IPL Teams Suffer Brand Value Setback in 2025 as RCB, CSK and Others See Sharp Decline

The Indian Premier League (IPL), which had been recognized as the most powerful cricketing brand in the world, had a hard year in 2025 with a massive drop in brand value almost for every franchise, as per the recent Brand Finance IPL 2025 report. Even the most acclaimed teams like Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) and Chennai Super Kings (CSK) could not avoid the situation, with some teams registering a brand value loss in the double digits.

One of the main reasons experts cite for the sudden decline is the combination of geopolitical tensions, broken match schedules, weak on-field performances, and the nationwide ban on real money gaming (RMG) advertising, which was once a huge source of revenue for the league.

Operation Sindoor Affected IPL Momentum

One of the major interruptions took place in May 2025 during Operation Sindoor when military tensions between India and Pakistan sharply increased. The BCCI was compelled to cancel several IPL matches, including some very significant playoff ones, for almost a week due to the increasing safety concerns. The unanticipated break resulted in the loss of fan engagement, disruption of broadcasting schedules, and decline in advertisers' confidence—all of which created the quite visible loss of momentum for the league.

RCB and CSK See Major Brand Value Dip Despite Strong Fanbase

The brand value of some of the biggest teams could not be saved even though they were successful on the field:

1. Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) won their first-ever IPL trophy, but still, a 10% fall in brand value was the result.
2. Chennai Super Kings (CSK), the most successful franchise with five IPL titles, experienced a sharp decrease of 24%.

For several other teams, the impact was even more severe:

1. Rajasthan Royals: 35% drop
2. Sunrisers Hyderabad: 34% drop
3. Kolkata Knight Riders: 33% drop
4. Delhi Capitals: 26% drop

On the other hand, Mumbai Indians, Punjab Kings, and Lucknow Super Giants had smaller single-digit declines of 9%, 3%, and 2%, respectively.

Gujarat Titans were the sole exception, as they reported a slight growth of 2%, making them the only team with a bright spot amidst the challenging season.

IPL's Overall Brand Value Also Takes a Hit

The fallout was not limited to teams only. The overall value of the IPL ecosystem dropped to $9.6 billion in 2025, signifying a 20% fall from 2024. Ajimon Francis, Managing Director at Brand Finance India, said the decline is reflecting the enormous disruptions that the league went through this season.

Nevertheless, the report also had a positive outlook, which said, IPL 2025 is a time of correction and gives the league a chance to regain its momentum and further secure its long-term commercial foundation.

Advertising and Sponsorship Take a Big Blow

One of the biggest financial losses was due to the ban on real money gaming (RMG) ads, which had previously contributed a lot to the IPL’s sponsorship revenue. The ban is thought to have taken out ₹1,500–2,000 crore from the IPL’s advertising ecosystem each year.

The league over the years had experienced a changing pattern of advertisers:

• Regulations led to the rise and fall of crypto brands
• Fast yet still fintech companies
• Enter the startups, then cut back
• The RMG brands are now slowly disappearing from the IPL sponsorship area.

This has resulted in a major loss of income for the broadcasters, franchises, and fan-engagement platforms.

Women’s Premier League (WPL) Emerges Stronger Than Ever

The Women's Premier League (WPL) made a surprising win in 2025 even though the IPL suffered financially. The league brought in more than 70 brands from the beauty, lifestyle, and financial services sectors.

To this end:

• Franchise-level sponsorship revenue increased by 10–20%
• Central sponsorship deals escalated by almost 10% annually

The WPL's increasing brand strength is an indicator of a significant change in the sports sponsorship landscape in India coming.