The Indian Premier League (IPL) continues to dominate not only the cricket field but also the business landscape. According to a new report by global investment bank Houlihan Lokey, the IPL’s business valuation rose by 13% over the last year to reach a staggering $18.5 billion (approximately ₹1.6 lakh crore). This tremendous expansion backs IPL as a sports property among the most valuable in the world, alongside the English Premier League (EPL) and the NBA.

But aside from the figures and the spin, IPL's growth tale is about how it's changing the way cricket gets played, watched, and monetized.

Funinmatch View: IPL as a Sports and Business Hybrid

For cricket enthusiasts watching funinmatch, the IPL is something greater than a tournament—it's an immersive entertainment experience combining sport, drama, and technology. With its fusion of short-format thrills and high-pressure competition, IPL has emerged as the benchmark for T20 leagues globally.

The Houlihan Lokey report points out the way IPL's brand value also increased by 14% to reach almost $4 billion (₹33,000 crore). The Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) team this year, having won their first-ever championship title, became the most valuable team brand at $269 million, overtaking Mumbai Indians, Chennai Super Kings, and Kolkata Knight Riders.

RCB's rise is symptomatic of IPL's shifting equations—those erstwhile underdogs of teams are now market forces, both on and off the field. Their dedicated fan base, digital-first marketing strategies, and performances on the field made this brand gain.

IPL's Intelligent Model of Revenue: A Lesson in Commercial Smarts

What differentiates IPL from most other international sporting leagues is its fiscal model. The report applauds IPL's revenue model as "a near-perfect blend of predictable cash flows and cost discipline." This owes a great deal to long-term media rights contracts, sponsorship agreements secured months in advance, and a salary cap that enables teams to keep their books balanced.

The ₹120 crore salary cap per team acts as a guardrail on wage inflation—a problem that bedevils leagues such as the EPL. By limiting expenditure and optimizing revenue transparency, IPL makes sustainability and competitive equality guaranteed.

The report states that nearly 80% of a franchise's expenses are met even before the season begins, courtesy of these front-loaded contracts. This offers considerable financial stability to teams, something that renders IPL highly appealing to institutional investors and international sponsors alike.

Funinmatch Takeaway: The Future of Fan Experience

With more than 678 million views logged for the 2025 IPL final between RCB vs Punjab Kings, which is higher than the India-Pakistan ICC match earlier this year, IPL's online visibility keeps breaking new ground. Sites like funinmatch reap the rewards of this renewed interest, providing support for enthusiasts to monitor matches, play fantasy cricket, and interact with data-driven information.

The report also reports a 50% increase in ad revenue in IPL 2025 to $600 million (approximately ₹5,000 crore). This is a clear suggestion that brands find value in aligning with the league's increasingly large and digitally fluent audience.

IPL's success has also impacted the global cricket schedule, with other short-format leagues popping up in other countries. None have surpassed the IPL's magnitude or commercialization of entertainment though. 

Final Thoughts

IPL's business expansion is not merely a financial achievement—it's an economic and cultural phenomenon. Through intelligent governance, passionate fan support, and innovative formats, the league is influencing cricket's future in every dimension. Technologies like funinmatch are set to catch this wave, providing fans with more engaging and personalized means of enjoying the game.

As IPL grows more valuable and impactful, it also provides a world standard for how sporting leagues can succeed at the intersection of performance, entertainment, and business. The coming years could witness even more innovation—ranging from the immersive viewing experience to more fan engagement—and IPL will probably be at the forefront.