Most Valuable IPL Teams after the IPL 2025 Season: RCB Tops the List

IPL Brand Value in 2025

Before looking at the most valuable IPL teams list, let's first have a look at how the IPL’s brand value has changed in 2025. Houlihan Lokey's recent IPL brand valuation update shows a 12.9% growth to $18.5 billion (₹1.56 trillion) in market value, making the IPL one of the most expensive sporting brands globally.

The report further added that the IPL’s standalone brand value has also increased up to 13.8% to $3.9 billion (₹32,721 crore). The league received ₹1,485 crores via the sale of four associate-sponsor spots, demonstrating its expanding market value. The TATA Group also extended the title sponsorship of the tournament until 2028 with a $300 million deal.

List of the Most Valuable IPL Teams (2025)

This most valuable IPL teams list has been created on the basis of the latest market value update of the Indian Premier League (IPL) by the global investment bank Houlihan Lokey’s latest report.

The IPL 2026 Start and Final Match Date and Venue

The IPL Governing Council and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) have officially announced the dates for the IPL 2026 and 2027 seasons, enabling broadcasters and teams to plan accordingly for the upcoming editions.

The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 season will be starting a week earlier than the IPL 2025 season started. The IPL 2026 season’s opening match is expected to be played on 15 March 2026 and it will continue until May 31st. 

The defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) are anticipated to play in the season's opening match at M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru, which will also host the Qualifier 1 and the IPL 2026 Final match. This is in accordance with IPL rules and regulations and historical records, which state that the final match is always played at the home field of the IPL reigning champions.

Meanwhile, there is still no confirmation on when the IPL 2026 player auction will be held. Unlike the IPL 2025 Mega Auction, which was held across 2 days in Saudi Arabia, the IPL 2026 Auction will be a one-day affair.

During a mini-auction season, the teams are not limited to a certain amount of player retention, but a franchise can retain the entire squad if it wants. The Auction is a brilliant option for teams to improve on their weaknesses. 

IPL 2024 Champions Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), Rajasthan Royals (RR), Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) and Chennai Super Kings (CSK) are likely to be the most active teams in the IPL 2026 Auction. All 10 teams are likely to announce the retained and released players list in November 2025. 

While there is still no confirmation on the date, the auction itself is likely to be held at the end of December, around Christmas time. Fans are already guessing which player their team might sign in the auction.

10. Lucknow Super Giants - $122 Million

The Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) are ranked tenth. They were one of the two new entrants in the league in 2022 during the IPL expansion project. The franchise is owned by the RPSG Group, who bought the rights to host a Lucknow-based franchise for a whopping ₹7,090 crore, making it the most expensive IPL franchise of all time.

In the IPL 2025 season, they finished in 7th position in the points table with 12 points from 6 wins and 8 losses, as they failed in back-to-back seasons to qualify for the playoffs.

The franchise has been valued at $122 million (₹1,020 crore) in Houlihan Lokey’s latest market valuation update, seeing a 34% change from last year.

LSG qualified for the IPL playoffs in their first two seasons in 2022 and 2023. However, their inability to reach the top 4 in the last two seasons hasn’t affected much; rather, it has been a very slow rise in value. In 2024, the franchise was valued at $91 million, going from $83 million after the IPL 2023 season.

9. Punjab Kings - $141 Million

The Punjab Kings (PBKS) had a great IPL campaign in the year 2025, as they finished not only top of the points table at the end of the league phase, but the Kings also reached the final of the IPL 2025 season. Unfortunately, though, they lost against Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in the final match at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.

It was after a long gap of 10 years that the Punjab Kings (formerly Kings XI Punjab) qualified for the IPL playoffs. Their performance has seen a significant change in market value after IPL 2025. The Kings are now valued at $141 million (₹1,181 crore).

The Punjab Kings have seen a rise in market value by 39.6% from their last market valuation of $101 million in 2024 and $90 million in 2023.

The Punjab Kings (previously known as Kings XI Punjab), co-owned by Preity Zinta and Ness Wadia, are one of the eight founding members of the IPL in 2008. However, their journey in the IPL hasn't been great, and their best finishes have been losing the IPL final in 2014 and 2025 against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), respectively.

With a very solid group of players and a great captain in Shreyas Iyer, the Kings will be hoping to challenge for the league title once again in 2026.

8. Gujarat Titans - $142 Million

At number 8 in the list are the Gujarat Titans. Together with the Lucknow Super Giants, the Titans were also included in the league in 2022 as part of the expansion plan.

At the auction, CVC Capital Partners purchased the franchise for ₹5,625 crore. They had a great start to their journey in the IPL, winning their debut IPL season in 2022 under the leadership of captain Hardik Pandya. They qualified for the final again in 2023 but lost to CSK in the final.

However, after failing to qualify for the top four in 2024, the franchise finished third in the points table this year but was eliminated by the Mumbai Indians.

Despite their solid performance, the Titans have seen only a 0.7% change in market value, which has gone up to $142 million (₹1,189 crore). The Titans were valued at $124 million in 2024 and $120 million in 2023.

7. Rajasthan Royals - $146 Million

At number 7 are the Rajasthan Royals. The Royals had a disappointing IPL 2025 campaign where they finished only 9th in the points table, just ahead of the Chennai Super Kings (CSK).

Following their performance this season, the Rajasthan Royals’ market value has risen to $146 million (₹1,222 crore) from their $133 million valuation in 2024 and $120 million valuation in 2023.

The Rajasthan Royals are the inaugural champions of the IPL, winning the crown in 2008. But since then, the franchise has been craving their 2nd crown. They came close to the title in the year 2022 but lost against the debutant Gujarat Titans (GT) in the IPL 2022 final.

In 2024, they reached the playoffs once again, playing some brilliant cricket throughout the season. Yet, they suffered a defeat against the Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) in the qualifier 2 after overcoming the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in the Eliminator.

6. Delhi Capitals - $152 Million

The next team on the list is the Delhi Capitals at the number 6 position. The Capitals were looking fairly strong at the start of the season. But due to a poor run of form in the middle phase of the season, they could only finish in 5th place in the points table with 15 points, just 1 point away from the 4th-placed Mumbai Indians.

As a result, the Delhi Capitals have seen their brand value rise to $152 million (₹1,273 crore) after the end of the IPL 2025 season. They have jumped from a $131 million valuation in 2024 after suffering a decrease in value compared to 2023’s $133 million value.

The Delhi Capitals (formerly known as the Delhi Daredevils) were the other founding member of the IPL in 2008 but have yet to win the IPL crown as of the IPL 2025 season. Their best result in the IPL has been a runners-up finish in the IPL 2020 season, losing against the Mumbai Indians in the final by 5 wickets after they failed to defend 156 runs.

The Capitals would be disappointed with how their season went in 2025. They were great at the start and ok in the end, but that run in the middle phase cost them big. They will be hoping for a much-improved performance and finally their 1st IPL title.

5. Sunrisers Hyderabad - $154 Million

Next up is the Sunrisers Hyderabad. They are placed 5th in the list of most valuable IPL teams. Despite playing the IPL 2024 final match vs. Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), they finished in 6th place in the points table with 6 wins and 7 losses this season.

Following their performance this season, the Sunrisers Hyderabad have had their market value rise by 1.3% to $154 million (₹1,289 crore). They had a brand value of $132 million in 2024 and $128 million after the IPL 2023 season.

The Sunriser Hyderabad (SRH), owned by the Sun Group, replaced the now-defunct Deccan Chargers. And they didn't have to wait long to win their first title. SRH beat the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in a classic final match in 2016.

However, since then they have not won the trophy again. They came close in 2024, reaching the final match against the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) but lost by 8 wickets after scoring only 113 runs. This season, there were big expectations from them, but they disappointed the fans.

4. Kolkata Knight Riders - $227 Million

At number 4 are the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR). The IPL 2024 champions didn't have a great season after mentor Gautam Gambhir and captain Shreyas Iyer left the franchise. The Knight Riders finished in only 8th position and lost their crown.

The Kolkata Knight Riders are co-owned by Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan, Juhi Chawla, and her husband, Jay Mehta. The Knight Riders have been one of the founding members of the league since 2008.

Not only did KKR have a bad season, but they also lost their 3rd position in the most valuable IPL teams list as they have slipped to 4th place. However, they still had their value rise to $227 million (₹1,901 crore). After being crowned champions, KKR had their brand value rise to $216 million from $181 million in 2023.

The Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) will now be looking for some changes in their squad during the IPL 2026 Auction to rebuild their squad. Fans have already been calling for the sacking of mentor Dwayne Bravo, while head coach Chandrakant Pandit’s position is unlikely to be retained.

3. Chennai Super Kings - $235 Million

At number 3 are the 5-time champions Chennai Super Kings (CSK). The yellow army endured their worst-ever performance in the IPL 2025 season as they finished at the bottom in the points table.

In the IPL 2025 season, they won only 4 matches throughout the season. The management was criticized by the fans for not picking the right players in the auction. They made several changes during the season, bringing in the likes of Dewald Brevis, Ayush Mhatre, Urvil Patel, etc.

Despite finishing at the bottom of the points table, CSK have had their brand value rise by 1.7% to $235 million (₹1,969 crore). They had their brand value go up to $231 million after finishing in 5th place from $212 million.

A big season awaits for the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in the IPL 2026 season, and it will be exciting to see whether they are able to bounce back from their 10th-place finish in the IPL 2025 season.

2. Mumbai Indians - $242 Million

The other 5-time champions, the Mumbai Indians, have had the biggest gain in Houlihan Lokey’s latest IPL brand valuation update. The Mumbai Indians have seen a gain of 18.6%.

The Mumbai Indians have a brand worth of $242 million (₹2,027 crore), making them the second most expensive IPL team. The Reliance-owned franchise had their market value raised to $204 million from $190 million in 2024 despite finishing in last place in the points table.

Mumbai Indians had a difficult start to the IPL 2025 season, winning only 1 out of their first 5 matches. But they won the next 7 out of 9 matches to finish in 4th place in the points table with 16 points in total from 8 wins.

In the IPL 2025 playoffs, they beat the Gujarat Titans by 20 runs but lost to the Punjab Kings in the qualifier 2. They will be back to challenge for the title in 2026, as they have a great squad at their disposal.

1. Royal Challengers Bengaluru - $269 Million

The new number one team on the most valuable IPL teams list is the IPL 2025 champions, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB). They had their value rise by 18.5% to overtake Chennai Super Kings (CSK) to occupy the top spot.

The Royal Challengers Bengaluru brand value now stands at $269 million (₹2,252 crore), rising from $227 million in 2024, which was a big gain in itself from $195 million in 2023.

Many believe that the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) won the IPL at the IPL auction table, where they made some big moves to acquire the likes of Phil Salt, Josh Hazlewood, Jitesh Sharma, Romario Shepherd, and Krunal Pandya, who all played a key role in guiding RCB to their first ever IPL trophy in 2025.

The franchise will now be hoping to successfully defend the title in the IPL 2026 season. There have only been two successful IPL title defenses in history: the Mumbai Indians in 2019 and 2020, and the Chennai Super Kings in 2010 and 2011.