For the teams, IPL is a huge money-spinner. Barring the two new teams Gujarat Titans and Lucknow SuperGiants, the original eight teams are making huge profits. The numbers are so astronomical that even a big business house like the Adani Group is desparate to buy Gujarat Titans – as they see the immense potential of this brand.
Take the case of the Royal Challengers Bangalore – a team that doesn’t look to win an IPL title. They start with plenty of promise and run out of steam at the business end of the tournament. The story is mostly the same in every season. Still, RCB gets the maximum support from the Indian Inc. Why? Because there is a brand called Virat Kohli. This team is completely obsessed with brands and nothing works more than the endorsements.
Don’t the RCB promoters know that they have a poor bowling attack? And their obsession with foreign recruits isn’t helping things. Don’t they know what others are talking about them? They still don’t give a damn about winning. That is because money is flowing, so why worry?
The original IPL teams are making a profit over Rs 250 crore every year. As it is turning out, even the last team in the competition is only getting richer every year. So, IPL is such a win-win situation for even a losing side that even the ones on the fence are keen to come in and be a part of the IPL family. The IPL will always deliver with or without Virat Kohli.
Insiders are also of the opinion that some of the IPL teams are also making a profit of nearly around Rs 300 crore. No one would share their balance sheet just like that but one thing is sure the profit margin is growing every year.
Fortunately or unfortunately, there isn’t much of a rise in the players’ salary. At least, the growth isn’t so exponential like the way the teams are earning. But there are a few stars who are making a killing and they haven’t come into the system through auctions. They make their money through retentions and transfers!