Franchise cricket has evolved in the last ten years to become a global business force, instead of being a local phenomenon. Cricket franchises have become as influential as major sports teams with billions of fans, lucrative sponsorships, and star players. India IPL to the growing Major League Cricket in the USA, these teams are transforming the way the game is being consumed, sold and celebrated across the world.
We list the Top 10 Biggest Cricket Franchise in the World, in this guide, ranked on the basis of brand value, impact in the world, titles, and fan following. You are either a die-hard fan or a sports business fanatic, this list provides the definitive view of the best franchises of cricket.
Evaluation Criteria & Methodology
The list of our Top 10 Biggest Cricket Franchise in the World is based on the industry-recognized criteria and open methodology. We evaluate every franchise on such quantitative aspects as the brand value (through Brand Finance, Houlihan Lokey/D and P Advisory reports), media rights, and enterprise value, past trophy performance, international growth and league-wide involvement, financial support of owner conglomerates, and digital presence, including social media followers and viewing trends.
The rigor of valuation is achieved using a Royalty-Relief method developed by Brand Finance that utilizes a Brand Strength Index (BSI) and projected future revenues that are ISO compliant. This mixture of autonomous financial information and performance measures provides authoritative expert level ranking that is reliable to the reader and to the search engines.
Biggest 10 Cricket Franchise in the World- Update 2025 Ranking
This is an informative table of the Top 10 Biggest Cricket Franchise in the World- with important metrics of authoritative sources:
| Rank | Franchise | League(s) | Owner(s) | Brand Value (USD) | IPL/PSL Titles | Key Highlights |
| 1 | Mumbai Indians | IPL, SA20, ILT20, MLC | Reliance Industries | $119 M | 5 IPL titles | Global expansion, diverse revenue streams |
| 2 | Chennai Super Kings | IPL | India Cements | $122 M | 5 IPL titles | Most valuable IPL team, brand surged +52% in 2024 |
| 3 | Kolkata Knight Riders | IPL, CPL | SRK’s Red Chillies Entertainment | $109 M | 3 IPL titles | Celebrity ownership, global branding |
| 4 | Royal Challengers Bengaluru | IPL | United Spirits (Diageo) | $117 M | 1 IPL title | Massive fanbase, major brand value jump with first IPL win in 2025 |
| 5 | Delhi Capitals | IPL | JSW Group & GMR Group | $80 M | 0 | Youth-centric squad, strong digital growth |
| 6 | Rajasthan Royals | IPL | Emerging Media | $81 M | 1 IPL title | Talent development brand, up +30% in valuation |
| 7 | Sunrisers Hyderabad | IPL | SUN Group | $85 M | 1 IPL title | Bowling-focused, soared +76% in brand value |
| 8 | Lahore Qalandars | PSL | Fawad Rana (QALCO) | $25.1 M | 3 PSL titles | Talent powerhouse, strong fan communities |
| 9 | Melbourne Stars | BBL (Australia) | Cricket Victoria | $35.0 M | 0+ BBL titles† | One of BBL’s most followed clubs (no brand value available) |
| 10 | Texas Super Kings | MLC (USA) | Chennai Super Kings Group | – | N/A | Expanding CSK’s global footprint in the USA with growing fanbase |
Top 10 Biggest Cricket Franchise in the World
The world of cricket franchises is currently dominated by the giants of the IPL, but teams from Pakistan, Australia and even the United States are also growing in popularity. Here we list the top 10 biggest cricket franchises in the world.
Ranking No 1. Mumbai Indians (India)
Mumbai Indians with an astounding brand value of US $119 million in 2025 are the first in the list of Top 10 Biggest Cricket Franchise in the World. The MI is not just a team but an empire of cricket owned by Reliance Industries under the leadership of the Ambani family and it includes MI Cape Town (SA20), MI Emirates (ILT20), MI New York (MLC), and in the future the MI Oval in England.
Raw pedigree and competitive DNA are highlighted by five IPL titles, two Champions League crowns and wins in both men and women leagues. With the best in the world sponsors (Samsung, Jio, DHL), an intensely dedicated fan base of 50+ million fans across platforms, and unparalleled merchandise and media leverage MI are the epitome of franchise excellence.
League: Indian Premier League (IPL)
Owner: Reliance Industries
Brand Value: $119 million
Why They’re Big: Five-time IPL champions, massive fan base, star-studded squad (Rohit Sharma, Hardik Pandya, etc.), and a global presence through MI Cape Town and MI Emirates in SA20 and ILT20.
Ranking No 2. Chennai Super Kings (India)
Chennai Super Kings is the No 2 franchise in Top 10 Biggest Cricket Franchise in the World with a brand value of US $122 million in the year 2025, as per the recent report of Houlihan Lokey. CSK is owned by India Cements and the legacy of the franchise is held by the unconquerable MS Dhoni, whose brand value alone is estimated to be about 95.6 million (803 crore) in 2025.
Having won five IPL trophies, CSK has built one of the most dedicated international fanbases in the sport- approximately 41 million followers across all platforms, and they are known as the Yellow Army. Their commercial credibility and marketing power are reflected in their stable brand strength (BSI score 89.2/100) and sponsorship portfolio, including such names as Etihad, FedEx, Jio, and Gulf Oil.
League: IPL
Owner: India Cements
Brand Value: $122 million
Why They’re Big: Led by iconic MS Dhoni, CSK boasts one of the most loyal fan bases and a strong winning legacy, with 5 IPL titles and consistent playoff appearances.
Ranking No 3. Kolkata Knight Riders (India/Global)
Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) take the No 3 place in the Top 10 Biggest Cricket Franchise in the World, with brand value of US $109 million in 2025- firmly in the top group of four franchises that passed the $100M threshold. Co-owned by Bollywood star Shah Rukh Khan, Juhi Chawla and Jay Mehta, KKR is a cinematic glamour meets cricketing grit, a cultural powerhouse, with a fan base of more than 30 million.
In 2024, KKR won their third IPL and confirmed their revival after a decade of inconsistent performance with aggressive and entertaining cricket that is appealing to the world. Their stadium Eden Gardens is one of the most recognized stadiums in the sport and strategic sponsorships and the performance of the franchise over the years has led to steady brand development.
League: IPL, CPL (Trinbago Knight Riders), ILT20
Owner: Shah Rukh Khan’s Red Chillies Entertainment
Brand Value: $109 million
Why They’re Big: Global presence across multiple leagues, entertainment crossover via SRK,
Ranking No 4. Royal Challengers Bengaluru (India)
Topping the list of the Top 10 Biggest Cricket Franchise in the World, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) sky-rocketed to No 4 in our rankings with a US $117 million brand value in 2025, as the franchise finally won the elusive IPL title. Having suffered heartbreaks in the finals in 18 consecutive years, RCB won the trophy on June 3 under the leadership of Rajat Patidar, which is an emotional relief to the fan base of over 40 million fans around the world.
RCB is not only coming back on-field, but it also belongs to United Spirits (Diageo). They have developed online campaigns such as 12th Man Army and RCB Insider, increasing interactions and brand loyalty, which contributed to a 67 per cent year-on-year brand increase. Having star power in Virat Kohli, leadership shifts, and powerhouse sponsors such as Qatar Airways and Puma, RCB is currently the epitome of excellence in franchises both on and off the field.
League: IPL
Owner: United Spirits (Diageo)
Brand Value: $117 million
Why They’re Big: Despite no titles, RCB is one of the most followed teams due to Virat Kohli, elite branding, and strong digital content presence.
Ranking No 5. Delhi Capitals (India)
With the No 5 position in the Top 10 Biggest Cricket Franchise in the World, Delhi Capitals are worth about US $80 million in 2025, and one of the fastest-growing franchises in the IPL ecosystem. With JSW and GMR as its backers, DC has strategically positioned itself as a brand that develops young players, and brands urban cities, which has worked in creating a new cosmopolitan identity that appeals to the next-generation fans in India.
Although it had a mixed season, DC leads the 2020 24 league stage standings with a win percentage of more than 58 percent, a measure of solid performance that is not always as celebrated as it should be because of playoff near misses .
League: IPL
Owner: JSW Group & GMR Group
Brand Value: $80 million
Why They’re Big: A well-balanced squad, rising youth players, and expanding partnerships in UAE and other regions make DC a rising global cricket brand.
Ranking No 6. Rajasthan Royals (India/Global)
The Rajasthan Royals with No 6 ranking in the Top 10 Biggest Cricket Franchise in the World have a brand value of about US 81 million in 2025. They won the first season of the Indian Premier League in 2008, having paid the low franchise fee of Rs. 67 crore, now they are a global brand owned by Emerging Media with minority shareholders RedBird Capital and Lachlan Murdoch.
Although they failed to make it to the 2025 IPL final, Rajasthan has been investing in young talent, which is best demonstrated by the likes of the prodigious talents Yashasvi Jaiswal, Sanju Samson, and the latest addition Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, and this is part of their story of sustainable growth and innovation. Their out-there pink-and-blue branding, data-driven narrative and women-in-cricket appeal all appeal to new-generation fans and international sponsors alike.
League: IPL, ILT20 (Desert Vipers), SA20
Owner: Emerging Media
Brand Value: $81 million
Why They’re Big: Known for scouting young talent and having a smart, data-driven approach. Their global expansion strategy is attracting new fans.
Ranking No 7. Sunrisers Hyderabad (India)
Sunrisers Hyderabad take the No 7 position in our Top 10 Biggest Cricket Franchise in the World with a brand value of US $85 million (₹1,291 Cr) in 2025, which is an impressive 76% year-on-year increase, the highest of all IPL franchises.
With Pike Cummins as captain and CEO Kaviya Maran (Sun Group) as off-field mentor, the resurrection of SRH became a reality as it rose to the 2024 IPL final after being the last in 2023. Their batting artillery- comprising Abhishek Sharma, Travis Head, and the new addition Ishan Kishan- assisted them to shatter the IPL scoring records, including 178 sixes in a season and an awe-inspiring 287-run score, redefining their identity on the field.
League: IPL
Owner: SUN Group
Brand Value: $85 million
Why They’re Big: 2016 IPL champions, known for bowling strength, and a solid regional fan base.
Ranking No 8. Lahore Qalandars (Pakistan)
Lahore Qalandars with a value of about US $25.1 million are No 8 in the Top 10 Biggest Cricket Franchise in the World due to their innovative Player Development Programme and successful repeat championships.
Their third title came on May 25, 2025, when they chased 202 in the final, a dramatic assertion of intent, becoming the first team to win two consecutive titles in PSL history in 2022 and 2023. Captained by Shaheen Shah Afridi, and featuring veterans such as Fakhar Zaman and Sikandar Raza, who have been setting the stage alight during PSL 10, the ability of LQ to overcome adversity and develop its tactics has been its hallmark.
League: Pakistan Super League (PSL)
Owner: Fawad Rana (Qatar Lubricants)
Brand Value: $25.1 million
Why They’re Big: Strong local and international fan engagement, success in PSL 2022 & 2023, and player development programs across Pakistan and beyond.
Ranking No 9. Melbourne Stars (Australia)
Making it to No 9 in the Top 10 Biggest Cricket Franchise in the World, Melbourne Stars are among the most popular teams in the Big Bash League despite having never won a championship. Stars were established in 2011 and are headquartered at the famous MCG and have featured in three finals, the last being in the 202425 season, which shows their competitive nature.
The brand value of the Stars is USD $35 million and they have an average home game attendance of 20,690 fans during the 202324 BBL season, which is one of the highest attendance rates in the history of BBL. They have more than 307,000 followers on Instagram, which enables them to maintain a high level of digital interaction even in the periods of low performance.
League: Big Bash League (BBL)
Owner: Cricket Victoria
Brand Value: $35 million
Why They’re Big: One of the most followed teams in BBL, featuring stars like Glenn Maxwell and a strong entertainment-first branding strategy.
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Ranking No 10. Texas Super Kings (USA)
Completing our Top 10 Biggest Cricket Franchise in the World list is the new team in the Major League Cricket, the Texas Super Kings (TSK) who have taken the league by storm and have already become a favourite amongst fans. Owned jointly by Chennai Super Kings and investors such as Anurag Jain and Ross Perot Jr., TSK plays at the redeveloped Grand Prairie Stadium, which is now the U.S epicenter of cricket with the move of the headquarters of MLC to the city in 2025.
In 2023 and 2024 TSK made the playoffs, with Faf du Plessis leading the team in both years, scoring 420 runs in 2024. The competition day is electrifying: full stadiums, increased domestic popularity, and a live broadcast audience that resembles the initial IPL growth, which strengthens the position of cricket in America.
League: Major League Cricket (MLC)
Affiliation: Chennai Super Kings
Brand Value: Rapidly rising
Why They’re Big: Backed by the CSK brand, this franchise is making waves in the U.S. market, tapping into a large South Asian diaspora and growing cricket interest in North America.
Final Word
To Australia, India, Pakistan, and USA, these giants are the Top 10 Biggest Cricket Franchise in the World today. Their unrivaled brand equity, huge fan bases and world wide media exposure has made cricket a multibillion dollar business. These franchises are not merely sports teams, but cultural symbols and drivers of innovation, entertainment, and global popularity. With the development of this game, they are still the standard of commercial and competitive future cricket in the continents.
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