Cricket has expanded much beyond stadiums and scoreboards- it is a billion dollar sport business. Cricket franchises have become an international sporting brand with the introduction of franchise-driven T20 tournaments such as the Indian Premier League, Pakistan Super League and Caribbean Premier League. In the modern world, conquering sports is no longer about victories or trophies to be put on shelves, but rather to create a brand, find sponsors, gain supporters and go international. Here are the Top 10 Biggest Cricket Franchises in the World in 2025-26 according to the brand value, number of fans, performance and commercial power.
Ranking Factors Considered
| Factor | Description |
| Brand Value | Total franchise valuation in USD |
| Fan Base | Total social media followers, merchandise sales |
| On-Field Success | League titles, win records, playoff appearances |
| Star Power | Presence of iconic players and captains |
| Sponsorship & Revenue | Major brand deals, partnerships, match-day earnings |
| Media Rights & Global Reach | Broadcast visibility and international influence |
1. Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) – $140 Million
RCB recently ended an 18-year trophy jinx by capturing the IPL 2025 and this gave a remarkable push to their brand. The outpouring of sentiments and hysteric fan fare saw an increase in valuation of 67 percent.
| Category | Details |
| Owner | Royal Challenger Sports Pvt. Ltd (USL) |
| League | IPL |
| Titles | 1 (2025) |
| Key Sponsor | Qatar Airways |
| Fan Base | 40.4 million |
Why RCB Is #1:
- The win in IPL 2025 washed away their tag of the chokers.
- The Virat Kohli sentimental implication has been keeping fans of the world on their toes.
- Huge social media activity and fan marching.
2. Chennai Super Kings (CSK) -122 Million
CSK is not only a Cricket team but this is an emotion. The place of Dhoni in loyalty did not change and with their performances and branding, they have established a legacy that very few can commit.
| Category | Details |
| Owner | Chennai Super Kings Cricket Ltd |
| League | IPL |
| Titles | 5 |
| Key Sponsor | Etihad Airways |
| Fan Base | 43.7 million |
CSK’s Brand Power:
- In India and overseas connections with a loyal fan base.
- The association of MS Dhoni maintains their emotional and market values on a high level.
- Regular semifinals and finals.
3. Mumbai Indians (MI) -119 Million
MI boasts of five IPL titles making them the best team both on and off the field. Their financial power and global reach with SA20 and MLC is unparalleled as they are supported by Reliance industries.
| Category | Details |
| Owner | Indiawin Sports / Reliance Industries |
| League | IPL |
| Titles | 5 (most joint with CSK) |
| Key Sponsor | Lauritz Knudsen |
| Fan Base | 41.6 million |
Why MI Is Still Elite:
- Effective system of talent grooming and scouting.
- Good business relationships.
- MI Cape Town and MLC global franchise.
4. Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) -$109 Million
KKR integrates Cricket and Bollywood. They are owned by Shah Rukh Khan, and they spread not only in India but also in CPL and MLC leagues.
| Category | Details |
| Owner | Knight Riders Group (SRK, Juhi Chawla) |
| League | IPL, CPL, MLC |
| Titles | 3 (2012, 2014, 2024) |
| Key Sponsor | Dream11, BKT, RR Kabel |
| Fan Base | 30.6 million |
KKR’s Strengths:
- Entertainment-driven marketing.
- Global franchise presence.
- Smart squad selection and loyal fan base.
5. Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) – $85 Million
SRH’s brand has steadily grown since their 2016 IPL victory. Backed by smart leadership and strategic buys like Pat Cummins, their aggressive gameplay builds strong appeal.
| Category | Details |
| Owner | Sun TV Network / Kavya Maran |
| League | IPL |
| Titles | 1 (2016) |
| Key Sponsor | Dream11 |
| Fan Base | 15.4 million |
What Sets SRH Apart:
- Bravery in the art of cricket.
- Strong social media interaction.
- Supporting more of the merchandise sales after 2025 squad overhaul.
6. Rajasthan Royals (RR) -81 Million
The first IPL winners have learned the knack of marketing and player development. RR was noted to have a naked eye to spot raw talent of Indians and his legacy is in grooming stars.
| Category | Details |
| Owner | Manoj Badale, Lachlan Murdoch |
| League | IPL |
| Titles | 1 (2008) |
| Key Sponsor | Luminous |
| Fan Base | 14.1 million |
RR’s Unique Appeal:
- Scouting at the grassroot level.
- Good Internet penetration amongst young people.
- Repositioning and advertising.
7. Delhi Capitals (DC) 80 Million
DC, despite lacking the trophy, progresses in terms of brand value due to its corporate influence as well as an ever-competent team consisting of such a galaxy of superstars as KL Rahul and Mitchell Starc.
| Category | Details |
| Owner | GMR & JSW Group |
| League | IPL |
| Titles | 0 |
| Key Sponsor | Hero Fincorp |
| Fan Base | 16.5 million |
Why DC Is a Global Brand:
- Equal team and marquee players.
- Good youth involvement on social networks.
- Urban fan base.
8. Gujarat Titans (GT) -$69 Million
There was a bang when GT debuted in IPL by claiming the crown of 2022 and the 2023 final. Their new digital-first branding and philosophy are increasing their market.
| Category | Details |
| Owner | CVC Capital & Torrent Group |
| League | IPL |
| Titles | 1 (2022) |
| Key Sponsor | Dream11 |
| Fan Base | 7.6 million |
GT’s Meteoric Rise:
- Big sophomore year.
- Gen-Z-Centric marketing.
- Acute media tactics and young management.
9. Peshawar Zalmi (PSZ) 40.5 million dollars
Zalmi is a franchise that has a great number of followers in PSL. They have a heritage and a contemporary combination with Babar Azam as a captain and Darren Sammy as a manager.
| Category | Details |
| Owner | Javed Afridi |
| League | PSL |
| Titles | 1 (2017) |
| Key Sponsor | Ary Laguna |
| Fan Base | 6.6 million |
Why Zalmi Is Special:
- Kinetic sociability.
- In Pakistan and diaspora there is strong fan loyalty.
- Stylized branding and stylized digital media use of celebrities.
10. Karachi Kings (KK) 23.6 Million
Still being in the 10th position, Karachi Kings are a major element of the PSL ecosystem as they have colossal ownership and marketing potential.
| Category | Details |
| Owner | Salman Iqbal |
| League | PSL |
| Titles | 1 (2020) |
| Key Sponsor | Haier |
| Fan Base | 3.9 million |
Strengths of KK:
- Good lineup of domestic players.
- Loyal Pakistani fans.
- Advertising continuity by PSL.
Final Table – Top 10 Cricket Franchises in 2025-26
| Rank | Franchise | Brand Value | Titles | Fan Base (M) |
| 1 | Royal Challengers (RCB) | $140M | 1 | 40.4 |
| 2 | Chennai Super Kings (CSK) | $122M | 5 | 43.7 |
| 3 | Mumbai Indians (MI) | $119M | 5 | 41.6 |
| 4 | Kolkata Knight Riders | $109M | 3 | 30.6 |
| 5 | Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) | $85M | 1 | 15.4 |
| 6 | Rajasthan Royals (RR) | $81M | 1 | 14.1 |
| 7 | Delhi Capitals (DC) | $80M | 0 | 16.5 |
| 8 | Gujarat Titans (GT) | $69M | 1 | 7.6 |
| 9 | Peshawar Zalmi (PSZ) | $40.5M | 1 | 6.6 |
| 10 | Karachi Kings (KK) | $23.6M | 1 | 3.9 |
Conclusion
The contest to become the largest cricket franchise on the globe is not limited to triumphs at the battleground. It is all about feelings, marketing, supporters and entrepreneurship. By 2025-26, RCB has risen tall or rather: not just because they won the IPL, but because they finally appealed to their audience at a level that they had never been appealed to. As the popularity of cricket grows, there is every likelihood that these rankings will change quickly in the coming years.
FAQs
A1.Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) is the biggest cricket franchise in 2025 with a brand value of $140 million.
A2.Chennai Super Kings (CSK) has the highest fan base with over 43.7 million followers globally.
A3.Mumbai Indians (MI) have won 5 IPL titles, making them one of the most successful teams in league history.
A4.Peshawar Zalmi is the richest PSL franchise with a brand value of $40.5 million.
A5.Yes, RCB won their first IPL title in 2025, ending an 18-year wait.
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