Top 10 Richest Cricket Leagues 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 are, Media Rights Value, Player Salaries and Payment Tiers, Sponsorship and Franchise Investment, Brand Valuation & Global Market Penetration.

• Media Rights Value

Media rights are undoubtedly the most important revenue foundation for every cricket league. 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, Indian Premier League (IPL) have dominated this area, having sold its broadcast rights for more than billion over a five-year period.

• Player Salaries and Payment Tiers

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 richest cricket leagues.

• Sponsorship and Franchise Investment

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 level. We also assessed sponsorship diversity the number of distinct brands associated and year-on-year increase.

• Brand Valuation & Global Market Penetration

Brand value considers both financial worth and intangible assets such as fan devotion, worldwide reach, marketability, and digital footprint. A league's brand power influences how enticing it is to not only spectators, but also advertisers, investors, and media outlets.

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 being a record-breaking media rights agreement worth more than billion over a five-year period.

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 billion, and top player salaries topping ₹17 crore. IPL has a different value due to its global market size, competent management, and frequent fan engagement on multiple platforms.

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 .2 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 and Chennai Super Kings are now worldwide recognised, with valuations exceeding billion.

How Player Salaries and Media Rights Shape Rich League Rankings?

Player salaries and broadcast rights are two of the most strong influences on the standings of the world's richest cricket leagues. In contrast, media rights serve as the financial backbone of each major cricket league. These attributes are both the commercial worth of the league and its capability to sign the best players. Salaries for the players are a good indicator of financial health. These deals broadcast and digital are frequently sold for billions. Player pay and media rights work together to create a cycle: huge money attracts big players, who draw big crowds, resulting in even more media revenue.

Top 10 Richest Cricket Leagues in the World – Ranked

10. 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 in the top ten richest cricket leagues in the world. Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has obtained a media rights contract for Tk 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.

9. Global T20 Canada

The Global T20 Canada (GT20), founded in 2018, was North America's first ICC-sanctioned T20 competition, with the goal of popularising cricket in Canada by combining international and local talent. As of 2025, the GT20 does not rank in the world's top 10 richest cricket leagues. Initial investments included a broadcast rights agreement in which Mercuri, the league's promoter, agreed to pay Cricket Canada an annual fee beginning at USD 500,000 and growing by USD 100,000 each year for five years.

Top-tier GT20 players have reportedly earned up to USD 100,000 per season, while other players receive between USD 3,000 and ,000, based on their category and expertise. The GT20 has experienced payment delays and contractual problems. Cricket Canada suspended its partnership with the league's organiser, Bombay Sports Limited, in December 2024, citing contractual breaches and persistent late payments.

8. 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 inability to meet contractual terms. This step is a sign of further efforts to maintain the integrity and standard of operations of the league.

7. 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. By 2025, it is expected to be valued at million, 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 has become more attractive worldwide and gained lot of fans.

6. 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 world. The CPL limits a team to have no more that USD 820,000 in players but also comes with an extra $100,000 he max 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. In fact, the CPL has become a multi-billion 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.

5. 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. The 2025 season, the league's third, considerably boosted South Africa's economy, adding an impressive R4.3 billion (approximately USD 230 million) to the national GDP.

Each of the six teams had a wage ceiling of R39.1 million (roughly USD 2.65 million), making it easier to attract elite personnel. The entire prise pool for the 2025 season was R70 million (about USD 3.7 million). MI Cape Town won the title and received R34 million, while Sunrisers Eastern Cape took home R16.25 million. The SA20 in just three seasons changed the face of cricket in South Africa, coupling strong commercial growth with elite-level competition.

4. 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 earned nearly PKR 3.55 billion for the PCB, which made it one among 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.

But already the success of PSL has given new life into home diapple 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.

3. 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 local economy.

2. ILT20 – UAE

International League T20 (ILT20), in United Arab Emirates (UAE) has quickly made a name of 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 UAE. The league has however gained some serious global attention in spite of its youth. One of the 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 further is dependent upon royal patronage and government backing to sustain its ongoing operation and wide-scale marketing. In line with 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 the second 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 by the high octane sport and drastically went up 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 (USD million+) per season, while Indian players are also highly paid. The league's franchises, such as the Mumbai Indians, Chennai Super Kings, and Royal Challengers Bangalore 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.

Comparison of the Richest Cricket Leagues by Key Metrics: