The Indian Premier League or IPL in short, undoubtedly has been super exciting since it began in 2008. It is one of the richest, most-watched and famous sports tournaments, especially in the domain of cricket. Every year its popularity has also been increasing, and this year is the 18th edition of the Tata IPL.
There are ten different teams, like last year and each of them are owned either by celebrities, business leaders, Bollywood stars or corporate organizations. These owners strive to make their teams stronger and more successful pumping more financial support with each passing season. However, each franchise has its owners who are responsible for the decision-making and management of the team.
Let’s take a closer look at who these owners are, where they come from, and how they help their teams win!
- Mumbai Indians – Established in 2008 with the first season itself, the five-time title holder is the richest franchise, and is owned by India’s richest man, Mukesh Ambani and his wife Nita Ambani, through their company Reliance Industries. The team has been one of the most successful in IPL history, clinching the title in 2013, 2015, 2017, 2019, and 2020. Known for their deep scouting network and the ability to nurture young talent, Mumbai Indians has consistently been a formidable force in the tournament, backed by the financial might of the Ambani clan. The franchise has produced gems like Jasprit Bumrah, Hardik Pandya, Surya Kumar Yadav who began with this team and have represented the country on an international level now.
- Chennai Super Kings – CSK is another team that has been a part of the tournament every year since 2008. It is owned by the corporate giant India Cements, with N. Srinivasan at the helm as the owner. CSK is one of the most consistent and successful teams in IPL history, winning the title five times in 2010, 2011, 2018, 2021 and 2023, securing a joint record with MI. Despite facing a two-year ban in 2016-2017, CSK made a strong comeback, maintaining their status as one of the most formidable teams in the league. The team with one of the highest number of followers, it is synonymous with MS Dhoni as its face.
- Royal Challengers Bengaluru – The RCB team, formerly known as Royal Challengers Bangalore, made its debut in the league in 2008 itself. Earlier owned by Vijay Mallya, the franchise is now owned by United Spirits Limited, a subsidiary of Diageo Ltd. The team has made it thrice into the IPL finals in 2009, 2011 and 2016 but never clinched the winner’s trophy, The stalwarts of world cricket like Virat Kohli, Chris Gayle and AB de Villiers have been the face of this team. The franchise was reportedly purchased for approx. ₹465 crore in 2016 by the current owners.
- Delhi Capitals – The team from the northern capital region of the country, is owned jointly by the leading industrialists Sajjan Jindal and Parth Jindal of the GMR and JSW Groups respectively. The Delhi Capitals as a team was established in 2008, though the former name was Delhi Daredevils. It was rechristened in 2018 to its current name. While they haven’t claimed the IPL title yet, Delhi Capitals reached their first final in the year 2020 and have consistently shown a commendable performance under able mentorship in the recent seasons. The team is known for its dynamic squad, blending experienced international players with bright and emerging Indian talent.
- Kolkata Knight Riders – The Kolkata Knight Riders or KKR is owned by Bollywood’s King Khan and superstar Shah Rukh Khan, actress Juhi Chawla, and her businessman husband Jay Mehta. This team has been one of the most popular teams since IPL kickstarted its journey. It has won the IPL title thrice in 2012, 2014 and the latest edition of 2024, under the promising guidance of Gautam Gambhir. The team was reportedly bid and purchased for a record INR 260 crores in 2008 and its valuation has only rippled since then.
Known for their passionate fan base and strategic team management, KKR has consistently been a strong contender in the league, making it to the play-off’s multiple times.
These were five of the teams out of the total bank of ten. The second part of this article covers the remaining franchises that make IPL hugely successful and bankable as a sports tournament.
