RCB becomes first IPL team with USD 300 million brand value

Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) continue to be the most valuable franchise in the Indian Premier League (IPL), with a brand value of US$312 million, even as the league's business value has risen to US$20.6 billion over the last 12 months. According to the latest report by US-based global investment bank Houlihan Lokey, Inc. (NYSE: HLI), RCB, the two-time defending champions, have recorded a 16 per cent increase in brand value from last year's US$269 million. The report estimates the value of the IPL has gone up by 11.4 per cent – from US$18.5 billion a year earlier to US$20.6 billion, marking the league's second consecutive year of double-digit growth in business value. “Cricket’s evolution into a globally owned, institutionally backed asset class has accelerated further in 2026, with the IPL continuing to redefine the global sports landscape,” says Harsh Talikoti, director in Houlihan Lokey’s Financial and Valuation Advisory business.