Mumbai Indians (MI) have emerged as the most valuable franchise of the Indian Premier League (IPL), even as the overall brand value of the league has declined. According to Brand Finance’s annual report on the most valuable IPL brands, MI is ahead of Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) and Chennai Super Kings (CSK).
The value of the IPL in 2025 saw a huge decline as geopolitical issues and mega auctions created uncertainty among the teams. According to the annual valuation report, the marquee tournament ecosystem fell to $9.6 billion from $12 billion last year as external and internal changes impacted its overall value.
IPL brand value hits five-year low as major franchises face double-digit decline
According to a report by Brand Finance on Tuesday, the IPL is in a much-needed revamp phase that could help the league rebuild its long-term brand strength.
“Geopolitical disruptions, lost momentum and missteps in the auction led teams to rearrange their team composition to make up for poor match-day performances,” it added. “IPL 2025 certainly marks a period of recovery, positioning the league to regain momentum and strengthen its long-term brand value.”
Azimon Francis, Managing Director, Brand Finance India, said, “We estimate that the IPL 2025 ecosystem created over 1.5 million direct, indirect jobs in India alone, acting as a significant economic engine during approximately 100 days every year.”
Mumbai Indians are back as IPL’s most valuable team
The report says that Mumbai Indians are back as the most valuable team of IPL. However, their value fell 9% to $108 million. Brand Finance said that their playoff qualification, loyal fans and strong sponsors helped them regain the top spot after losing to CSK last year.
The team, owned by Reliance Industries, has remained one of the biggest brands of the IPL since the league began. However, the overall brand value of the tournament has declined ahead of the 2026 season.
Most valuable IPL franchises:
| Team | Brand Value ($in) |
|---|---|
| Mumbai Indians (MI) | $108 million |
| Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) | $105 million |
| Chennai Super Kings (CSK) | $93 million |
| Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) | $74 million |
| Gujarat Titans (GT) | $70 million |
| Punjab Kings (PBKS) | $66 million |
| Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) | $59 million |
| Delhi Capitals (DC) | $59 million |
| Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) | $56 million |
| Rajasthan Royals (RR) | $53 million |
RCB trails Mumbai Indians in updated IPL brand-value rankings
Royal Challengers Bengaluru trails Mumbai Indians in the latest brand-value table with a valuation of $105 million. Despite winning their first title their value dropped 10%. Chennai Super Kings are in third place with $93 million after a massive 24% decline from last place in 2025.
Many teams had to face even heavier defeats. Kolkata Knight Riders, Sunrisers Hyderabad and Rajasthan Royals each saw a decline of more than 30%. Delhi Capitals also slipped 26% after missing the playoffs.
Gujarat Titans were the only team to register a modest increase, rising 2% to $70 million. Punjab Kings and Lucknow Super Giants performed better than many others, improving or maintaining their positions in the rankings with only minor declines.
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