Hurun report ranks KKR most valuable

Fanatic Sports and Hurun India said on May 19 that Kolkata Knight Riders had become the most valuable franchise in the Indian Premier League in their inaugural 2026 sports-team valuation report. The ranking placed Chennai Super Kings second and Royal Challengers Bengaluru third, according to reports by NDTV and Storyboard18. The same study named Virat Kohli the top-ranked IPL athlete in 2026. The report also widened the lens beyond cricket, saying India’s sports ecosystem now spans more than 1,300 athletes across multiple leagues. ### How big is the IPL in this report? Storyboard18 said on May 19 that the IPL’s combined valuation stood at ₹1.63 lakh crore, or nearly $18 billion, in the Fanatic Sports Hurun India’s Most Valuable Sports Teams 2026 report. The publication said the report tracks franchise valuations, player earnings and athlete representation across Indian sports leagues. Social Samosa separately reported the same league valuation figure and said KKR led the franchise rankings. (sports.ndtv.com) The report described by Storyboard18 covers more than 55 franchises and over 1,300 athletes across six competitions. ET Brand Equity said Fanatic Sports and Hurun India positioned the sector as an emerging asset class tied to rising discretionary spending, expanding leagues and investor interest. ### Why did KKR rank above Chennai and Bengaluru? (storyboard18.com) NDTV reported that Kolkata Knight Riders emerged as the most valuable IPL franchise in the 2026 list, ahead of Chennai Super Kings and Royal Challengers Bengaluru. The available reports accessed did not publish a full methodology breakdown or team-by-team valuation table, but Storyboard18 said the report reflects rising franchise values across Indian sport and a more structured, data-driven market. (freepressjournal.in) Free Press Journal said the report was the first multi-league sports valuation study from Fanatic Sports and Hurun India. That framing matters because earlier IPL valuation stories often focused only on cricket-team brand value, while this report places IPL teams inside a broader sports-industry ranking exercise. ### Why is Virat Kohli listed as the top IPL athlete? (sports.ndtv.com) NDTV said Virat Kohli finished as the highest-ranked IPL athlete in the same 2026 report. Storyboard18 said the study tracks player earnings and athlete representation, though the source material publicly available on May 19 did not set out a full athlete-ranking formula. (freepressjournal.in) Virat Kohli’s commercial profile has remained one of the strongest in Indian sport. Storyboard18 reported in a separate profile that his brand value was estimated at about Rs 1,912 crore, underscoring why he remains central to sponsorship and athlete-market discussions even beyond on-field performance. ### Is this only about cricket? Storyboard18 said the report argues India’s sports industry is evolving from a cricket-centric entertainment market into a multi-league economy. (sports.ndtv.com) ET Brand Equity said women’s leagues are expected to play a key role in that growth, while the report spans leagues beyond the IPL, including football and kabaddi properties. (storyboard18.com) That broader framing comes as IPL owners and officials continue to talk up the next media-rights cycle. Punjab Kings co-owner Mohit Burman said a 20% to 30% rise in the next IPL media-rights deal would not surprise him, while IPL chairman Arun Dhumal said he expected the next five-year package to go higher. ### What comes next after this ranking? (storyboard18.com) Fanatic Sports and Hurun India released the inaugural edition of the report on May 19, and the next test of its influence will be whether investors, sponsors and leagues begin using its rankings as a benchmark in future deals. The underlying business cycle is already moving ahead: IPL officials and franchise owners are publicly discussing the next media-rights package from 2027 onward. (brandequity.economictimes.indiatimes.com) (storyboard18.com)