IPL Valuation 2025 Dropped by ₹16,400 Crore – What Went Wrong?

If you’ve been following the Indian Premier League (IPL) closely, you know it’s more than just a cricket tournament—it’s an emotion, a festival, and a billion-dollar business. 

But here’s the twist: for the first time in IPL’s glorious history, the numbers are heading south. 

Yes, IPL Valuation 2025 dropped, and it’s not a small dip—it’s a sharp fall that’s making headlines across India’s business and sports circles.

Imagine this: a league that once seemed unstoppable, now seeing a valuation drop of nearly ₹16,400 crore in just two years. 

Surprised? You should be. 

The reasons behind this fall tell a story of changing markets, government bans, corporate shakeups, and shifting revenue models. Let’s decode it, so you understand exactly what’s going on—and what it means for the future of IPL, the BCCI, and even the fans like you.

From Skyrocketing Success to Sudden Slowdown

For years, IPL’s valuation graph looked like a rocket—it kept climbing. From its launch in 2008 with a value of around ₹19,500 crore, it grew to a jaw-dropping ₹92,500 crore by 2023, making it the fastest-growing sports league in the world. But since then, things have changed.

In 2024, the first decline came. By 2025, the fall became steeper, and now experts say the valuation will likely remain flat in 2026, meaning the boom years are officially on pause.

Here’s a quick look at how the IPL ecosystem value has shifted:-

In just two years, IPL lost about ₹16,400 crore in total valuation — that’s over $2.4 billion gone.

Why Did IPL Valuation 2025 Drop? The Real Reasons Explained

So, why did this happen? Let’s unpack the main factors that led to this stunning fall.

1. The Real Money Gaming (RMG) Ban – The Big Hit

You probably remember all those Dream11, MPL, and My11Circle ads during IPL matches, right? They were everywhere. These were Real Money Gaming (RMG) brands — and they were some of IPL’s biggest advertisers and sponsors.

But with the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act 2025, all money-based gaming ads and sponsorships were banned. This instantly erased ₹1,500–₹2,000 crore of annual revenue from the IPL ecosystem. 

This ban left a giant hole in IPL’s financial structure. Broadcasters and franchises are now scrambling to fill that space with safer brands from sectors like automobiles, BFSI, healthcare, and consumer tech, but the spending gap is still massive.

2. Media Rights Consolidation – The End of Auction Fever

Another big factor is the media rights consolidation after the Jio-Disney+ Hotstar merger.

Earlier, IPL’s media rights auctions were like a high-stakes cricket match themselves — two big players, JioCinema and Disney+ Hotstar, would compete fiercely, driving up prices every cycle. But now, both are under one umbrella.

No competition = No bidding war = Slower growth.

In simpler words, the broadcast monopoly cooled down the market. The 2024–2027 rights cycle now looks stable but not explosive. While this ensures steady revenue, it also means less chance of those record-breaking rights deals that once fueled IPL’s rapid valuation climb.

3. The Women’s Premier League (WPL) Also Feels the Heat

The Women’s Premier League (WPL), which began with much excitement in 2023, is also facing turbulence. Its valuation fell from ₹1,350 crore in 2024 to ₹1,275 crore in 2025, a drop of about 5.6%.

Like the men’s IPL, the WPL has also lost gaming sponsors and is struggling to attract new big-ticket brands. The end of Dream11’s three-season deal has added more uncertainty.

Even though viewership for WPL 2025 rose by 150% on TV and 70% digitally, the commercial side hasn’t kept pace — showing that eyeballs don’t always mean rupees.

4. BCCI Revenue Takes a Hit

When IPL valuation 2025 dropped, it wasn’t just the league that suffered — the BCCI’s revenue felt the tremors too.

In FY2024, BCCI’s operating revenue stood at ₹9,742 crore, and over ₹5,741 crore of that came directly from IPL. With the league losing value, BCCI’s income could dip in the coming financial year.

This decline means the cricket board will have to rethink its strategies — possibly exploring new sponsorship categories, global streaming rights, and tech-based fan engagement models to regain lost ground.

5. Over-Reliance on Broadcast Revenue

Experts like Santosh N, Managing Partner at D&P Advisory, believe that IPL’s over-dependence on broadcast revenue is one of its biggest weaknesses. Currently, Indian franchises earn only about 15–20% of their total revenue independently, compared to 40–50% in Western leagues like the NFL or EPL.

That means if media rights falter, everyone feels the pain — the board, the teams, and the sponsors.

Santosh points out that if the RMG ban hadn’t happened, the valuation might not have fallen so drastically. But since IPL relies heavily on a few big revenue sources, one major shock can trigger a chain reaction.

The IPL Franchise Story: Winners, Losers & Survivors

Despite the financial shakeup, some IPL franchises continue to shine in terms of brand value and fan loyalty. According to D&P’s “Beyond 22 Yards 2025” report, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) tops the brand rankings, followed by Mumbai Indians (MI) and Chennai Super Kings (CSK). 

However, these teams, too, are feeling the pinch. Many lost front-jersey sponsors due to the gaming ban, and replacing those deals is no small task. Traditional brands offer lower sponsorship fees, which directly cuts into franchise profits.

Still, franchise loyalty is stronger than ever. Fans are filling stadiums, merchandise sales are steady, and digital engagement is at an all-time high — showing that emotionally, the IPL brand is still rock-solid.

The Viewership Paradox: More Fans, Less Money

Here’s the strange part — while IPL valuation 2025 dropped, viewership actually grew.

People like you are watching more IPL than ever before. According to D&P Advisory, non-important matches also saw massive engagement, showing that IPL has become a ritual for Indian fans.

But here’s the problem — more viewers don’t always mean more money. Since digital ad rates have fallen due to the RMG exit, broadcasters are struggling to monetise the massive audience effectively.

In short: more eyeballs, fewer rupees.

What’s Next for IPL Valuation in 2026?

So, what’s ahead for IPL after this tough patch? Experts predict that in 2026, the valuation will remain mostly flat, with only a small variation of 3–4%.

Santosh N explains that unless new players enter the 2027 media rights race (like Sony-Zee or a consortium of tech platforms such as Netflix, Amazon, and Apple), there won’t be much competition — and without competition, prices can’t skyrocket.

Karan Taurani from Elara Capital agrees. He believes IPL’s exponential growth phase might be over for now, but there’s still stability — which is good news for long-term investors and fans.

The Silver Lining – Resilience & Reinvention

Even with the IPL valuation 2025 dropped, it’s not all doom and gloom. The IPL ecosystem still holds massive potential. The league’s over one billion viewers, growing digital audience, and emotional fan loyalty remain unmatched in the sporting world.

There’s also innovation on the horizon:

• Regional language streaming is boosting engagement.
  
• Connected TV adoption is changing how fans watch.
  
• Interactive viewing formats are bringing fans closer to the action.
  
• New sponsor categories like fintech 2.0, EVs, and healthcare are showing growing interest.
  

In short, while the valuation might have hit a bump, the IPL brand is far from broken. It’s just evolving.

Expert Insights: The Road Ahead

Santosh N sums it up best:

“The challenge ahead is to replace volatile categories with more stable, diversified value streams, ensuring that India’s premier sports league continues to compound sustainably.”

Karan Taurani adds:

“Valuation can only be driven by business. We must innovate with new technologies to push IPL forward.”

The focus now will shift toward creating sustainable monetisation models, including:

• Subscription-based viewing bundles
  
• Regional streaming packages
  
• Integrated e-commerce experiences
  
• Partnerships with global tech players for digital rights
  

These strategies could spark the next wave of IPL growth — one that’s stable, diversified, and less dependent on risky categories like gaming.

Final Thoughts: The IPL Isn’t Losing, It’s Learning

Yes, IPL Valuation 2025 dropped — and that headline sounds alarming. But every giant industry faces a reset moment. For IPL, this might be that much-needed pause — a chance to innovate, evolve, and rebuild stronger foundations.

The numbers may have fallen, but the passion hasn’t. Stadiums are still full. Fans like you still cheer your hearts out. Kids still dream of becoming the next Kohli or Dhoni.

What IPL needs now is time, strategy, and smarter business innovation. Because if history tells us anything, the Indian Premier League always bounces back — and when it does, it does it in style.

In summary:-

• IPL valuation 2025 dropped by 8% to ₹76,100 crore.
  
• Two key reasons: RMG advertising ban and media rights consolidation.
  
• BCCI’s revenue could drop from ₹9,742 crore to ~₹8,500 crore.
  
• WPL also declined by 5.6%.
  
• Franchises like RCB, MI, and CSK still dominate brand value.
  
• Viewership is up, but monetisation challenges remain.
  
• 2026 outlook: Stable with minor 3–4% movement.
  

So yes, the numbers might be down — but the spirit of IPL? Still unbeaten.