RCB Becomes the Most Valuable IPL Team with $269 Million Brand Value (Houlihan Lokey Report)
Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) has officially established a brand value of $269 million, claiming the rate among all Indian Premier League (IPL) teams. How is RCB the most Valuable IPL Team….?
According to the latest report from Houlihan Lokey:
1. RCB’s Brand Value
The IPL has emerged as one of the richest sporting leagues in the world, and brand valuations reflect that acceleration in their value. RCB has never captured an IPL title but they have consistently built a global following and their latest valuation of $269 million is a direct reflection of:
1. The consistent fan engagement throughout India and abroad;
2. Massive social traction botting sometime top ranks for social interaction;
3. Good players over the years with famous players like Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers creating global recognition for the franchise; and
4. Loyal brands and contracts from Sponsorships.
2. Comparatively with Other IPL Teams
The report from Houlihan Lokey, highlights that RCB has now taken a leadership position among its peers in brand value, surpassing a number of high profile franchise teams like Mumbai Indians (MI) and Chennai Super Kings (CSK) – both of which have several IPL trophies.
• RCB → $269 million
• MI & CSK → just slightly behind RCB in brand value, yet able to generate sizeable.
This shows that brand value is not just indicative of championships, but as equally if not more importantly fan loyalty, star power, and off-field commercial actions.
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3. The Case for the Top Spot for RCB
There are multiple reasons for RCB being in this position:
1. Virat Kohli Effect → Kohli is still the face of Indian cricket. Nothing will strengthen a team’s brand like Kohli’s long tenure with the RCB.
2. Digital Superpower → RCB is often the most active and engaging franchise on platforms such as Instagram, X (or Twitter), and YouTube.
3. Cultural Branding → The franchise has branded itself as more than just a cricket team, but rather built a “lifestyle brand” around Bengaluru’s youthful, tech-oriented culture.
4. Strong commerce and sponsorships → RCB jerseys and merchandising, as well as collaborations continue to sell strongly across all markets.
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4. Importance for the IPL as a Whole
The rise of RCB is representative of the maturation of the IPL market. Even without a championship, a team can still dominate the valuation charts by:
• Building a community
• Player loyalty
• Brand storytelling and positioning
This change also tells investors and sporting organisations across the globe that an IPL franchise can be equally commercially dominant as a global football club or NBA franchise.
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5. Next Steps
With RCB at the highest point in brand value, the next question is will they be able to continue encouraging the development of the sport?
Conclusion:
RCB is the top valued IPL franchise brand, thanks to their place with fans, expansive digital reach and the allure of Virat Kohli. They may not win titles but the franchise has shown that in the modern sports economy, passion and engagement can be as powerful as trophies.