The Indian Premier League (IPL) is more than just a cricket tournament; it is a financial behemoth. Over time, the prize money awarded to the winning and runner-up teams has increased significantly, making it one of the richest cricket leagues in the world.  But have you ever wondered how the IPL award is calculated and why it is increasing?

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A variety of factors influence the IPL prize pool, including:

This is the largest donor. This includes:

• Broadcasting rights (TV, digital streaming)
• Title sponsorship deals
• Official partners and sponsors.

A significant portion of the central money is awarded to the teams based on their performance and final standings.

The top-performing teams—winners, runners-up, and playoff teams—get a larger share of the central pool.

In addition to revenue shares, there is a fixed prize for:

• Winner
• Runner-up
• Third and fourth place
• Individual accolades (Orange Cap, Purple Cap, Most Valuable Player, Emerging Player, etc.)

For example, in IPL 2024, the winner team received ₹20 crore, while the runner-up received ₹13 crore.

The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 season will kick off on March 22 with a match between defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) at Eden Gardens.  A total of 74 matches will be played over 13 sites, with the final taking place on May 25 in Kolkata.

The IPL has traditionally been one of the world’s most profitable T20 tournaments, not just in terms of television rights and sponsorship deals, but also in terms of prize money for the winning and runner-up clubs.  With IPL 2025 on the horizon, fans are curious about the prize money available this season and how it has progressed over the years.

For the IPL 2025 season, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is likely to follow the previous trend, with the champion receiving INR 20 crore and the runner-up earning roughly INR 13 crore.

Aside from the two finalists, the two losing playoff teams will each earn financial prizes, as well as individual accolades for exceptional performers like as the Orange Cap (highest run-scorer), Purple Cap (most wicket-taker), and Emerging Player of the Tournament.

Since its debut in 2008, the IPL prize money has changed multiple times, indicating the league’s financial development and success.

• 2008-2009: The winners received INR 4.8 crore, with the runner-up receiving INR 2.4 crore.
• 2010-2013: The prize money increased significantly, with the winning team receiving INR 10 crore and the runner-up earning INR 5 crore.
• 2014–2015: The BCCI upped the winner’s prize money to INR 15 crore, while the runner-up’s earnings were doubled to INR 10 crore.
• 2016: The winner’s award increased to INR 16 crore, while the runner-up received INR 10 crore.
• 2017: The prize pool reverted to INR 15 crore (winner) and INR 10 crore (runner-up).
• 2018-2019: The winner’s award was back in the INR 20 crore bracket, with the runner-up receiving INR 12.5 crore.
• 2020: Due to the COVID-19 epidemic and its financial impact, the prize money has been reduced to INR 10 crore for the winner and INR 6.25 crore for the runner-up.
• 2021: The IPL prize money was significantly increased, with the champion earning INR 20 crore and the runner-up receiving INR 12.2 crore.
• 2022-2024: The INR 20 crore (winner) and INR 13 crore (runner-up) structures were maintained.

Several factors explain the consistent increment in IPL rewards:

The main factor is the increase in media rights deals.  For example, the IPL 2023-2027 broadcast rights were sold for a record ₹48,390 crore (more than $6 billion).  Higher revenues result in larger prizes.

The IPL is becoming a global event watched in over 100 countries.  This boosts sponsorships, ad income, and brand relationships.

According to Brand Finance, the IPL’s brand value will exceed $8.4 billion by 2023, making it one of the world’s most valuable sports leagues.

Interest With India’s growing economy and growing interest from global brands, the tournament has seen increased investment.

The IPL reward formula reflects the league’s great commercial success. The prize money is likely to rise year after year as the tournament’s size, popularity, and financial power grow. It’s no longer only about cricket; the IPL combines sports and business.