India is one of the most money-spending countries on sports. India has been providing quality sports for years. You will always see good quality sports and challenging times for opponents from India at national or International level competitions. There are several domestic leagues in India. This article will discuss the Top 3 Most Popular Cash-Rich and World-Class Sports Leagues in India.
There are many high-quality professional leagues in India, such as the Indian Premier League (IPL), Prime Volleyball League (PVL), Ultimate Table Tennis (UTT), Tamil Nadu Premier League (TNPL), Indian Super League (ISL), Premier Badminton League (PBL), Pro Kabaddi League (PKL), Karnataka Premier League (KPL), and Pro Wrestling League (PWL). The Indian nation never misses a chance to entertain itself.
Most Popular Sports in India
India is a sports-friendly country, and an extensive range of sports have been played here, such as Kabaddi, Badminton, Volleyball, Hockey, Football, Cricket, and Table Tennis, having a massive number of fans based in India. But, Cricket is the most demanded and favorite sport of the Indian nation. Most Indians are followers of cricket.
Moreover, especially in sports, they love to watch their favorite teams and players performing on the ground. We have seen great revolutions to strengthen the sports industry. Furthermore, India is a nation full of emotions. They always respond. You will always see a sports ground full of crowds, either national or international level matches.
India spent a lot in sports leagues at the same time, and India earned a massive amount of money from these leagues. Furthermore, the Indian sports Industry has been a victim of many controversies, but now, these leagues play a vital role in the growth of the sports industry in India.
If you are searching for the top 3 most played, fans followed, and loved sports leagues in India, below is a comprehensive analysis of the Popular Cash-Rich and World-Class Sports Leagues in India.
Moreover, games can be different, but you will see the same energy and support from fans in every sport. Every Indian has their favorite team and players and never misses watching and supporting their favorite team and players. Below are the top 3 most watched, played, and followed sports in India
- Cricket
- Football
- Kabaddi
A Look at the Sports Leagues in India
As India is business-oriented, many multinational companies, such as VIVO, BAJAJ, AMBANI, TATA, etc., are the big sponsors of sports leagues in India. These companies played their role in the growth of the sports industry.
1. Indian Premier League (IPL)
Cricket is an excellent source of enjoyment for Indians and is one of the most famous sports in india. The Indian Premier League (IPL) is the biggest T20 cricket tournament in the world after the World Cup. Zee Entertainment was the volunteer to provide funding for IPL. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) inaugurated this exciting league in 2007. Indian Premier League (IPL) is one of India’s most awaited and loved cricket events.
Moreover, IPL is the most watched T20 Men’s cricket league in India and around the globe. The whole IPL 2010 was telecasted live on youtube, which made the Indian Premier League the first ever sports event broadcast live on Youtube.
The first season of IPL was organized and played in 2008 with eight teams: Hyderabad, Bengaluru, Delhi, Jaipur, Chennai, Mumbai, Mohali, and Kolkata. Furthermore, in 2010 two new teams, Pune and Kerala added to the tournament.
IPL Dissolved Teams
Currently, IPL has ten teams. Therefore, in 15 years, due to some reasons, five IPL teams could not continue their participation in the Indian Premier League. These five dissolved IPL teams are listed below.
- Gujarat Lions
- Rising Pune Supergiant
- Deccan Chargers
- Pune Warriors India
- Kochi Tuskers Kerala
IPL 2023 Teams
IPL 2023 is the sixteenth season of IPL, and A total of 10 teams will participate in the sixteenth season of the Indian Premier League. Current IPL teams are listed below.
- Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR)
- Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB)
- Delhi Capitals (DC)
- Mumbai Indians (MI)
- Punjab Kings (PBKS)
- Chennai Super Kings (CSK)
- Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH)
- Gujarat Titans (GT)
- Rajasthan Royals (RR)
- Lucknow Super Giants (LSG)
IPL 2023 Prize Money
IPL is played between March and May every year. Many famous international cricket players come to India to participate in the IPL which comes in the top richest sports leagues in the world And is one of the Top 3 Most Popular Cash-Rich and World-Class Sports Leagues in India. The net brand value of IPL is approximately $6.2 billion (US), which is 47,500 crores INR.
The prize money of IPL is around $6.9 million (US), which is 50 crores INR. Therefore, the prize money distribution of IPL is as follows.
- IPL Winner – $2.8 Million (20 Crores INR)
- IPL Runner up – $1.6 Million (12.5 Crores INR )
- IPL 3rd Position – $1.1 Million (8.75 Crores INR )
- IPL 4th Position – $1.1 Million (8.75 Crores INR)
IPL Facts | Betting on IPL
We have seen a rising trend in betting in India. IPL betting is prevalent and becoming famous day by day. The Indian nation loves to play risky games, and most IPL fans place bets on IPL live matches to earn quick money. Moreover, around 400 cricket fans have watched IPL 2019, and they bet 5000 Crores INR in every IPL match.
Authorities have confirmed that IPL is a participant in GDP growth in India. IPL 2015 has contributed around $160 Million (11.5 Billion INR) to the GDP of India.
2. Indian Super League (ISL)
It is said that hockey is the Indian national sport but when it comes to popularity, it has surpassed every sport in India. Indian Super League is one of the most significant cricket leagues in the world and one of the Top 3 Most Popular Cash-Rich and World-Class Sports Leagues in India. Furthermore, football is the most popular game worldwide. ISL is a Men’s professional football league in India. And has played and still contributes an essential role to taking the football games in India to the next level.
Moreover, Hero MotoCorp has provided funding to start this exciting league. In 2013 All Indian Football Federation (AIFF) announced the Indian Super League with the Football Sports Development Limited (FSDL) collaboration.
The first season of ISL was organized in 2014, with 8 participant teams in the tournament. FC Goa, ATK, NorthEast United FC, Chennaiyin FC, FC Pune City, Kerala Blasters FC, Mumbai City FC, and Delhi Dynamos FC are the preliminary football clubs to participate in the Indian Super League. Therefore, two new teams, Mohun Bagan and SC East Bengal became part of this tournament in 2020.
ISL changes since 2013 Teams
Several changes have happened in the Indian Super League during the last nine years.
- FC Pune City team could not continue their participation in ISL due to some reasons.
- Two ISL teams, ATK and Mohun Bagan merged and became one ATK Mohun Bagan Football Club.
- The name of Delhi Dynamos has been changed to Odisha FC.
ISL 2023 Teams
ISL will be played with eleven clubs from 11 different cities in India in 2023. These present ISL participant teams are listed below.
- ATK Mohun Bagan
- Odisha FC
- FC Goa
- Mumbai City FC
- Jamshedpur FC
- SC East Bengal
- Chennaiyin FC
- Bengaluru FC
- Hyderabad FC
- Kerala Blasters FC
- NorthEast United FC
Many International world-class footballers worldwide come to play in the exciting league every year. The ISL tournament is played in a round-robin format, so each team has to play two matches against every team. As the Indian Super League is played yearly, So eight seasons have been played since 2013. The 9th season of the Indian Super League will start on 6th October 2022.
Management of the Indian Super League has not publicly announced ISL’s net brand value. Therefore, a projection of ISL brand value is approximately 45-50 Million USD, which is 350-400 crores IND.
ISL 2023 Prize Money
The total prize money of the Indian Super League is around 2 million USD, which is approximately 15.5 crores INR. The pattern of prize money distribution is listed below.
- ISL Winner – 6 Crores INR
- ISL Runner up – 3 Crores INR
- ISL League Stage Winner – 3.5 Crores INR
- ISL 3rd Position – 1.5 Crores INR
- ISL 4th Position – 1.5 Crores INR
Indian Super League Facts
- If a league stage winner is also a runner-up, he will get 6.5 crores INR prize money.
- If a league stage winner (Table Topper) is an Indian Super League winner, he will receive 9.5 crores INR prize money.
- If a league stager winner (Table Topper) is also in position 3rd or 4th, he will get five crores INR prize money.
3. Pro Kabaddi League (PKL)
Kabaddi is one of the most watched and followed sports in India. PKL is one of the biggest kabaddi tournaments in the world. It is a sport in which a player’s physical fitness, power, and strength matter. Pro Kabaddi League is an excellent source of entertainment for kabaddi fans and players. PKL has strengthened the kabaddi sport in India. PKL has also given a modern look to kabaddi sport in India.
Pro Kabaddi League is India’s third Most Popular, Cash-Rich, and World-Class Sports league. Moreover, the PKL was started in 2014 with eight teams (Patna Pirates, Bengaluru Bulls, Bengal Warriors, Puneri Paltan, Jaipur Pink Panthers, Telugu Titans, U Mumba, and Dabang Delhi). Later in 2017, four more teams, Gujarat Fortune Giants, Tamil Thalaivas, UP Yoddha, and Haryana Steelers, became part of the Pro Kabaddi League (PKL).
PKL changes since 2014 Teams
Since 2014 only one team of PKL has been renamed. Gujrat Club’s team has been renamed due to some sponsorship reasons. Gujarat Fortune Giants was renamed Gujarat Giants.
PKL 2022 Teams
A total of 12 teams will participate in the PKL 2022 season. These twelve teams are listed below.
- Dabang Delhi KC
- Tamil Thalaivas
- UP Yoddha
- Jaipur Pink Panthers
- Bengal Warriors
- Puneri Paltan
- Gujarat Giants
- Bengaluru Bulls
- Telugu Titans
- Patna Pirates
- Haryana Steelers
- U Mumba
PKL 2022 Prize Money
PKL is one of the most followed and loved leagues in India. It is the first biggest kabaddi league in India. Furthermore, many foreign players participate in PKL. Many kabaddi players from Iran and Korea play in the Pro Kabaddi League. The net brand worth of PKL is $33 Million, which is 262 crores INR.
The total amount of PKL prize money is $1 Million, which is eight crores INR, and the prize money distribution parameters are as follows.
PKL Winner – 3 crores INR
PKL Runner Up – 1.8 crore INR
PKL 3rd Position – 90 lacs INR
PKL 4th Position – 90 lacs INR
PKL 5th Position – 45 lacs INR
PKL 6th Position – 45 lacs INR
Fifty lacs of prize money are awarded to the individual players in PKL. The distributions of these 50 lacs are as follows.
Most Valuable Player of the tournament – 15 lacs INR
Best Raider – 10 lacs INR
Ace Defender 10 lacs INR
Sports Debutant – 8 lacs INR
Best Male Referee 3.5 lacs INR
Best Female Referee – 3.5 lacs INR
FAQs
Which is more popular IPL or ISL?
IPL played its first season in 2008. Therefore, ISL was inaugurated in 2014. The Indian Premier League is the most popular in India. Furthermore, Indian Super League is India’s second most prominent and most watched league. Therefore, with time ISL can overtake IPL in the coming years and become the first biggest league in India.
Which sports league is very popular in India and why?
Cricket has been seen worldwide. In the same way, Indians and Asians love to watch and play cricket. Therefore, the IPL is the most popular league in India. But the second in the row is ISL. A significant number of football followers are based in India. ISL is also one of the most followed and watched leagues in India.
Which sport has the most money in India?
India is a very emotional nation. They do not miss a single chance to watch cricket matches. Moreover, Cricket is the most popular sport in India. The Indian national team has won many ICC World Cups and series. On the other side, India also organized one of the most followed and watched cricket leagues. The net brand worth of IPL is approximately $6.2 billion (US), which is 47,500 crores INR, which makes the Indian Premier League and comes in the top sports leagues in the world.
Conclusion
India is a nation that continuously responds to and glorifies traditional Indian sports or any sports event inside or outside India. We have seen a rising trend in domestic sports leagues in India. Hence we have brought up a comprehensive article about sports in India.
Roy Tipu is a cricket enthusiast and one of the founders of Crickist, a website that covers the latest news, analysis, and opinions on cricket. He is passionate about the sport and has been following it since his childhood. He has played cricket at various levels, from school to club, and has a wealth of personal experience and knowledge on the game.
As the content manager of Crickist, Roy Tipu oversees all aspects of content creation and distribution. He plans, executes, and monitors the content strategy and social media presence of the website. He also writes articles, reviews, and editorials on various topics related to cricket, such as players, teams, tournaments, records, and controversies. He is known for his insightful and engaging style of writing, which attracts and retains a loyal audience of cricket fans.
Roy Tipu has a degree in journalism and mass communication from the University of Punjab. He has also completed several courses and certifications on digital marketing, SEO, and content writing. He has worked as a freelance writer and editor for several cricket websites and magazines before launching Crickist with his partners in 2022.
Roy Tipu is based in Lahore, Pakistan, where he lives with his wife and two children. He enjoys watching and playing cricket, reading books, and traveling in his spare time. He is also active on social media platforms, such as Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram, where he shares his views and interacts with his followers.