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Following Houlihan Lokey's new report on economics of IPL, the co-owner of one of the league's eight founding franchises weighs in on media rights, growth of Punjab Kings and the ecosystem of IPL.

Mumbai, July 29: Punjab Kings co-owner Mr. Ness Wadia is among the leading voices who have featured in Houlihan Lokey's 2026 IPL valuation study, published today. He is one of the league's original eight owners still running the same franchise that he backed in 2008, when Punjab Kings was bought at roughly $76 million.

As per Houlihan Lokey's 2026 Valuation Study, that stake has since compounded to approximately ₹1,510 crore (US$158 million), recording a high 12.1% growth from 2025. Post 2026 season, IPL’s business value has risen by 11.4% to US$ 20.6 billion and its brand value has increased to US$ 4.3 billion, witnessing a rise of 10.3% from the previous season.

Beyond the numbers, Mr. Ness Wadia has shed light on multiple aspects of IPL. Looking back at the beginning, he said, "We simply believed Indian sport was ready for a new chapter, and we wanted to be part of building it, it took seven years to break even. We always knew this wasn't a short-term play. But I still think the IPL is only getting started. I always believed the IPL would become one of the biggest sporting leagues in the world. I just didn't think it would happen this quickly. Today, when you see institutional investors looking at franchises and global capital entering the space, it validates the conviction we had back in 2008. "

The numbers back him up. India's sports economy crossed $2 billion for the first time in 2025, and cricket alone accounted for 89% of it, according to WPP Media's Sporting Nation report. Season 19 of IPL reached 1.2 billion viewers, registering a 7% year-on-year increase. The 2026 final between GT and RCB reached 400 million across screens, becoming the most-watched match in IPL history.