Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) has cemented its status as the most valuable franchise in the Indian Premier League (IPL), becoming the first cricket team in history to break the brand value mark of $300 million.According to global investment bank Houlihan Lokey’s IPL 2026 brand valuation study, RCB retained its No. 1 ranking with a brand valuation of US$312 million (roughly Rs 2,600 crore), marking a 16% jump from US$269 million in 2025. The report highlights that RCB’s steep valuation curve reflects the compounded impact of sustained on-field performance, industry-leading fan engagement, and a mature digital business ecosystem.The valuation benchmark comes on the heels of a landmark ownership transaction earlier this year, in which RCB was acquired by a consortium comprising Blackstone, Bolt Ventures, Aditya Birla Group, and Times of India Group at a valuation of $1.78 billion – the costliest single franchise transaction in IPL history.
“The intensity and connection of RCB’s fan base is unparalleled”
Highlighting the rationale behind the acquisition of the brand, Satyan Gajwani, co-owner of Royal Challengers Bengaluru and chairman of Times Internet, noted the unparalleled strength of the franchise’s community.“We are actively involved in the trials for RCB and Rajasthan Royals, and both are great assets. Across the league, however, the intensity and connection of RCB’s fanbase is unparalleled, which made this a special opportunity,” said Satyan Gajwani.Emphasizing the long-term trajectory for Indian cricket as a global asset class, Gajwani added: “Overall, we are strong believers in the growth potential of cricket as a global sport, and exposure at the media level and the IP level fits this thesis. The IPL has the attention of the NFL with a fraction of its monetization, and as Indian per capita income grows and connected TV penetration increases, we expect the monetization to match the attention. We are very grateful to be able to work with exceptional partners on RCB, and we all believe in the opportunity for the IPL to continue to grow, as well as for RCB to create a true global brand and fan equity.
The IPL business reaches $20.6 billion
RCB’s rise comes amid record growth for the league as a whole. IPL’s overall business enterprise value grew 11.4% year-over-year to $20.6 billion, while its standalone brand value grew 10.3% to $4.3 billion.Following RCB in the brand value rankings are Mumbai Indians at No. 2 (US$264 million; +7.9%) and Chennai Super Kings at No. 3 (US$244 million; +3.8%).The report attributed the league’s overall valuation boom to the growing confidence of institutional investors, the rapid adoption of Connected TV (CTV) and strong revenue visibility, as global capital increasingly sees IPL franchises as long-term sports and entertainment powerhouses.