The Indian Premier League (IPL) media rights auction is expected to remain flat at around $5.4 billion, indicating that the league’s rapid financial growth over the past two decades may eventually slow down. This key development comes from a detailed report published by Media Partners Asia.
Media Partners Asia released its report titled “IPL: Teams, Rights and Ratings,” On 24 March. The report clearly states that the upcoming IPL media rights cycle for 2028-2032 may not deliver the same huge financial leap that had earlier turned the league into a global giant.
The expansion of the IPL to a 94-match format has had a significant impact on the value of each individual game. While the total number of matches has increased, the broadcast value per match has fallen from $13.2 million to $11.5 million, indicating a clear change in the league’s monetization structure.
Also, less competition in the broadcasting sector has played a major role. The last IPL cycle saw an intense bidding war between Viacom18 and Disney, which pushed the value of the rights higher. However, that rivalry no longer exists after their merger, which led to the creation of the JioHotstar platform.
Advertising revenue has also slowed in recent seasons. Government regulations and restrictions have pushed out key spending categories like edtech companies, cryptocurrency platforms, and real-money gaming apps. This has had a direct impact on the overall business growth of the IPL ecosystem.
IPL faces revenue concerns despite high viewership
Despite record-breaking digital viewership, the financial side tells a different story. The report from Media Partners Asia estimates that current IPL media rights holders could lose between $1.8 billion and $2 billion, highlighting the growing gap between audience reach and actual revenues.
IPL franchises depend heavily on central media rights revenue, which contributes about 75 percent of their total earnings. If these rights values ​​remain stable, franchise valuations across the league could also reach an all-time high.
To deal with this situation, franchisees now need to focus on building independent revenue streams. The report suggests teams should expand global sponsorship deals, invest in international academies and strengthen direct-to-fan digital platforms to reduce reliance on central revenue.
Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings dominate the rankings
The report also includes a detailed IPL franchise scorecard that compares business strength with on-field success.
Mumbai Indians (MI) are currently ranked number one, followed by Chennai Super Kings (CSK), who have once again proved their huge brand value and consistent dominance in the league.
Despite having one of the largest fan bases globally, Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) is ranked fourth, largely driven by Virat Kohli’s popularity and engagement.
Meanwhile, Punjab Kings (PBKS) and Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) are placed at the bottom of this commercial ranking, highlighting the difference in brand strength compared to the top franchises.
The IPL 2026 season will begin on March 28 with Royal Challengers Bangalore taking on Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru. RCB will enter the tournament as defending champions after winning the 2025 title.
Also read: Virat Kohli’s RCB takes emotional step before IPL 2026, stampede victims will be honored
