Biggest Cricket Franchise in the World: Brand Value, Fans & Global Reach

May 14, 2025 mjjoshi

Cricket isn’t just a sport—it’s a billion-dollar industry. And at the heart of this global phenomenon lie franchises that attract millions of fans, rack up enormous revenues, and dominate media attention across continents. When we talk about the biggest cricket franchise in the world, it’s no longer about just wins and trophies. It’s about brand value, fan engagement, sponsorships, media rights, and global reach.

This blog takes you through a fact-based journey of which cricket team holds the crown for being the biggest. We’ll look at numbers, social media influence, international expansion, and much more.

What Makes a Cricket Franchise the “Biggest”?

Before ranking the top cricket franchise, we must first understand what “biggest” really means in this context. It’s not just about who wins the most. It’s a combination of:

Brand valuation
Fan base (local and global)
Social media influence
Sponsorship revenue
Merchandise sales
International league presence

Franchises that excel in these areas dominate not just cricket, but sports business globally.

Brand Value: The Financial Backbone of a Cricket Franchise

Brand value reflects the market worth of a team, factoring in revenue, recognition, trust, and growth potential.

According to Duff & Phelps (now Kroll), brand valuations of IPL teams in 2023 were:

Mumbai Indians – $87 million
Chennai Super Kings – $81 million
Kolkata Knight Riders – $78 million
Royal Challengers Bangalore – $69 million

These figures are based on sponsorship deals, media coverage, match-day revenue, and more.

Mumbai Indians, owned by Reliance Industries, continue to top the chart due to strong corporate backing and on-field consistency.

Fan Base: Who Has the Most Supporters?

A large and loyal fan base is a direct driver of revenue and influence.

Social Media Following (as of early 2025):

Chennai Super Kings (CSK) – 38M+ followers (all platforms)
Mumbai Indians (MI) – 35M+ followers
Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) – 32M+ followers
Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) – 27M+ followers

CSK’s popularity exploded thanks to MS Dhoni’s leadership and their consistent performances. The team enjoys fan devotion that rivals top global football clubs.

In stadiums across India and beyond, yellow CSK jerseys are a common sight. This passionate base converts into packed stands, merchandise sales, and brand loyalty.

Global Reach: Going Beyond India

Expansion Into Other T20 Leagues

Indian franchises are no longer limited to the IPL. Many have expanded into UAE’s ILT20, South Africa’s SA20, and even Major League Cricket (MLC) in the USA.

MI Emirates – ILT20
MI Cape Town – SA20
Texas Super Kings (owned by CSK) – MLC
Abu Dhabi Knight Riders – ILT20
LA Knight Riders – MLC

This expansion allows IPL franchises to build global brand presence, attract new audiences, and secure multinational sponsors. Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings lead the way in international investment and visibility.

Revenue & Sponsorships: The Money Game

Major Sponsorships:

Mumbai Indians – Slice, Jio, DHL
Chennai Super Kings – TVS Eurogrip, India Cements
RCB – Qatar Airways, Puma
KKR – My11Circle, Lux Cozi

In 2023, Mumbai Indians earned over ₹450 crore from sponsorships and media rights alone. Chennai Super Kings followed closely, boosted by their title win and brand legacy.

Sponsorship value is a strong indicator of brand power. Top brands only invest where there’s a return in terms of visibility and audience engagement.

Merchandising: More Than Just Jerseys

Selling team jerseys, caps, and memorabilia has become a strong revenue stream.

CSK and MI lead this space, with CSK’s Dhoni jerseys consistently outselling all others across platforms like Amazon, FanCode, and the official IPL store.

RCB, despite not winning a title, has a massive online fan community that buys up official merchandise every season.

Celebrity Ownership: Brand Boosters

Having celebrities as owners adds star power to franchises.

Shah Rukh Khan – Co-owner of KKR
Preity Zinta – Co-owner of Punjab Kings
Nita Ambani – Strategic face of MI
MS Dhoni – Brand ambassador for CSK (and icon beyond cricket)

Celebrity involvement enhances marketing appeal, brings non-cricket audiences, and boosts the franchise’s status across mainstream media.

Performance on the Field

While off-field numbers matter, performance still drives attention.

Franchise	Titles	Finals	Playoffs
CSK	5	10	12
MI	5	6	10
KKR	2	3	7
RCB	0	3	8

CSK and MI are neck-and-neck in titles, but CSK’s fan devotion post-2018 comeback added huge emotional equity.

Real-World Example: CSK’s Comeback

In 2018, Chennai Super Kings returned after a two-year ban. Most pundits wrote them off due to an aging squad. But led by MS Dhoni, they won the title, reigniting nationwide loyalty. Sales of CSK merchandise jumped over 60% that year, and their social media grew by 40%.

That season proved CSK’s status wasn’t just about titles—it was about community, belief, and story.

Pros & Cons of the Biggest Cricket Franchises

Mumbai Indians

Pros: Financial muscle, strong bench, international footprint
Cons: Struggled post-Rohit captaincy transition

Chennai Super Kings

Pros: Loyal fan base, consistent performance, Dhoni brand power
Cons: Heavily dependent on legacy players

Royal Challengers Bangalore

Pros: Enormous fan base, strong marketing
Cons: No IPL titles yet, underperformance in key matches

FAQs

Who is the biggest cricket franchise in the world?
Chennai Super Kings and Mumbai Indians are the top contenders, but CSK edges ahead due to unmatched fan loyalty, international growth, and consistent brand engagement.

Why is CSK so popular?
Largely due to MS Dhoni’s leadership, consistent performance, and emotional connection with fans.

Which franchise has the highest brand value?
As of the latest reports, Mumbai Indians lead in financial valuation, but CSK is very close.

Is RCB bigger than KKR?
In fan engagement and social media, yes. But in terms of titles and brand consistency, KKR still has an edge.

Will any franchise overtake CSK or MI?
It’s possible if newer franchises expand globally, perform well consistently, and build a strong brand identity.

Final Thoughts

When looking at the biggest cricket franchise in the world, it’s clear that the race is tight. While Mumbai Indians may have the edge in financial power and brand deals, Chennai Super Kings takes the lead in emotional engagement, fan loyalty, and global presence. With MS Dhoni’s legacy, international expansion, and consistent on-field results, CSK holds the title in the eyes of many.

That said, the competition is fierce, and new challengers may rise soon.

Which team do you think is the biggest in the world? Drop your opinion in the comments below and share this post with fellow cricket fans!