Top 10 Richest Cricket League in the World (2025)

The sudden rise of franchise-based T20 leagues has completely transformed not just how fans engage with the sport, but also how national cricket boards generate revenue. These leagues are not just about making money; they have been cultural icons to the respective nations. Every year, they draw Bollywood stars, millionaire investors, and millions of passionate fans.

How We Ranked the Richest Cricket Leagues in 2025?

The growth of franchise cricket over the last decade has changed the worldwide cricketing industry. With millions of fans tuning in, sponsors pouring in huge investments, and media organisations battling for broadcasting rights, cricket leagues have become multi-million-dollar businesses. The ranking factors will provide a fair criterion to determine the richest cricket league in the world.

• Total Revenue Generated (Annual): Income from broadcasting rights, sponsorships, ticket sales, and merchandise. These are the most important revenue foundations for every cricket league and are the primary factor to rank the top 10 richest cricket league in the world.
• Broadcasting Rights Value: Amount paid for media rights deals, often the largest revenue stream (e.g. IPL’s billion-dollar TV deals). These are the broadcasting and streaming rights that were sold to TV networks and internet platforms, allowing them to broadcast the matches live. In 2025, the Indian Premier League (IPL) dominated this area, having sold its broadcast rights for more than a billion for five years.
• Franchise Valuation: Average and top-end team valuations reflect the league’s financial health and investor interest and have been kept in mind while ranking the top 10 richest cricket league in the world.
• Player Salaries & Auction Budget: Higher salary caps, individual player payments, and bidding power show wealth distribution. How much money a league pays its players directly correlates to its funds and commitment to quality cricket. It pays top prices to lure top talent globally, raising viewership, sponsorship, and overall brand value. We also looked at wage distribution (how equally funds are shared among players) and player retention regulations. A league willing to spend on talent indicates robust financial health and commercial vision, which are key to its ranking among the world richest cricket league.
• Sponsorship Deals & Brand Partnerships: Value and number of league-wide sponsors (title sponsors, kit sponsors, digital partners, etc.) have been considered to establish the world richest cricket league. Sponsors bring in huge cash, usually in the form of title sponsorships, jersey agreements, and digital branding partnerships. In our 2025 rankings, we included the overall value of sponsorship agreements at both the league and team levels. We also assessed sponsorship diversity, the number of distinct brands associated and the year-on-year increase.
• Ticket Sales & Attendance Revenue: Gate receipts and crowd turnout across venues, a direct metric of commercial popularity, is one of the most significant factors to rank the richest league in the world.
• Merchandise & Licensing Income: Profits from branded apparel, accessories, and digital goods (e.g. NFTs, fantasy games) are one of the secondary factors which we have kept in mind while ranking the top 10 richest cricket league in the world.
• Digital & Global Audience Reach: The size of online streaming audience and social media monetisation, especially via platforms like YouTube, JioCinema, Hotstar, etc. IPL and BBL brand value are dominating the franchise cricket arena and have the most global audience reach because of this factor.
• Prize Money Distribution: The size of prize pools awarded to teams and players each season gives us a brief idea of the grandeur of the league. Apart from IPL, other leagues are also trying to focus on the prize money distribution. BBL net worth is also increasing almost every season, and the organising committee is trying to make the league more widespread.
• League Duration & Match Volume: Longer seasons and more matches mean more ad slots, higher sponsor ROI, and greater cumulative revenue.

Top 10 Richest Cricket Leagues in the World – Ranked

The top 10 richest cricket league in the world consist of some of the most high-pressure competitive leagues all around the globe, which bring massive revenue and unparalleled entertainment for the fans. The Indian Premier League (IPL) and the Big Bash League are playing a dominant role among other leagues. Other than the IPL, the BBL brand value is also on the rise.

Which is the Richest Cricket League in the World?

As of 2025, the Indian Premier League (IPL) is the richest cricket league in the world, by a significant margin. Since its start in 2008, the IPL has changed the face of franchise cricket, combining the glamour of entertainment with top-tier cricketing action. The IPL's wealth grows from a variety of revenue streams, the most notable of which is a record-breaking media rights agreement worth more than a billion dollars over five years.

This deal alone makes the IPL more lucrative than most other cricket boards and tournaments. The IPL's financial success can be attributed to its extensive sponsorship environment, franchise valuations surpassing a billion, and top player salaries topping ₹27 crore. IPL has a different value due to its global market size, competent management, and frequent fan engagement on multiple platforms.

10. Lanka Premier League | LPL

The Lanka main League (LPL), which began in 2020, has emerged as Sri Lanka's main T20 cricket tournament. The LPL's revenue streams have grown consistently. According to Sri Lanka Cricket's annual statistics, the league earned LKR 334 million in 2020, rising to LKR 839 million by 2022. This increased trajectory reflects the league's growing commercial appeal.

In 2023, each team had a salary cap of USD 1 million, with USD 500,000 allocated for direct signings and the remaining amount for auction acquisitions. Despite its expansion, the LPL has had problems. Sri Lanka Cricket terminated the contracts of two franchises, Jaffna Kings and Colombo Strikers, in April 2025 due to their inability to meet contractual terms. This step is a sign of further efforts to maintain the integrity and standard of operations of the league.

9. Caribbean Premier League | CPL

The Caribbean Premier League (CPL), which commenced in 2013, has become a staple of the international T20 cricket calendar. Currently valued at around $4.6 million as of 2025, the CPL is in the top ten most expensive cricket leagues in the world. The CPL limits a team to have no more than USD 820,000 in players, but also comes with an extra $100,000. The maximum amount a top-tier player can earn in a season is around $160,000, fairly average playing field.

However, this framework offers a balance between attracting foreign stars as well developing domestic talent. The CPL has become a multi-million-dollar brand in 2024 with a combined digital and television viewership of 1.13 billion, representing an increase of 32% from the previous year. The CPL continues to capture large fans from across the world and helps significantly to the Caribbean's socio-economic landscape.

8. Bangladesh Premier League | BPL

The Bangladesh Premier League (BPL), which debuted in 2012, has progressively risen into a major player in the global T20 cricket scene. As of 2025, the BPL's estimated valuation is $4.8 million, ranking it among the top ten richest cricket leagues in the world. Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has obtained a media rights contract for Tk(Taka) 105 crore (around $12.3 million) for three editions of the BPL, which equates to approximately Tk 35 crore per season.

Top-tier local players in the 2025 season, including Shakib Al Hasan and Tamim Iqbal, earned up to BDT 8 million (about $75,000 each). Foreign players in the highest category earned up to $80,000. BPL, with its planning and growing fan base, can hope for further financial and competitive success in the coming years. Despite the growth of the league, the competition faces issues like financial management issues and delayed payments to players.

7. Pakistan Super League | PSL

The Pakistan Super League (PSL), which began in 2016, has become a standard of Pakistan's cricketing tradition. By 2025, it will be the country's premier T20 tournament, making a huge amount of money for the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB). The PSL has earned massive income for the PCB, which made it one of the board's most lucrative ventures. The PCB plans to expand the league in 2026 by introducing two new franchises, with the cost of the franchises between USD 7 million and USD 10 million. PSL is currently valued at approximately $5.7 million.

But already the success of PSL has given new life to home-diable cricket and raised Pakistan's worldwide profile. Its rich cash strategy and competitive matches have the world holding its breath as well. The PSL has been a shadow of improvement in Pakistan cricket. With planned growth and ongoing investments, the league is ready to raise its profile on the global cricketing stage.

6. Major League Cricket | MLC

The United States took a big step into the world of cricket with the launch of Major League Cricket (MLC) in 2023. The first season lasted about three weeks and featured six teams, with many players coming from the U.S. national team, along with some international stars. The main goal was to grow the sport in the U.S., and it worked; fans showed up, watched, and supported the league. The strong response from both local and international audiences showed that there's real interest in cricket in the U.S. Now, with that success, MLC is looking to expand by adding more teams and building on the momentum to make cricket even bigger in the country, and it is valued at around $6.9 million.

5. The Hundred | England

The Hundred, England's revolutionary 100-ball cricket competition, which debuted in 2021, has quickly risen to become one of the world's most lucrative cricket leagues, ranking among the top five richest cricket leagues in the world. The Hundred's financial adventure began with the sale of 49% of its eight franchises to private investors, which generated more than £520 million (roughly $650 million).

In reaction to the changing global cricket landscape, The Hundred has raised player compensation. Top male players now earn up to £200,000, representing a 60% increase over prior seasons. Equally, the top female players' earnings have been boosted to £65,000, testament to the league's dedication to developing women's cricket. The Hundred's interesting format and strategic investments, the competition more attractive worldwide, and gained a lot of fans. It is currently valued at around $9 million.

4. Big Bash League | BBL | Australia

The Big Bash League (BBL), Australia's main T20 tournament, has established a strong presence in the global cricket landscape since its start in 2011. BBL is one of the richest and successful cricket leagues in the world today, which is known for its energetic fan engagement, broadcast quality and fun cricketing games. Cricket Australia, which has some of the most valuable media rights deals in the Southern Hemisphere, is the league's primary sponsor. As of 2024, the BBL had acquired a 1.5 billion AUD broadcast deal with Channel Seven and Fox Sports, covering both men's and women's cricket through 2031. This long-term cooperation provides financial security and ongoing exposure. The league involves many elite Australian cricketers as well as chosen international talent. The league draws large audiences to stadiums and attracts millions of television and online viewers. Franchises such as the Sydney Sixers and Melbourne Stars enjoy widespread regional support and make major contributions to the local economy. BBL net worth is estimated to be around $10 million, and it is among the top 5 richest cricket league in the world.

3. SA20 | South Africa

The SA20 has risen up the world rankings relatively quickly, making it one of the top money-spinning cricket tournaments. By 2025, it will be worth roughly USD 12.5 million, making it the world's third-richest cricket league. In the 2025 season, the league's third, considerably boosted South Africa's economy, adding an impressive SAR (South African Rand) 4.3 billion (approximately USD 230 million) to the national GDP.

Each of the six teams had a wage ceiling of SAR 39.1 million (roughly USD 2.65 million), making it easier to attract elite personnel. The entire prize pool for the 2025 season was SAR 70 million (about USD 3.7 million). MI Cape Town won the title and received SAR 34 million, while Sunrisers Eastern Cape took home SAR 16.25 million. The SA20, in just three seasons, changed the face of cricket in South Africa, coupling strong commercial growth with elite-level competition.

2. ILT20 | UAE

International League T20 (ILT20), in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), has quickly made a name for itself as one of the most expensive cricket leagues in the world. In 2023, the ILT20 grabbed media headlines for its luxurious player payments, lavish infrastructure and large contributions by both corporate titans and the leading Ruler families of the UAE. The league has, however, gained some serious global attention in spite of its youth. One of ILT20's most notable elements is its player wage structure.

With some top players earning up to USD 450,000 per season, it has one of the highest salary caps outside of the IPL, attracting elite international cricketers from all over the world. It has improved the league's image and competitive pedigree at the outset. All the way through, ILT20 is further dependent upon royal patronage and government backing to sustain its ongoing operation and wide-scale marketing. In line with the UAE's grand vision of being a sports and entertainment destination in the Middle East. Though still in its early stages, ILT20 is establishing itself as a long-term player in the global T20 ecosystem. It is among the top 5 richest cricket league in the world.

1. Indian Premier League | IPL | India

The Indian Premier competition (IPL) is not only the world's richest cricket competition, but also the most important and popular. The IPL, which began in 2008, has made cricket an ultra-thrilling game of entertainment with the high-octane sport and drastically increased the financial value of the game. The IPL, valued at more than USD 15 billion as of 2025, should be one of the big three sports competitions around the globe (NBA, English Premier League).

The IPL offers the biggest player wages in cricket. International stars can make up to 17 crore per season, while Indian players are also highly paid. The league's franchises, such as the Mumbai Indians, Chennai Super Kings, and Royal Challengers Bengaluru, have become household names, not just in India but globally. The IPL's timing during India's cricket-friendly summer window, the lustrous presentation, Bollywood involvement, and widespread fandom have all contributed to its commercial success. It is the richest cricket league in the world.

Why IPL Dominates as the Richest Cricket League?

The IPL was introduced by the BCCI in 2008 and has since grown into a multibillion-dollar sector that continues to shatter financial records each year. First, the IPL's media rights agreements are unparalleled. In 2022, the BCCI sold IPL broadcast and internet rights for a whopping 6.4 billion, making it one of the world's most valuable sports tournaments, rivalling even the English Premier League and the NFL in terms of per-match value. Second, brand power has a big impact. Franchises like the Mumbai Indians, Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Chennai Super Kings are now worldwide recognised, with valuations exceeding a billion.