The Indian Premier League (IPL), long regarded as cricket’s most lucrative and glamorous tournament, has witnessed a notable dip in its valuation for the second consecutive year. According to the latest D&P Advisory report, released on October 15, 2025, the IPL ecosystem value has declined by nearly 11%, falling to $8.8 billion (₹76,100 crore) this year from $9.9 billion (₹82,700 crore) in 2024 and ₹92,500 crore in 2023 — its all-time peak.
The report, titled “Beyond 22 Yards – The Power of Platforms, The Price of Regulation,” cites two primary reasons behind this downward trend — the nationwide ban on real money gaming (RMG) and the consolidation in the media rights landscape.
The 2025 Promotion & Regulation of Online Gaming Act banned money-game advertising and sponsorships, causing an estimated revenue loss of ₹1,500–2,000 crore annually for the IPL ecosystem. Fantasy and gaming platforms — once primary revenue sources for franchises, broadcasters, and the league — were once dominant advertisers.
ALSO READ: Pat Cummins Names All-Time India-Australia Combined XI, Excludes Kohli and Rohit
Their sudden exit created a sponsorship void, particularly affecting jersey deals and digital ad slots. Consequently, ad rates dropped, and overall brand investments saw a sharp decline.
Additionally, the merger between Reliance Industries’ media assets and Walt Disney Co.’s India operations in 2024 reduced competition during broadcast and streaming rights auctions. This merger weakened the bidding wars that once fuelled the IPL’s record-breaking media valuations, contributing to the steep ₹16,400 crore decline over two years — the sharpest in the league’s history.
IPL valuation falls consecutively for 2 years
IPL valuation drops to ₹76,100 crore in 2025 from ₹82,700 crore in 2024 and ₹92,500 crore in 2023
Women’s Premier League (WPL) valuation falls 5.6% to ₹1,275 crore in 2025 from ₹1,350 crore in 2024 pic.twitter.com/EhXwiluMaK
— BusinessVala (@Businessvala) October 15, 2025
The Women’s Premier League (WPL) has also been impacted, seeing its valuation fall by 5.6% to ₹1,275 crore from ₹1,350 crore, partly due to Dream11’s withdrawal and broader uncertainties caused by the gaming ban.
Despite the challenges, Santosh N, managing partner of D&P Advisory, remains optimistic about the IPL’s future. He noted that the 2025 season still drew over a billion viewers, with digital audiences surpassing television for the first time. The WPL also recorded a 150% increase in TV ratings and a 70% growth in digital engagement, alongside strong attendance and travel-related activity.
ALSO READ: Daren Sammy Thanks BCCI and Gautam Gambhir After India Test Series
Santosh added that the IPL’s next growth phase will depend on sustainable monetisation — by diversifying sponsor portfolios beyond gaming and tapping into emerging sectors like auto, fintech, healthcare, and esports, while attracting global streaming giants such as Netflix, Amazon, and Apple to reignite competition in future media rights cycles.
