Punjab Kings owner speaks about what IPL needs to match the great value as that of NFL

The Indian Premier League needs a 12-16 week operating window to match the brand value of top sporting leagues in the world including the NFL, NBA and Premier League, reckons Punjab Kings co-owner Mohit Burman.

At USD 16.8 million, the IPL is only behind NFL (USD 36.8 million) in terms of per-match value but needs to catch up with its global rivals like NFL and leading European football leagues when it comes to the overall brand value pecking order.

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According to leading investment bank Houlihan Lokey, the IPL is valued at roughly USD 16 billion while one NFL franchise Dallas Cowboys alone is worth USD 9 billion, followed by New York Yankees at USD 7.1 billion.

NBA franchise New York Knicks is valued at USD 7 billion while top football clubs Real Madrid and Manchester United have drawn a valuation of USD 6 billion.

Compared to the existing eight-week IPL, the much longer windows of Premier League (August to May), NBA (seven months) and NFL (4.5 months) also push their valuations.

Burman spoke to PTI about the road ahead of the IPL and remarkable turnaround of Punjab Kings who reached the final after 11 years.

“We’re already second in the world when it comes to per-match value, just behind the NFL. But overall brand value? That’s a different game. I think we need a 12-16-week window to get there,” said Burman, who is also the chairman of Dabur India.

“That gives us space to tell better stories, build rivalries, and create more value for everyone – fans, sponsors, broadcasters. But it’s not just about length. It’s about what we do in that time – the kind of content we push out, how we engage fans year-round, how we build the league beyond the season. IPL has the scale. Now it’s about consistency and depth,” he added.

The 2025 season of IPL just came to an end on June 3rd, where Royal Challengers Bengaluru lifted their maiden title by beating Punjab Kings by 6 runs.