A consortium of United States-based investors has acquired Rajasthan Royals for a staggering $1.635 billion, according to confirmation from the BCCI on Wednesday.
The deal — which covers the IPL franchise along with Paarl Royals (SA20) and Barbados Royals (CPL) — sets a new record for a cricket franchise sale and signals growing international investor appetite for Indian cricket's commercial ecosystem.
For context, the entire IPL was valued at approximately $6 billion in 2010. The league's combined franchise value now exceeds $15 billion, reflecting the explosive global growth of T20 cricket as an entertainment product.
Previous Valuations
The previous record for an IPL franchise sale was held by a $1.1 billion deal in 2023. The Royals' sale at $1.635 billion represents a 48% premium over that benchmark, driven primarily by IPL's new $6.2 billion broadcasting rights deal and expanding global fanbase.