanjeev Goenka’s RPSG Group, which secured the franchise for a record ₹7,090 crore in 2021. Goenka, with a net worth of $4.5 billion, is the fifth-richest IPL owner.
RPSG Group operates across various industries, including power, retail, IT, and more, and also owns teams in cricket and football.
In addition to LSG, Goenka owns the Durban Super Giants in SA20 and holds a 49% stake in Manchester Originals. As of 2026, LSG is valued at $122 million and has reached the playoffs in its first two seasons.
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Conclusion: RCB is the Richest IPL Team as of 2026!
Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) lead the IPL in brand value, becoming the richest franchise after winning their maiden title and reaching a valuation of USD 269 million. Their fan base, improved on-field performance, and commercial partnerships continue to strengthen their position.
Although the ownership group has begun a strategic review of the franchise, RCB’s cricket operations and 2026 season preparations remain unaffected. Meanwhile, Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and Mumbai Indians (MI) continue to hold strong commercial influence, and teams like KKR and SRH are steadily rising in value.
With IPL viewership, sponsorship, and global fan engagement increasing every season, the financial race among franchises is set to grow even more competitive.
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