The cricketing world is now flooded with many T20 leagues. Almost every major country has its own T20 league, with some of the biggest businesses owning franchises.
And running a cricket franchise is no less than a business. A lot goes into the successful management of a team, which then materialises into massive brand value.
The on-field performance further influences a franchise’s trajectory. And then having a solid fan base amplifies their success all over.
So, which are the 10 most popular cricket franchise in the world? Here’s a look at them.
Biggest Cricket Franchises in the World
10. Karachi Kings
Cricket has a mad following in the subcontinent. And Pakistan serves as a great example. The country has its own T20 league, the Pakistan Super League (PSL), with a lot of fan following. And Karachi is their biggest cricket hub in the country.
So it’s natural for Karachi Kings to be among the biggest cricket franchises in the world. While the franchise hasn’t been as successful in the league with only one title, the star players, sponsors, and loyal fans have turned it into a massive franchise.
The Kings boast a brand value of US$23.6 million. And their social media accounts exceed four million followers.
9. Lahore Qalandars
Lahore Qalandars are one of the most successful franchises in the PSL. They have lifted the trophy three times.
And what’s impressive is the Qalandars have won three of the last four seasons! Their core group of players is the main reason behind this massive jump in performance.
The likes of Fakhar Zaman, Shaheen Shah Afridi, and Haris Rauf have been the faces of the franchises for many years. And thanks to them, the Qalandars have seen a rise in their brand value.
As things stand, their brand value soars above US$25 million, while their social media following stands above 5.4 million.
8. Peshawar Zalmi
While Peshawar Zalmi may not be as successful as Qalandars, they are the most valued cricket franchise in Pakistan. And it’s more to do with their consistency in the PSL.
Zalmi have won the T20 league once in 2017, while they qualified for the knockouts in nine of the 10 seasons.
And this superior consistency has resulted in massive sponsorship deals and brand visibility. Plus, players like Babar Azam, Saim Ayub, and Mohammad Haris are the major crowd-pullers for the franchise.
All this reflects in their brand value, which is above US$40.5 million. Zalmi’s social media numbers are strong as well, with close to 7 million followers.
7. Gujarat Titans
Gujarat Titans (GT) are perhaps the fastest-growing cricket franchise in the world. And the reasons are plenty.
First, their immediate success. They made their IPL debut in 2022 and bagged the trophy right away. A team can’t get a better start than this, can they?
And GT have been consistent since then. Their solid leadership and the Indian star players have shot the prominence of the team in a short period.
So, no wonder the franchise’s brand value and fan engagement are on the rise. Their valuation is US$142 million, while their online fanbase stretches above 6 million.
Also See: Highest Wicket-Takers for GT in IPL History
6. Rajasthan Royals
Like GT, Rajasthan Royals (RR) also made an immediate impact. They were the inaugural IPL winners.
But they haven’t been able to replicate the success. And perhaps that’s the reason why their brand value hasn’t grown exponentially.
But with their massive investment in young players, things might improve pretty soon. Players like Yashasvi Jaiswal, Riyan Parag, and Vaibhav Suryavanshi have the potential to attract new fans towards the franchise.
As of now, the Royals are at US$146 million in terms of brand value. And their social media numbers are also crazy, with over 13 million followers
Also Read This: Most Fan-Followed IPL Teams in 2025
5. Sunrisers Hyderabad
Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) have taken quick strides in the IPL, given they entered the league in 2013. And now, more than a decade later, they are the fifth biggest cricket franchise in the world.
The main reason behind this enormous growth lies in their players. David Warner took SRH to their maiden title in 2016, while he also led them from the front for many seasons.
The franchise took a hit, though, once Warner left. But with Pat Cummins’ inclusion in 2024, they are again on the rise.
SRH have a brand value of US$154 million. And their online Orange Army has more than 14 million followers.
4. Kolkata Knight Riders
Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) are among the excellent IPL franchises. The reason? Their three IPL title triumphs.
And then the fact that Shah Rukh Khan is one of their owners further skyrockets KKR’s popularity. The King of Bollywood has been the face of the franchise since 2008.
On top of that, KKR have had some good captains in Gautam Gambhir and Shreyas Iyer, who led by example to win trophies. And the Caribbean superstars like Sunil Narine and Andre Russell have entertained fans all these years.
All this combined has given them a brand value of US$227 million. KKR’s social media followers, meanwhile, soar above 29 million.
3. Chennai Super Kings
MS Dhoni has single-handedly contributed to the massive brand image of Chennai Super Kings (CSK). The franchise has tasted a lot of success under his tutelage.
Five trophies, 12 playoffs, and many more memorable victories. All this has made CSK one of the biggest IPL franchises. And the franchise will keep rising as they induct new faces into their armoury.
While CSK’s valuation seems to have dipped due to their poor performances in recent seasons, you can expect them to bounce back soon.
The Super Kings have millions of supporters across the world. And many renowned sponsors are showing their faith in the franchise, as their brand value stands at US$235 million.
2. Mumbai Indians
If there’s one team that’s level with CSK’s titles, then it’s Mumbai Indians (MI). The five-time winners are the second biggest cricket franchise across the globe.
The fact that one of India’s richest businesses owns the team justifies the tag to the fullest. But it’s not just the owners behind this massive scale.
They made strategic moves in terms of building their team. MI signed the local hero, Sachin Tendulkar, at the start, which naturally brought a lot of fans.
Plus, cricket runs in Mumbai’s veins, which further fuels the growth of the franchise. And then Rohit Sharma’s elevation to captaincy was the icing on the cake.
So, MI enjoy a brand value of US$242 million, while their online fan following stands at 38 million.
1. Royal Challengers Bengaluru
It shouldn’t surprise you that Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) top the list. They have the most lucrative commodity in their arsenal.
Als0 Read: Top Run Scorers for RCB in IPL History
And it’s none other than Virat Kohli. It’s Kohli who has been the force in RCB’s enormous growth in world cricket.
While they aren’t as successful as CSK and MI, their star performers have kept the buzz going. Then their IPL victory in 2025 has shot their brand value, which now stands at US$269 million.
Read more: Most fan following Team in IPL
And the Royal Challengers have the most loyal fans. Their 33.3 million followers on social media are testimony to it. So RCB now boasts the tag of the biggest cricket franchise in the world.
