The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 kicked off on March 22 with much anticipation, as the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) unveiled the schedule for the initial two weeks of the tournament. During this period, a total of 21 matches are scheduled to be held across 10 cities, promising an exciting start to the season.
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Over the years, the IPL has transcended beyond being just a cricket league, evolving into what is now termed a "decacorn" - a privately held company valued at over $10 billion.
India Today's Data Intelligence Unit revealed that the IPL's brand value witnessed a remarkable surge of 28 per cent, reaching a staggering $10.7 billion. This growth trajectory reflects a remarkable 433 per cent increase since its inception in 2008, underscoring its status as a global sporting powerhouse.
Which is the most valuable IPL franchise?
Team valuations within the IPL further exemplify the league's financial prowess. Mumbai Indians lead the pack with a valuation of $87 million, closely followed by Chennai Super Kings at $81 million.
The correlation between on-field success and financial valuation might not be evident, with Kolkata Knight Riders and Royal Challengers Bangalore securing the third and fourth positions, valued at $79 million and $70 million, respectively. Meanwhile, Punjab Kings trails with a valuation of $45 million.
The previous season witnessed notable growth among certain franchises, with Lucknow Super Giants recording an impressive 48 per cent increase in valuation, closely followed by Gujarat Titans with a 38 per cent surge. However, Sunrisers Hyderabad experienced a marginal decline of one per cent in brand value, highlighting the dynamic nature of franchise valuations within the league.
| Teams | Valuation | Titles won |
| Mumbai Indians | $87m | 5 |
| Chennai Super Kings | $81m | 5 |
| Kolkata Knight Riders | $79m | 2 |
| Royal Challengers Bengaluru | $70m | 0 |
| Gujarat Titans | $65m | 1 |
| Delhi Capitals | $64m | 0 |
| Rajasthan Royals | $63m | 1 |
| Sunrisers Hyderabad | $48m | 1 |
| Lucknow Super Giants | $47m | 0 |
| Punjab Kings | $45m | 0 |
The exponential growth of the IPL's brand value is underscored by its meteoric rise from $4.7 billion in 2021 to $10.7 billion in 2024. This doubling of brand value within a span of just two years reflects the league's robust ecosystem, encompassing broadcasting rights, revenue streams, stadium attendance, sponsorships, title rights, television and online viewership, player valuations, team valuations, and advertising avenues.
Internationally, the IPL continues to dominate the cricketing landscape, boasting a valuation of $10,681 million in 2023. It surpasses other prominent cricket leagues such as England's The Hundred League, South Africa's T20 League, and Pakistan Super League in terms of brand value. However, it still trails behind leading football leagues like La Liga, Bundesliga, and Barclays Premier League, indicating potential avenues for further growth and expansion.
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Which is the most successful franchise in IPL?
With their win in 2023, CSK became the joint-most successful franchise in IPL, along with their biggest rivals, Mumbai Indians (MI).
CSK have made it to the finals 10 times, the most by any team in IPL history. They reached the final of the inaugural edition in 2008, only to lose to Rajasthan Royals (RR).
However, they didn't have to wait for too long to win their first IPL trophy as they defeated MI in the 2010 final. They retained their crown in 2011, and added two more titles in 2018 and 2021 before winning their fifth this year.
MI won their first trophy in 2013 and three more titles every alternate year - 2015, 2017, 2019. They became only the second side in IPL to retain the title by winning IPL 2020 in a ruthless display throughout the campaign.
What's more, MI and CSK have contested in the most finals against each other, clashing four times (2010, 2013, 2015, 2019).
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List of all IPL winners
| Year | Winners | Runners-up | Winning captain |
| 2008 | Rajasthan Royals | Chennai Super Kings | Shane Warne |
| 2009 | Deccan Chargers | Royal Challengers Bangalore | Adam Gilchrist |
| 2010 | Chennai Super Kings | Mumbai Indians | MS Dhoni |
| 2011 | Chennai Super Kings | Royal Challengers Bangalore | MS Dhoni |
| 2012 | Kolkata Knight Riders | Chennai Super Kings | Gautam Gambhir |
| 2013 | Mumbai Indians | Chennai Super Kings | Rohit Sharma |
| 2014 | Kolkata Knight Riders | Punjab Kings (then Kings XI Punjab) | Gautam Gambhir |
| 2015 | Mumbai Indians | Chennai Super Kings | Rohit Sharma |
| 2016 | Sunrisers Hyderabad | Royal Challengers Bangalore | David Warner |
| 2017 | Mumbai Indians | Rising Pune Supergiants | Rohit Sharma |
| 2018 | Chennai Super Kings | Sunrisers Hyderabad | MS Dhoni |
| 2019 | Mumbai Indians | Chennai Super Kings | Rohit Sharma |
| 2020 | Mumbai Indians | Delhi Capitals | Rohit Sharma |
| 2021 | Chennai Super Kings | Kolkata Knight Riders | MS Dhoni |
| 2022 | Gujarat Titans | Rajasthan Royals | Hardik Pandya |
| 2023 | Chennai Super Kings | Gujarat Titans | MS Dhoni |
