Second-best cricket league in the world after IPL

Since the Indian Premier League burst onto the cricket scene in 2008, the sport has experienced a major shift. The IPL didn’t just introduce a franchise tournament—it introduced a new culture of cricket consumption. Packed stadiums, superstar line-ups, dramatic finishes and unmatched entertainment turned the league into a global phenomenon almost instantly. It was designed to appeal to a worldwide audience, and it has done exactly that.

Naturally, several countries followed the same model over the years, launching their own franchise-based leagues in hopes of capturing a share of the booming T20 market. A few of them have made solid progress, but none has yet reached the IPL’s level in terms of brand value, financial strength or overall viewership. Still, some leagues have grown enough to find themselves compared to the IPL’s shadow—though the IPL sits comfortably at the top.

IPL’s brand value growth leaves every other league far behind

One of the biggest reasons the IPL has remained so dominant is the sheer size of its business and brand value. In its opening year, the league was valued at $1.6 billion. Today, 17 years later, that number has jumped to $4 billion, showing a strong 13.8% rise from the previous season alone. This growth is backed by consistently high-quality cricket for over two months every year, which guarantees massive engagement.

To put the league’s scale into perspective, consider the prize money and player salaries:

• IPL 2025 winner’s prize: ₹20 crore
• Most expensive IPL 2025 player (Rishabh Pant): ₹27 crore
  
  Pant’s auction price alone is nearly twice the entire winning prize of SA20, which stands at ₹15.4 crore.

Brand value comparison of major T20 Leagues (2025)

Despite efforts from various boards, none of the global leagues come close to the IPL. Here’s where they stand:

• The Hundred: $1.2 billion
• SA20: $12.5 million
• Pakistan Super League (PSL): $5.7 million
• Caribbean Premier League (CPL): $4.6 million

The Hundred owes much of its recent rise to IPL teams buying major stakes. Meanwhile, SA20 has witnessed remarkable growth in only three seasons, mainly because all its teams are owned by IPL franchises. PSL continues to grow but remains limited in scale. CPL sits at the bottom of the valuation list.

IPL vs Other Leagues: Viewership is Not Even Close

In terms of viewership, the gap becomes even more obvious.
Last season, the IPL recorded:

• 546 million TV reach
• 620 million digital reach
  No other league comes anywhere near these numbers. Reliable viewership data for PSL hasn’t been published, but even during live matches in Lahore or Multan, empty seats and quiet stands often paint a telling picture.

The BBL has struggled too, especially because of clashes with Australia’s Test summer. Although it saw a rise from 742k to 770k average viewership, the overlap with major Test matches continues to affect its audience. The 2025–26 season will again run alongside The Ashes until early January, leaving much of the BBL overshadowed.

England’s Test schedule has also shifted in recent years just to create a small window for The Hundred. The traditional Oval Test that once took place in September has been moved around so the league can fit into a three-and-a-half-week slot.

Why it’s hard to identify a clear second-best league

Each league has its strengths:

• SA20 has grown extremely fast due to strong IPL-linked ownership.
• PSL delivers thrilling cricket and has grown steadily.
• The Hundred has high valuation because of commercial backing.
• BBL still provides quality cricket but suffers due to scheduling.
  Because each league excels in different areas—be it entertainment, business value or viewership—naming a definite No. 2 is tricky. However, based on current numbers and overall trajectory, SA20 seems to be emerging as the strongest challenger to the IPL.

SA20 looks best placed to become the No. 2 T20 league

Given the available data, it’s clear that the IPL is in a league of its own. Its brand value, commercial success, player salaries and global popularity are unmatched.

But if we look at growth trends and future potential, SA20 appears the most promising second-best league right now. Its rapid rise, solid financial structure, and support from IPL owners have given it a strong platform. While PSL and other leagues continue to develop, SA20 has the momentum that puts it slightly ahead in the race.

For the foreseeable future, the IPL’s dominance is unlikely to be challenged. But in the chase for the No. 2 spot, SA20 currently leads the pack.

Cover Credits - SA20