Which is the No. 1 franchise cricket league in the world?

The Indian Premier League (IPL) is regarded as the No. 1 franchise cricket league based on its commercial strength, star power, global reach, along with the entertainment value.

Which franchise cricket league has the most star players?

The IPL generally has the strongest concentration of international and domestic stars, as its dedicated window leads to players participating.

Which franchise cricket league is the most entertaining?

The IPL always stands as the most entertaining league, as the report reveals the entertainment index, recording the highest percentage of matches going to the final ball among the leagues.

Which team is the most successful side in the franchise league’s history of the world?

In global franchise T20 cricket, the Mumbai Indians stand as the most successful franchise group with 13 titles across various global leagues (including 5 IPL titles, 2 Champions League T20s, 2 WPL titles, 2 MLC titles, 1 ILT20, and 1 SA20).

Top 10 franchise cricket leagues in the world

Franchise cricket has totally transformed the sport over the last couple of decades. The entire story began in 2008 when the Indian Premier League (IPL) was launched and has grown into a global ecosystem, while the major leagues operate across the other countries in Australia, Pakistan, South Africa, England, the Caribbean, the United States of America, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

With so many leagues competing for the players, the viewers, and the global attention, the million-dollar question remains: which franchise cricket league is actually the best among all? The answer will never be as straightforward as it once was. The IPL remains the commercial giant of franchise cricket.

However, over the years, thanks to some superb performances along with financial stability, the Big Bash League, the Pakistan Super League, the SA20, and the Hundred have developed strong identities of their own.

The dominance of the IPL is evident when it comes to the money, star power, and global reach. It remains the richest T20 event and continues to attract some of the biggest names in world cricket. There was an assessment from the World Cricketers’ Association in 2026 that placed the IPL at the third rank, behind The Hundred and SA20, which reflects the welfare of the players and their professional standards that can influence the competition.

In the same manner, the gap between the leading competitions is becoming more interesting. The Hundred has brought the unique innovation of the 100-ball mindset, while the SA20 established itself as one of the most competitive leagues. The BBL and PSL boast passionate fans. The Hundred and SA20 also attracted investment from the IPL, which underlines how the leagues are connected with each other.

Top 10 franchise cricket leagues in the world — Full ranking

So, the question remains: where does each league stand when factors such as quality of cricket, star power, entertainment, fan following, commercial strength, and overall impact are considered? Here is the ranking of the top 10 franchise Cricket leagues of the world- and the question of whether the IPL still deserves the crown.

Here are the top 10 franchise cricket leagues in the world-

#10 Lanka Premier League (LPL) in Sri Lanka-

The Lanka Premier League (LPL) is Sri Lanka’s premier domestic T20 event, launched in 2020 and brings the best Sri Lankan players and overseas stars together, creating a platform for young talent while giving the SLC a commercially attractive T20 product.

The LPL has featured five teams in the recent editions, with the teams representing several major cricketing centres like Jaffna, Kandy, Galle, Dambulla, and Colombo. The Jaffna Kings have been the most successful franchise in the league, winning four of the six seasons after 2026.

The estimated brand value of the competition ranges between $3 million and $55 million, with the individual franchise valuations averaging around $3 million and $4 million.

#9 Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) in Bangladesh-

The Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) is the premier domestic T20 franchise competition, organised by the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB). Launched in 2012, the league has become one of the most prominent T20 leagues in Asia as the event follows a franchise-based model with the teams representing different cities or regions of the country.

Teams like Comilla Victorians, Dhaka-based teams, Fortune Barishal, Chattogram Challengers, and Rangpur Riders have shown some strong performance over the years. It remains an important sports-business property for the country. As of August 2026, BPL’s market capitalization on the Indian stock exchange stands at nearly INR 243 crore to 250 crore.

#8 International League T20 (ILT20) in United Arab Emirates-

The International League T20 is the premier T20 cricket league of the United Arab Emirates (UAE). It has six franchises included in the competition, including Desert Vipers, Dubai Capitals, Gulf Giants, MI Emirates, Abu Dhabi Knight Riders, and Sharjah Warriorz, which give the tournament a strong international identity.

From a business perspective, the league is backed by a major franchise group and has the advantage of broadcasting rights, ticket sales, commercial partnerships, and digital audiences globally. The location provides the best conditions for the international market and corporate sponsorship.

The league has a current brand value of around $15 million, which is around INR 125 crore. The event has emerged as a major international T20 competition.

#7 Caribbean Premier League (CPL) in West Indies-

The Caribbean Premier League (CPL) is the premier T20 franchise cricket tournament of the West Indies, which was established in 2013. It has become one of the most recognisable T20 events, combining flair with the international stars of the West Indies.

In 2026, it has expanded to seven teams with the return of the Jamaica-based franchise, the Jamaica Kingsmen. The other teams are Trinbago Knight Riders, Guyana Amazon Warriors, Barbados Royals, Saint Lucia Kings, St Kitts & Nevis Patriots and Antigua & Barbuda Falcons.

In terms of the financial value, the 2026 industry estimates place the CPL’s business valuation at nearly $75 million. The annual media-rights revenue is roughly US$20 million and sponsorship revenue at around $15 million.

#6 Major League Cricket (MLC) in the United States of America-

The Major League Cricket (MLC) has grown tremendously in a very small period to become the professional T20 franchise league of the United States, launched in 2023 by American Cricket Enterprises (ACE). It has also been sanctioned by the ICC and has become one of the most important platforms for establishing the game.

The league features six teams: MI New York, Washington Freedom, Texas Super Kings, Los Angeles Knight Riders, San Francisco Unicorns, and Seattle Orcas. Many of these teams have the backing of the IPL ownership.

The MLC holds an estimated brand and enterprise value of around $6.9 million, which is nearly INR 57 crore, as it is broadcast to 87 countries and 80000 spectators.

#5 Pakistan Super League (PSL) in Pakistan-

The Pakistan Super League (PSL) is the premier T20 event of Pakistan, launched in 2016. Over the last decade, it has developed into one of the world’s T20 events, entering 2026 and expanding the teams from six to eight with the addition of Hyderabad and Sialkot.

The teams of the PSL are Islamabad United, Karachi Kings, Lahore Qalandars, Multan Sultans, Peshawar Zalmi, Quetta Gladiators, Hyderabad Kingsmen, and Rawalpindiz. The commercial growth of the league in recent years has seen a 1226% increase in brand partnership rights.

For the 2026-29 cycle, the Pakistan-region TV broadcast and live-streaming rights were offered at INR 2611 crore over the four years as the international media-rights value increased by 149%.

#4 The Hundred in England-

The Hundred is the unique 100-ball franchise cricket event, launched by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) in 2021. Each innings consists of 100 balls, with the bowlers delivering either five or 10 balls consecutively in sets. Their men’s and women’s sides play alongside each other.

The competition currently features eight teams, including MI London, Manchester Super Giants, SunRisers Leeds, Trent Rockets, Welsh Fire, Birmingham Phoenix, London Spirit and Southern Brave. From a business perspective, the eight sides are valued at more than 975 million pound, while more than 500 million was committed to grassroots cricket in England.

The combined valuation of the event stands at nearly £975 million, after the major equity sales and the private investments.

#3 Big Bash League (BBL) in Australia-

The Big Bash League (BBL) is the premier T20 event in Australia, launched in 2011 by Cricket Australia. On most occasions, the domestic players remain available, as the international stars are committed to play for the national side.

The BBL features eight teams- Adelaide Strikers, Brisbane Heat, Hobart Hurricanes, Melbourne Renegades, Melbourne Stars, Perth Scorchers, Sydney Sixers and Sydney Thunder- where Perth is the most successful side, winning a record-extending sixth title in the BBL 2025/26.

It has been reported that the individual BBL franchises could be valued at up to nearly $200 million, while the total brand value of the competition is between $150 million globally.

#2 SA20 in South Africa-

The SA20 is the premier franchise T20 cricket league of South Africa, launched in 2023, as it attracts major international players and strong global audiences. The league features six teams: MI Cape Town, Durban’s Super Giants, Joburg Super Kings, Paarl Royals, Pretoria Capitals and Sunrisers Eastern Cape.

A unique character of the event is that all six franchises are connected to the groups associated with the IPL teams. In terms of the financial value, the six teams are awarded to IPL-linked bidders for a collective US$150 million for the 10-year agreement when the event was launched.

The media rights in India carry a reserve price of US$240000 per match, with a base value of US$8 million per season. It’s growing rapidly with a 5% annual increase into the proposed deal.

#1 Indian Premier League (IPL) in India-

The Indian Premier League (IPL) is the premier T20 franchise cricket event established in 2008 by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). It has grown by leaps and bounds to be the most successful cricket league commercially, attracting the best Indian and international players.

The current 10 franchises are Chennai Super Kings, Delhi Capitals, Gujarat Titans, Kolkata Knight Riders, Lucknow Super Giants, Mumbai Indians, Punjab Kings, Rajasthan Royals, Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Sunrisers Hyderabad.

The 2023-27 media-rights cycle of the league was sold for nearly INR 48390 crore (around $6.2 billion at the time), covering the television and digital rights in India. The total business enterprise value is $20.6 billion, while on a per-match basis, the IPL ranks second globally, only to the NFL.