The IPL’s valuation is $9.6 billion, while the PSL’s valuation is around $156 million USD. This massive difference clearly shows the gap between the two leagues. In terms of brand value, global reach, revenue, and star power, the PSL is nowhere near the IPL.
Media rights further reflect the difference, as the IPL earns billions of dollars, while PSL’s deals remain limited to a few million per season. Player salaries and franchise values also follow the same pattern, with IPL figures far exceeding PSL numbers. These facts clearly show that IPL is nowhere close to PSL in any aspect. Let’s explore the comparison in detail.
IPL vs PSL: Team and Format Comparison
IPL has 10 teams, which allows many top international players to take part and makes the tournament more glamorous. PSL has only 8 teams; 2 new teams were introduced recently.
Due to the team difference, an IPL season has 74 matches (as of 2026), and the playoffs span nearly two months. In comparison, PSL has 34 matches and finishes in around six weeks (as of 2026).
| IPL Teams | PSL Teams |
|---|---|
| Chennai Super Kings | Islamabad United |
| Mumbai Indians | Karachi Kings |
| Royal Challengers Bengaluru | Lahore Qalandars |
| Kolkata Knight Riders | Peshawar Zalmi |
| Punjab Kings | Multan Sultans |
| Gujarat Titans | Quetta Gladiators |
| Lucknow Super Giants | Sialkot Stallionz |
| Delhi Capitals | Hyderabad |
| Rajasthan Royals | – |
| Sunrisers Hyderabad | – |
IPL and PSL Follow The Same Format
Both tournaments follow a double round-robin format in the league stage and use a similar playoff system.
| Aspect | IPL | PSL |
|---|---|---|
| League Stage | Each team plays 14 matches in a home-and-away format | Each team plays 10 matches in a home-and-away format |
| Top Qualifiers | Top 4 teams advance to Qualifier 1, Eliminator, Qualifier 2, and Final | Top 4 teams advance to Qualifier, Eliminator, Qualifier 2, and Final |
IPL vs PSL: Teams Value
IPL is far ahead of PSL in terms of financial strength, mainly because of India’s large market, massive viewership, and high-value media rights.
The overall valuation of all PSL teams is $27.22, which is nowhere near that of any single IPL team.
IPL Teams Valuation
| Franchise | Valuation (USD) |
|---|---|
| Mumbai Indians (MI) | $108 million |
| Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) | $105 million |
| Chennai Super Kings (CSK) | $93 million |
| Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) | $74 million |
| Gujarat Titans (GT) | $70 million |
| Punjab Kings (PBKS) | $66 million |
| Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) | $59 million |
| Delhi Capitals (DC) | $59 million |
| Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) | $56 million |
| Rajasthan Royals (RR) | $53 million |
PSL Teams Valuation
| Franchise | Valuation (USD) |
|---|---|
| Sialkot Stallionz | $6.65 million |
| Hyderabad | $6.29 million |
| Multan Sultans | $4.86 million |
| Lahore Qalandars | $2.41 million |
| Karachi Kings | $2.30 million |
| Peshawar Zalmi | $1.76 million |
| Islamabad United | $1.73 million |
| Quetta Gladiators | $1.22 million |
IPL vs PSL Media Rights
IPL’s 2023–2027 media rights cycle is worth around $6.4 billion USD, showing its massive commercial power. On average, the league earns about $1.28 billion USD in broadcasting revenue alone. Domestic TV rights were sold for about $850 million USD, digital rights for around $855 million USD, and international rights added another $47 million USD.
PSL’s media rights are much smaller in comparison. Its current deal is valued at roughly $30–35 million USD per season. Over a five-year period, the total value reaches about $150–175 million USD, showing that PSL remains a regional league, while IPL operates at a global level.
IPL Media Rights
| Package | Description | Amount (₹ crore) | Equivalent (USD) |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | Domestic TV (Disney Star) | 23,575 | US$2.8 billion |
| B/C | Domestic Digital (Viacom18) | 23,758 | US$2.8 billion |
| D | International (Viacom18/Times) | 1,300 | US$155 million |
| Total | All packages | 48,633 | US$6.4 billion |
PSL Media Rights
| Category | PKR (billion) | Approx. USD (million) |
|---|---|---|
| TV Broadcast Rights | 6 | 22.5 |
| Digital Streaming Rights | 2 | 6.6 |
| Total | 8 | 29.1 |
IPL vs PSL: Player Salary Comparison
IPL player salaries are much higher than PSL because the league earns far more revenue. In IPL, top players are often bought for several crores, while PSL salaries usually stay in lakhs or low crores.
The total amount for the top 10 most expensive players in PSL (17 crores) is less than that of many IPL players.
Highest Players Salary In IPL
| Rank | Player | Price (₹ crore) | Team | Price (USD million) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rishabh Pant | 27 | Lucknow Super Giants | 32.1 |
| 2 | Shreyas Iyer | 26.75 | Punjab Kings | 31.8 |
| 3 | Cameron Green | 25.2 | Kolkata Knight Riders | 30.0 |
| 4 | Mitchell Starc | 24.75 | Kolkata Knight Riders | 29.5 |
| 5 | Venkatesh Iyer | 23.75 | Kolkata Knight Riders | 28.3 |
| 6 | Pat Cummins | 20.5 | Sunrisers Hyderabad | 24.4 |
| 7 | Sam Curran | 18.5 | Punjab Kings | 22.0 |
| 8 | Arshdeep Singh | 18 | Punjab Kings | 21.4 |
| 8 | Yuzvendra Chahal | 18 | Punjab Kings | 21.4 |
| 8 | Matheesha Pathirana | 18 | Kolkata Knight Riders | 21.4 |
| 9 | Cameron Green | 17.5 | Mumbai Indians | 20.8 |
| 10 | Ben Stokes | 16.25 | Chennai Super Kings | 19.3 |
Highest Players Salary In PSL
| Rank | Player | Team | Price (INR crore) | Price (USD million) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | David Warner | Karachi Kings | 2.57 | 0.29 |
| 2 | Daryl Mitchell | Lahore Qalandars | 1.88 | 0.21 |
| 3 | Babar Azam | Peshawar Zalmi | 1.88 | 0.21 |
| 4 | Fakhar Zaman | Lahore Qalandars | 1.88 | 0.21 |
| 5 | Shaheen Afridi | Lahore Qalandars | 1.88 | 0.21 |
| 6 | Saim Ayub | Peshawar Zalmi | 1.88 | 0.21 |
| 7 | Naseem Shah | Islamabad United | 1.88 | 0.21 |
| 8 | Mohammad Rizwan | Multan Sultans | 1.88 | 0.21 |
| 9 | Matthew Short | Islamabad United | 1.88 | 0.21 |
| 10 | Shadab Khan | Islamabad United | 1.88 | 0.21 |
IPL vs PSL: Prize Money
IPL offers much higher prize money because of its large broadcasting revenue. The IPL champions receive around $2.4 million, while the runners-up earn about $1.5 million. In comparison, PSL winners get close to $1 million, and the runners-up receive around $400,000.
| Position/Award | IPL (USD) | PSL (USD) |
|---|---|---|
| Winner | $2.4M | $1M |
| Runner-up | $1.5M | $400K |
| 3rd Place | $850K | $300K |
| Eliminator | $780K | $1.8K |
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Conclusion: IPL Remains the Bigger and Stronger League
Based on valuation, media rights, player salaries, and global reach, the IPL stands well ahead of the PSL in every major comparison.
While the PSL continues to grow as a regional league, the IPL has established itself as a global cricketing powerhouse with unmatched commercial strength and influence.
