Page 50 - The Indian EYE 082925

STUMP VISION AUGUST 29, 2025 | The Indian Eye 50

EXCLUSIVE, EXPLOSIVE & EXPENSIVE:

IPL is cricket’s Diwali, Eid &

Christmas rolled into one

Siraj’s evolution as a bowler has been dramatic. Once a hit-the-deck, wobble-seam

specialist, he now swings it both ways and nails yorkers under pressure

ing like the NFL, NBA, or EPL.
The IPL’s financial and opera-
tional model has inspired a wave of
franchise-based T20 leagues world-
wide. As of 2025, the top eight by
valuation are: IPL ($18.5B), ILT20
in the UAE ($15M), South Afri-
ca’s SA20 ($12.5M), Australia’s Big
Bash League ($10M), England’s The
Hundred ($9M), the USA’s Major
League Cricket ($6.9M), Pakistan’s
PSL ($5.7M), and the Caribbean
Premier League ($4.6M). While
some of these leagues have found re-
ARCHAN MEHTA gional success—like the BBL’s fam-
ily-friendly approach or the CPL’s
f cricket is religion in India, then Caribbean flair—none come close to
the Indian Premier League (IPL) matching the IPL’s global pull, finan-
Iis Diwali, Eid, and Christmas cial dominance, or exclusivity over
rolled into two months with fireworks top Indian talent.
included. In just 18 years, the Indian This dominance will only grow
Premier League has evolved from with cricket’s return to the Olympics.
an ambitious Twenty20 experiment T20’s inclusion in LA 2028 offers
into one of the most profitable sports the IPL an unparalleled platform
leagues in the world. Once dismissed to showcase its stars and amplify its
as cricket’s flashy cousin, it now sits global influence. In the years lead-
comfortably alongside global sporting ing up to the Games, the league will
giants like the NFL, NBA, and En- likely be the prime talent incubator
glish Premier League in terms of rev- and marketing engine for cricket’s
enue power, fan reach, and brand in- The IPL’s financial and operational model has inspired a wave of franchise-based T20 leagues Olympic push. That’s a position no
fluence. With T20 cricket set to make worldwide (ANI file photo) other T20 league can realistically
its Olympic debut at the Los Angeles challenge, given the IPL’s unmatched
2028 Games, the IPL’s global stand- blend of money, talent, and reach.
ing is poised to climb even higher. $11 billion annually to India’s econo- combination of scarcity, star power, Ultimately, the IPL is no longer
The league’s financial success is my through tourism, jobs, merchan- and scheduling strategy has cement- just a domestic cricket tournament—
staggering. In 2025, its business val- dise, and media. The brand itself is ed the IPL’s dominance in the crick- it is a global sports entertainment
uation hit $18.5 billion—more than worth $3.9 billion, marking nearly eting calendar. property. Its short, high-intensity
the combined worth of all other 14% growth from the previous year. The IPL’s biggest strength is its format creates scarcity value, its
cricket leagues globally. Broadcast- Despite being one of the shortest exclusivity like that of overprotec- economics rival the world’s richest
ing rights alone generated $1.16 bil- major sports seasons—just over two tive desi parents ‘Our players only leagues, and its control over top tal-
lion in 2025, pushing total revenue months—the IPL punches far above play at home, but you’re welcome to ent makes it the undisputed home of
to $19.2 billion. This financial clout its weight in per-match revenue. Its visit’. Indian stars can’t play in other T20 cricket. Like the NFL dominates
comes from a combination of fac- $16.8 million figure is second only to leagues, so the world’s best converge American football, the IPL owns
tors: India’s cricket obsession, which the NFL’s $40 million and higher than only here. Add to that BCCI’s global its sport’s premier format. Other
accounts for 80% of the sport’s glob- the EPL’s $11 million or the NBA’s investments in SA20, ILT20, MLC, leagues may play for a season, but
al audience; premium broadcasting $2.5 million. Much of this is due to its CPL, and The Hundred, and you’ve the IPL plays for history… and the
deals, such as the $6.2 billion sale for exclusive March–May calendar slot, got a cricketing empire in the mak- bank balance.
the 2023–2027 cycle that equates to where international cricket pauses ing. With billion-dollar media rights,
$16.8 million per match; and an un- entirely, ensuring maximum avail- a fan base bigger than any other, and Archan Mehta is a writer dedicated to
matched economic footprint, with ability of top players and the undivid- a calendar window carved in stone, telling compelling stories about ath-
the IPL estimated to contribute over ed attention of fans worldwide. This the IPL isn’t just surviving—it’s thriv- letes, teams, and the world of cricket

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