Image Source: AFP
Former Indian captain and former BCCI President Sourav Ganguly (Dada), reacting to the record franchise sales ahead of IPL 2026, stated that the Indian Premier League has now reached a stature on par with the world's biggest sports leagues—the NBA and the English Premier League (EPL).
Ganguly made these remarks on the occasion of becoming the brand ambassador for the Jakson brand. Following the record sale of the Rajasthan Royals (RR) for $1.63 billion (over ₹13,600 crore) to a Kal Somani-led consortium, and an even larger deal for the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) at $1.78 billion, he lauded the commercial prowess of the IPL.
Ganguly's key quotes:
“I think it’s already as big as the NBA. The broadcast rights are as big as anywhere in the world, even compared to football.”
“IPL will only go to greater heights. It’s great news for IPL… mind-boggling numbers for a sports franchise and a cricket team that plays only three months a year.”
He also drew comparisons with the EPL, noting that the IPL's broadcast rights sometimes even surpass those of EPL matches.
“These numbers are mind-boggling, but it is excellent news for Indian cricket. The IPL will continue to grow further.”
Ganguly further pointed out that despite running for only 2–3 months, the IPL possesses a global impact and valuation comparable to that of the NBA or the EPL. He also praised the IPL's expansion into the United States.
This statement came on the very day that the historic sales of two franchises ahead of IPL 2026 sent shockwaves through the cricketing world. Ganguly described the IPL as “phenomenal” and asserted that the future of Indian cricket looks very bright.
