June 6, 2025
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BCCI break silence on stampede at Chinnaswamy Stadium: 'Totally shocking. There have been lapses' | Cricket News

BCCI break silence on stampede at Chinnaswamy Stadium: ‘Totally shocking. There have been lapses’ | Cricket News

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Karnataka Police resort to lathicharge to contain the crowd at the Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru during RCB’s IPL trophy celebrations. (PTI) A tragic incident unfolded at Bengaluru’s Chinnaswamy Stadium on Wednesday when at least eight people died and more than 40 were injured in a stampede during Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s IPL title celebrations. The celebration was meant to mark the team’s first IPL championship after an 18-year wait, following their victory over Punjab Kings in Ahmedabad on Tuesday.The situation turned chaotic as thousands of fans gathered outside the stadium to catch a glimpse of the Rajat Patidar-led team. Police forces struggled to maintain control of the crowds, eventually resorting to mild force to manage the situation.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!The incident prompted an immediate response from BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia, who acknowledged serious security lapses in the organisation of the victory celebration. Poll Should the BCCI prioritize safety over celebration in future events? “This incident of deaths due to stampede is totally shocking for us. We at BCCI extend our heartfelt condolences to the families of the deceased. We also pray for the speedy recovery of all those who have been injured. When one organises a victory celebrations of this magnitude, proper precautions, safety and security measures need to be taken. There has been some lapses in some corner somewhere. Due diligence should have been done so that an incident like this could have been avoided,” Saikia told news agency PTI.The BCCI secretary also expressed concern about the ongoing celebrations, hoping to prevent any further incidents.Saikia drew a comparison to recent successful crowd management efforts, highlighting the IPL finals at Ahmedabad’s Narendra Modi Stadium and the T20 World Cup victory parade in Mumbai. Royal Challengers Bengaluru fans at the Vidhan Soudha in Bengaluru during the team’s felicitation ceremony. (AP) “I have heard that celebrations are on and I sincerely hope that nothing untoward happens. Even yesterday in Ahmedabad, during IPL finals, there were 120,000 people at the Narendra Modi Stadium. But BCCI has a dedicated team which has done elaborate planning in coordination with local district administration and law enforcing authorities to ensure that safety and security of the spectators,” he said.He further elaborated on the BCCI’s approach to organising large-scale celebrations, citing the T20 World Cup victory parade as an example.“When we organised the Victory parade in Mumbai after the T20 World Cup, we had spoken to the local authorities and made elaborate arrangements keeping in mind the safety and security of the crowd who had come to see their heroes,” Saikia added.

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Virat Kohli visits 'heartbreak corner' after RCB win IPL, throws bat at Rajat Patidar, gets cut off by Mayank Agarwal

Virat Kohli visits ‘heartbreak corner’ after RCB win IPL, throws bat at Rajat Patidar, gets cut off by Mayank Agarwal

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The last two years have brought Virat Kohli so much joy. Kohli became a father for the second time last year, when he and Anushka Sharma welcomed their son Akaay into the world. In June, Kohli won the T20 World Cup for India and nine months later, the Champions Trophy for the second time. And just last night, Kohli was crowned an IPL winner, putting an end to an 18-year wait. If you’re Virat Kohli, all those years of coming within striking distance of achieving glory are finally waning. Think of the unimaginable heartbreaks – losing in the semifinals of the 2015, 2016 and 2019 World Cups, the final of the CT in 2017, and twice in the World Test Championship. It was not easy being Kohli before 2024. Virat Kohli inside the dressing room after RCB’s IPL win(Screengrab) And despite all that being a thing of the past, Kohli still remembers it all in some corner of his heart. On November 19, 2023, he was at the same venue – the Narendra Modi Stadium – at an equally big occasion – the final of a big cricket tournament. Only this time, the result is one to cherish. As Kohli realised his IPL dream, he, along with AB de Villiers, entered the same dressing room, where a little less than two years ago, Kohli and a billion Indian cricket fans endured quite possibly the biggest heartbreak of their lives when Australia beat India to lift the 2023 World Cup. But the best thing about time, as they say, is that it changes. For Kohli, this was the moment. Also Read: Virat Kohli mentions Test cricket for the first time since retirement, says ‘IPL win with RCB still five levels below it’ “Heartbreak corner… no more,” Kohli said as he entered the dressing room. It was at this venue where he and Rohit Sharma met Prime Minister Narendra Modi with heavy and moist eyes. Kohli somehow managed to stay strong in front of the PM, unlike Rohit who looked like breaking down any moment. But if you noticed carefully, he was nowhere to be seen later. This was a guy determined to win the World Cup for India. He led from the front, scoring over 700 runs, and yet it was not enough. Also Read: ‘There is an end date’, Virat Kohli makes hearts stop; addresses his IPL future after RCB win trophy Nothing. And we mean absolutely nothing can heal those scars, although India have won two ICC titles since. But for Kohli, ending a near two-decade-long wait at the same venue would surely ease the pain of November 19 that much more. Being the champion that he is, Kohli doffed his hat at Rajat Patidar and applauded the man who triumphed in just his maiden season as captain of the franchise. “What a turn around. From injury replacement to IPL-winning captain. Bloody Hell,” he said before taking out his favourite bat and throwing it at Patidar. The RCB captain, in a show of respect, kissed the willow. Oh, what a moment! Watch the video below: Virat Kohli can’t wait to come to Bengaluru “Very difficult to explain, man,” Kohli said to the RCB cameraman. I think I am going to feel the real side of it when we get to Bengaluru tomorrow, and celebrate it with the city and the fans who have stood with us through thick and thin. So I am just relieved. Full bunch of match winners. People stepping up at different stages and putting their hands up to get the job done for the team. To have that hunger and confidence in them. This guy, local lad [points to Mayank Agarwal] comes in place of Dev [dutt Padikkal]. You could see they wear that badge with pride… of RCB. That can never go away from a Bengaluru boy and yeah, this guy was special.” Just as Kohli was about to finish, Agarwal entered the fray and apologised. “Sorry to cut you off. You playing for Bengaluru for 18 years, I can tell you one thing. You are as much a Bengaluru boy as anybody else. I am sure you have an idea but tomorrow and the coming days, you will really experience the love of this city,” Agarwal added. Lastly, the parting words from Kohli summed up his emotions. “I am just glad that I could do it with RCB.”

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Nikhil Kamath praises ‘Bangalore Boy’ Virat Kohli after RCB’s thrilling IPL 2025 win | Trending

Nikhil Kamath praises ‘Bangalore Boy’ Virat Kohli after RCB’s thrilling IPL 2025 win | Trending

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Jun 04, 2025 01:36 AM IST Nikhil Kamath hailed Kohli as the new ‘Bangalore Boy’ after RCB won their first IPL trophy, ending an 18-year wait. Zerodha’s Nikhil Kamath praised Virat Kohli as Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) won their maiden IPL trophy after nearly two decades. Honouring the ace cricketer from Delhi, Kamath said that after the win, Kohli became “the Bangalore Boy.” Nikhil Kamath congratulated RCB for its historic IPL win over Punjab Kings. (PTI, File) “Virat Kohli you are the #BangaloreBoy today. Congrats RCB,” he wrote in an Instagram story, along with a heart emoji. Check out the post here: Nikhil Kamath shared a congratulatory message for RCB and Virat Kohli.(Instagram/nikhilkamathcio) Kamath’s comments came just hours after the IPL team defeated Punjab Kings in a tightly contested match. With a few balls to go, an emotional Virat Kohli was seen fighting back tears of disbelief as an 18-year-old dream came close to becoming a reality, with every moment. As the last ball was bowled and RCB emerged victorious, the former captain sunk to his knees and cried on the ground as teammates surrounded him. ““This win is as much for the fans as it is for the team. It’s been 18 long years. I’ve given this team my youth, prime and experience. I’ve tried to win it every season, gave it everything I have. To finally have it is an unbelievable feeling. Never thought this day would come, I was overcome with emotion after the last ball was bowled. Gave each and every ounce of my energy and it’s an amazing feeling,” he said. Fans celebrate across India For RCB fans, celebrations began late in the night as their team finally lifted its first-ever IPL trophy. “Ee sala cup naamde” turned into reality as supporters flooded the streets with joy, and fireworks filled the skies. Many shared videos of fireworks and celebrations in Bengaluru, comparing the festivities to Diwali. In the days leading up to the final, fans were seen organising hawans, offering digital snans to RCB team photos and going to temples with photos of Virat Kohli, seeking blessings for a win. (Also read: Indian billionaire celebrates like a true fan as RCB ends title drought and lifts IPL 2025 trophy) News / Trending / Nikhil Kamath praises ‘Bangalore Boy’ Virat Kohli after RCB’s thrilling IPL 2025 win See Less

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Virat Kohli creates history, breaks massive T20 franchise record | Cricket News

Virat Kohli creates history, breaks massive T20 franchise record | Cricket News

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Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) star batter Virat Kohli etched his name in the record books by becoming the first cricketer ever to amass 9,000 T20 runs for a single franchise. The landmark was achieved during RCB’s final league stage encounter against Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) in Lucknow on Tuesday.Kohli, RCB’s all-time leading run-scorer, has accumulated these runs by combining his performances in both the Indian Premier League (IPL) and the now-defunct Champions League T20 (CLT20). Ahead of the match, Kohli had registered 8,976 runs across 279 matches and 270 innings, averaging 39.54 with a strike rate of 133.49. His tally included eight centuries and 64 half-centuries, with a top score of 113*.In IPL alone, Kohli is the leading run-scorer in the tournament’s history, with 8,552 runs from 264 matches and 256 innings. He averages 39.59 and has notched up eight hundreds and 62 fifties, also with a best of 113*.During his CLT20 appearances, Kohli scored 424 runs in 15 matches at an average of 38.54 and a strike rate of 150.35, including two fifties. His highest score in the tournament was 84*. ‘We manifested and then we worked hard’: Shashank Singh after Punjab Kings seal top-two finish This season, Kohli has been in sublime form, leading RCB’s scoring charts with 548 runs in 12 innings. He is averaging 60.88 with a strike rate of 145.35, including seven fifties and a highest score of 73*. Currently, he stands sixth in the overall run-scorers list for IPL 2025.If RCB manage a win against LSG, they will seal a top-two finish and set up a Qualifier 1 clash against Punjab Kings (PBKS), ensuring two opportunities to reach the IPL final. Get IPL 2025 match schedules, squads, points table, and live scores for CSK, MI, RCB, KKR, SRH, LSG, DC, GT, PBKS, and RR. Check the latest IPL Orange Cap and Purple Cap standings.

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IPL 2025: Punjab Kings join Gujarat Titans with a single-season T20 record | Cricket News

IPL 2025: Punjab Kings join Gujarat Titans with a single-season T20 record | Cricket News

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Shreyas Iyer celebrates his half century with Marcus Stoinis during an Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 T20 cricket match between Punjab Kings and Delhi Capitals, at Sawai Mansingh Stadium, in Jaipur. (PTI) Punjab Kings captain Shreyas Iyer scored a majestic fifty, while Marcus Stoinis delivered a fiery innings, guiding PBKS to a total of 206/8 against Delhi Capitals in the IPL 2025 on Saturday.After being put to bat, Josh Inglis came in second and counterattacked, scoring 32 off 12 balls before Vipraj Nigam got him out in the final over of the powerplay.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!Prabhsimran blitzed veteran spinner Kuldeep Yadav right after the powerplay, hitting 14 runs in his first over. In the next over, Nigam dismissed Prabhsimran for 28 (18), which included four fours and a six. Nehal Wadhera then came to partner PBKS captain Iyer.By the 10th over, PBKS were 97/3, with Iyer on 18 (14) and Wadhera on 10 (8). Punjab crossed the 100-run mark in the 11th over. Mukesh Kumar responded by dismissing Wadhera for 16 (16), and Shashank Singh came in next. India Test squad for England tour: Shubman Gill to lead, Rishabh Pant his deputy In the 16th over, Mustafizur removed Shashank for 11 (10), and Marcus Stoinis joined Iyer. In the 17th over, the duo blasted Mukesh for 25 runs, helping PBKS cross 150, with Iyer reaching his fifty in the same over.DC’s Mohit Sharma dropped a crucial catch of Stoinis on the first ball of the 18th over. However, Kuldeep Yadav then dismissed Shreyas Iyer for 53 off 34 balls (including five fours and two sixes). Omarzai came in to partner Stoinis.Kuldeep struck again in the same over, removing Omarzai for just 1. Stoinis powered through the penultimate over, smashing Mohit Sharma for 22 runs, including fours and sixes. PBKS finished their innings at 206/8, setting a challenging target for DC.Most 200-plus totals in a T20 competition 7 – PBKS in IPL 2025 7 – GT in IPL 2025 7 – Warwickshire in T20 Blast 2022 Most 200-plus totals in an IPL edition 7* – PBKS in 2025 7* – GT in 2025 6 – MI in 2023 6 – KKR in 2024 6 – SRH in 2024 6 – RCB in 2024 Get IPL 2025 match schedules, squads, points table, and live scores for CSK, MI, RCB, KKR, SRH, LSG, DC, GT, PBKS, and RR. Check the latest IPL Orange Cap and Purple Cap standings.

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Mumbai Indians, Delhi Capitals in last-ditch battle for playoffs

Mumbai Indians, Delhi Capitals in last-ditch battle for playoffs

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Mumbai: By the time Mumbai Indians step out to play their penultimate league tie against Delhi Capitals on Wednesday at home, it would have been a fortnight since their last game. Remember the last ball midnight thriller which they lost to Gujarat Titans at the Wankhede? IPL resumption matters the most for the two teams still in qualification contention – Mumbai Indians and Delhi Capitals. (AFP) In the interim, missiles were fired across the India-Pakistan border, IPL was suspended, Rohit Sharma called it quits in Test cricket. But here they are, back to normalcy. And straight in with an opportunity to seal the fourth playoff berth behind Royal Challengers Bengaluru, Punjab Kings and Gujarat Titans. “It’s in our control. It’s a great position to be in,” said Mahela Jayawardene, MI head coach. “It’s better to have it in our control than anyone else’s and watch that situation, we’ve played good cricket to deserve to be in that situation… We’ve had a good week’s preparation and watched what the other teams were doing. We just need to go out and express ourselves and play a good game.” Before their last loss, MI, on a six-match winning streak, were looking like the team to beat. With the forced break, every team has had to start again. Five teams at the bottom of the points table have lost the right to advance further. IPL resumption matters the most for the two teams still in qualification contention – MI and DC. For DC, this is virtually a must-win. A slip-up from Delhi, and the only point of interest that will be left in the last week of IPL 2025 will be to see who finishes in the top two. “Every game is a pressure match in IPL. But there is additional pressure. If we lose, we are out,” said Munaf Patel, DC bowling coach. Besides, DC are having to play the remaining matches without Mitchell Starc, their leading wicket-taker and all-phase paceman. “It matters. Starc was our main bowler. Someone who could bowl 145kph, swing the ball. And we are playing at Wankhede where the pitch has bounce,” said Patel. “But you have to go with what you have and get performance.” They fared poorly the last time without Starc, in Delhi on Sunday. Coming off a 10-wicket loss, after watching Gujarat Titans openers Shubman Gill and Sai Sudharsan chase down 200, Mustafizur Rahman and Dushmantha Chameera will need to do a lot better. Wednesday’s action could be affected by weather with Mumbai experiencing unseasonal rains. No result will leave both teams with work to do in their final league matches. To cover for the threat of rain, as provided for the playoffs, an additional hour has been allocated for the remaining league matches in case of stoppages. “Obviously the weather has been threatening most of the games and it’s a decision that they’ve collectively taken,” Jayawardene said. “If it helps, it helps. But if you have serious rain, I don’t know whether the extra hour is going to help. As long as we can get a game with the extension…everyone wants to play a game of cricket rather than not play.”

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IPL 2025: Sai Sudharsan, Shubman Gill show Delhi Capitals what they have been missing this season | Cricket News

IPL 2025: Sai Sudharsan, Shubman Gill show Delhi Capitals what they have been missing this season | Cricket News

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Gujarat Titans’ captain Shubman Gill and Sai Sudharsan being congratulated by Delhi Capitals’ KL Rahul (PTI Photo) NEW DELHI: KL Rahul did much of the heavy-lifting for Delhi Capitals as they batted first against Delhi Capitals at the Arun Jaitley Stadium on Sunday evening. During his 60-ball century, and eventual 112* from 65 balls, he ticked plenty of boxes in an effortless knock which took DC to 199 runs, their biggest total at this venue in IPL 2025.While playing 65 balls (the most by a batter this IPL season), he pocketed numerous milestones along the way as well: fastest Indian to 8000 T20 runs, fourth on the list of most centurions in IPL history, joint-third in the list of most centuries by Indians in T20s.His innings was stupendously paced as well. In his first 20 balls, he scored 25 runs. In the next 20 balls each he scored 38 and 39 runs, respectively. The last five balls fetched 10 runs. As far as pacing an innings in a T20 is concerned, this was template stuff. Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!And this was the plan all along as DC moved KL Rahul to top of the order. Having tried multiple combinations with none of them proving fruitful, the franchise rolled the dice again. And again, it didn’t work out. Faf du Plessis fell for 5 after a laboured start, producing an opening stand of just 16 runs.But it allowed KL Rahul more time to get settled before going into the attacking mode, which saw 14 fours and four sixes. Except, it wasn’t enough — by a long margin. Sai Sudharsan and Shubman Gill showed what DC have been missing all this season — a set pair to open the innings. The pairing collected their seventh 50-plus stand for the first wicket in IPL 2025. And when they crossed the 100-run mark without much of a fuss, it was their seventh in IPL history.As the score ticked to 158 runs, the records just became harsh on DC, as it was the highest opening stand against them.Not long after, Sudharsan, fittingly, got the job done with a six. The manner of the result was also duly appropriate. Half-tracker outside off by Vipraj Nigam, Sudharsan went on the back foot and pulled well over long-on. Six and Gujarat Titans had earned themselves a 10-wicket win and a place in the playoffs. Well, themselves and Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Punjab Kings as well.The maximum to close the match out was the 11th six of the GT innings, which coupled with the 15 fours, meant 126 of the 205 runs that GT scored came in boundaries or 61.46%. Sudharsan’s 108 from 61 balls and Gill’s 93 from 53 balls were laden with boundaries, yet there was little risk involved. Where Gill controlled 82% of his shots, Sudharsan was on 85% on that metric. Bombay Sport Exchange Ep 5: Shane Watson on how IPL gave him a lifeline & his tribute to Phil Hughes “We’ve batted and played really well throughout, going into the playoffs is a reward for how well we’ve done. Openers play low-risk cricket, still they have the ability to hit down the ground and find boundaries. The fours they hit during the game, especially. They know their game, they put a lot of work in strengthening their basics which shows,” said GT assistant coach Parthiv Patel after the win.“Opening pair is about chemistry and knowing each other’s games wel,l which they do,” he added.On the eve of the match, Parthiv had stressed on looking at the glass-half-full with their batting, suggesting he was focused on the top order doing the job for them. And on Sunday, that glass just got a bit fuller. Get IPL 2025 match schedules, squads, points table, and live scores for CSK, MI, RCB, KKR, SRH, LSG, DC, GT, PBKS, and RR. Check the latest IPL Orange Cap and Purple Cap standings.

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KKR have themselves to blame for IPL 2025 elimination: Aaron Finch

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Aaron Finch feels that Kolkata Knight Riders have themselves to blame for their exit from the IPL 2025 in the group stages. KKR, who came into the competition as the defending champions, struggled to find consistency, despite retaining most of their core from last season. KKR was in a do-or-die situation after their loss to CSK at home before IPL 2025 was halted for a week and needed a win against RCB at the Chinnaswamy stadium on Saturday, May 17. However, the match got washed out with a delivery being bowled, meaning that KKR’s title defence came to an end. Speaking on Kuhl Fans Match Centre Live on JioHotstar, Finch said that the campaign didn’t start well for KKR and they fumbled the entry point for Andre Russell. The former Aussie skipper felt that the all-rounder wasn’t given enough chances to influence games. “It didn’t start well for them. Andre Russell, being the match-winner that he is and has been for such a long time, was batting too far down the order for much of the tournament. He simply wasn’t given the opportunities to influence games the way he can. They’ve only got themselves to blame,” said Finch. ‘Too many moments where KKR didn’t click’ Finch also pointed out to the CSK loss, saying that it was a game KKR had in their bag before letting it slip away. Finch felt that throughout the campaign, Kolkata failed to click at various moments. They almost kicked themselves after that last game against CSK – it was theirs to win. The match was almost wrapped up, and they still couldn’t cross the line, which turned out to be an incredible win for Chennai. Throughout the season, there were too many moments where KKR just didn’t click,” said Finch. KKR have one match left against SRH on Sunday, May 25 in Delhi. Kolkata has 12 points from 13 matches and will aim to finish on a high. Stay updated on IPL 2025 with India Today! Get match schedules, team squads, live score, and the latest IPL points table for CSK, MI, RCB, KKR, SRH, LSG, DC, GT, PBKS, and RR. Plus, keep track of the top contenders for the IPL Orange Cap and Purple Cap. Don’t miss a moment! Published On: May 18, 2025 Tune In

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IPL business value surges to $16.4 billion, says study

IPL business value surges to $16.4 billion, says study

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Indian Premier League’s (IPL) brand value has continued its robust growth with a latest study assessing it to have increased by 6.3% to $3.4 billion over last year. The business value of IPL – it is the assumed value a buyer would currently pay – has surged to $16.4 billion, up by 6.5%, according to the study conducted by American investment bank Houlihan Lokey. Kolkata Knight Riders’ captain Shreyas Iyer along with teammates Andre Russell, Rinku Singh and others celebrate as they lift the Indian Premier League 2024 trophy(ANI) IPL’s revenue model is heavily reliant on media rights proceeds. The big uptick in business value ($8.5bn to $15.4bn) came last year after Viacom 18 and Disney Star picked up the 2023-27 digital and TV rights for a collective $6.2bn. This year’s increase gets a boost from a positive revision in IPL title rights with Tata renewing its contract for ₹2500 crore for five years. Now catch your favourite game on Crickit. Anytime Anywhere. Find out how Delving on the brand value of IPL franchises, the study throws up expected findings. Riding high on the MS Dhoni fever that has been all-pervading in the past two seasons, Chennai Super Kings (CSK) continue to be No.1 on both brand value and business value indices. Despite yet another season where they unsuccessfully chased a maiden IPL title, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) come No.2 on both the indices. The study highlights a fervent fan base, vibrant team identity and the Virat Kohli factor as reasons behind RCB’s emotional connect with fans and why it translates into sponsorship revenue and ticket sales. It helped that RCB had a remarkable run of come-from-behind wins this year to qualify for the playoffs and Kohli was again the top-scorer, winning the Orange Cap as this edition’s leading batter. IPL 2024 winners Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) are ranked third in brand value and fourth in business value. “KKR capitalizes greatly on the brand equity of its renowned owner Shah Rukh Khan and is regarded as one of the best-managed franchises for turning profitable before others,” the study says. For five-time winners Mumbai Indians (MI), their long-term goodwill helped negotiate the negative impact caused by fan outrage over the captaincy change from Rohit Sharma to Hardik Pandya and the resultant last place finish. The study ranks MI at No.3 and No.4 in business value and brand value respectively. Rajasthan Royals’ (RR) improving trajectory in terms of performances and player pool sees them rise to No.5 in brand value. “The IPL as a product has always been highly investible,” RR lead owner Manoj Badale is quoted as saying. “A closed league (no relegation) offers long-term security, a “hard” salary cap ensures a level-playing field and competitive parity, and an equitable commercial model in which central income is split equally amongst franchises secures contractual revenue for franchises.” The first 10 years of IPL, as with any new sports property, can be thought of as the “proof of concept” stage. Fan affinity has strengthened whilst broadcasters and sponsors consider IPL to be a “must-have” property. This has provided a solid launchpad for the league to scale and simultaneously provided franchises with a new profile of investment that can unlock this new stage of growth and innovation.”

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IPL valuation rises to $16.4 billion in 2024, Chennai Super Kings remain most valued franchise: Report | Cricket News

IPL valuation rises to $16.4 billion in 2024, Chennai Super Kings remain most valued franchise: Report | Cricket News

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NEW DELHI: The value of the Indian Premier League (IPL) increased by 6.5 per cent, reaching USD 16.4 billion (approximately Rs 1,34,858 crore) in 2024, as reported by American investment bank Houlihan Lokey.The brand value of the lucrative T20 league saw a 6.3 per cent rise, climbing to USD 3.4 billion (around Rs 28,000 crore) year-on-year.The increase in IPL’s value is driven by a significant title sponsorship agreement with Tata Group, spanning five years from 2024 to 2028, worth roughly USD 300 million (Rs 2,500 crore). The Tata Group is paying about 50 per cent more than the previous deal of Rs 335 crore per season.“This significant investment, coupled with last year’s massive media rights auction, underscores the IPL’s status as a pivotal platform for esteemed brands seeking to enhance their value,” the report highlighted.Beyond major events like the Olympics, FIFA World Cup, and Cricket World Cup, the IPL is unique in its ability to engage over a billion people globally, extending its appeal beyond the Indian subcontinent.Brand value encompasses the monetary worth of intangible assets, including trade names and trademarks.Harsh Talikoti, Senior Vice President, Corporate Valuation Advisory Services, Houlihan Lokey, said “Today, the IPL commands widespread recognition, firmly entrenched as a household name with a robust brand recall among successive generations.” According to the report, IPL has been evaluated both as a legal business entity and as a brand. The assessment considered the standalone income and cash-generation potential of the IPL.The Chennai Super Kings (CSK) remain the most valued IPL franchise, while the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) experienced the highest annual growth.“There has been a significant increase in franchise revenue over the years, primarily driven by revenue from television rights, despite each team having sponsorship revenue ranging from USD 5-12 million. A major agreement was signed by Qatar Airways for around USD 9 million (Rs 75 crore) for a three-year contract with Royal Challengers Bengaluru,” the report said.Ranking second in terms of brand and business value is the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) with a worth of USD 227 million, followed by the Mumbai Indians (MI) with a brand value of USD 204 million.Rajasthan Royals (RR) secured the fifth position with a brand value of USD 133 million.“RR also had the majority of sponsors on their roster renewing their association, showcasing its attractiveness as one of the fastest-growing brands within the IPL ecosystem. These factors helped RR jump two places to the fifth spot,” it said.Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH), with a brand value of USD 132 million, stands sixth on the list.“Having done exceptionally well at the auction and developing a new squad under the leadership of Pat Cummins, SRH managed to pick the stars of the recently concluded World Cup that contributed to the franchisees’ great performance,” the report said.Delhi Capitals, benefiting from the return of its captain and most marketable asset, Rishabh Pant, ranked seventh with a brand value of USD 131 million.The Gujarat Titans are ranked eighth with a brand value of USD 124 million. Meanwhile, Punjab Kings (PBKS) hold a brand value of USD 101 million, and Lucknow Super Giants have a brand value of USD 91.0 million, the report concluded.(With inputs from PTI)

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