IPL 2026 Prize Money: How Much Does the Winner Get? Full History of IPL Prize Money From 2008 to 2026
North Desk Bureau
Chandigarh, March 28
THE BASICS
What exactly is the IPL?
The Indian Premier League is a professional Twenty20 (T20) cricket league organised by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). It was launched in 2008 by then BCCI vice-president Lalit Modi and has since grown into the richest franchise cricket league in the world. Each game lasts roughly three and a half hours, with each team facing 20 overs. It is often called the ‘home of cricket’s biggest stars’ — a single two-month season attracts players from every major cricketing nation.
How many teams are there in IPL 2026?
Ten teams. They are: Mumbai Indians (MI), Chennai Super Kings (CSK), Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), Delhi Capitals (DC), Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH), Rajasthan Royals (RR), Punjab Kings (PBKS), Gujarat Titans (GT), and Lucknow Super Giants (LSG). RCB are the reigning champions, having won their maiden title in 2025.
At a Glance: IPL 2026 Teams
| Team | Home City | Titles |
| Mumbai Indians (MI) | Mumbai | 5 |
| Chennai Super Kings (CSK) | Chennai | 5 |
| Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) | Kolkata | 3 |
| Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) | Bengaluru | 1 |
| Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) | Hyderabad | 1 |
| Rajasthan Royals (RR) | Jaipur | 1 |
| Deccan Chargers / (now SRH) | Hyderabad | 1 |
| Gujarat Titans (GT) | Ahmedabad | 1 |
| Punjab Kings (PBKS) | Mohali / Mullanpur | 0 |
| Delhi Capitals (DC) | Delhi | 0 |
| Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) | Lucknow | 0 |
How many matches will be played in IPL 2026?
A total of 74 matches — 70 league-stage games and 4 playoff matches (Qualifier 1, Eliminator, Qualifier 2, and the Final). Each team plays 14 league matches, seven at home and seven away. The IPL Governing Council had planned to expand to 84 matches this year but kept the number at 74 for one more edition. The expansion to 84 matches is expected from IPL 2027 onward.
When does IPL 2026 run, and when is the Final?
The tournament runs from March 28 to May 31, 2026. It is spread across 13 venues. The Final is scheduled for May 31. Most evening matches begin at 7:30 PM IST; weekend afternoon matches start at 3:30 PM IST.
What is the format — how does a team qualify for the playoffs?
The ten teams are split into two virtual groups. They play a modified round-robin format. At the end of 70 league games, the top four teams on the points table qualify for the playoffs. The top two play Qualifier 1 — the winner goes directly to the Final. The third and fourth teams play the Eliminator; the winner of that faces the loser of Qualifier 1 in Qualifier 2 to decide who gets the second berth in the Final.
THE MONEY
How much will the IPL 2026 winners take home?
The BCCI has not made an official announcement on IPL 2026 prize money yet — the final prize structure is typically confirmed closer to the playoff stage. However, based on the last several seasons, the winner is expected to receive ₹20 crore. The runner-up is expected to receive approximately ₹12.5–13 crore. The two teams that lose in the playoffs (3rd and 4th place) are expected to receive ₹7 crore and ₹6.5 crore respectively. The total prize pool is likely to be in the region of ₹46–47 crore.
And individually — what does a player get?
Prize money goes to the franchise first. BCCI rules mandate that at least half of any prize money received by a franchise must be distributed among its players. Internal distribution — how it is split between the captain, seniors, and support staff — is left to the franchise. Separately, from IPL 2025, the BCCI also introduced a match fee of ₹7.5 lakh per match for every member of the playing XI (including the Impact Player), on top of their regular auction salary.
What about individual performance awards?
Yes, there are several individual prizes. The Orange Cap (most runs in a season) and the Purple Cap (most wickets) each come with ₹10 lakh. The Emerging Player of the Season carries ₹10–20 lakh. The Most Valuable Player award comes with ₹10 lakh. Various sponsor-driven awards — Super Striker, Game Changer, Power Player — carry similar amounts. These go directly to the player, not the franchise.
What was the prize money when the IPL first started in 2008?
The inaugural champions, Rajasthan Royals, received ₹4.8 crore. The runners-up, Chennai Super Kings, received ₹2.4 crore. Compare that to the ₹20 crore on offer today — a more than four-fold increase over 18 years. In dollar terms, the winner’s prize in IPL 2025 was approximately $2.4 million.
How has the prize money changed over the years?
The prize money grew rapidly in the early years, levelled off, took a COVID-era dip in 2020, then returned to ₹20 crore from 2021 onwards — a figure that has since stabilised. See the full year-by-year table below.
IPL Prize Money: Year-by-Year History (2008–2025)
| Year | Winner | Runner-Up | Winner (₹ Cr) | Runner-Up (₹ Cr) |
| 2008 | Rajasthan Royals | Chennai Super Kings | 4.8 | 2.4 |
| 2009 | Deccan Chargers | Royal Challengers Bangalore | 4.8 | 2.4 |
| 2010 | Chennai Super Kings | Mumbai Indians | 10 | 5 |
| 2011 | Chennai Super Kings | Royal Challengers Bangalore | 10 | 5 |
| 2012 | Kolkata Knight Riders | Chennai Super Kings | 10 | 5 |
| 2013 | Mumbai Indians | Chennai Super Kings | 10 | 5 |
| 2014 | Kolkata Knight Riders | Kings XI Punjab | 15 | 10 |
| 2015 | Mumbai Indians | Chennai Super Kings | 15 | 10 |
| 2016 | Sunrisers Hyderabad | Royal Challengers Bangalore | 20 | 11 |
| 2017 | Mumbai Indians | Rising Pune Supergiant | 20 | 12.5 |
| 2018 | Chennai Super Kings | Sunrisers Hyderabad | 20 | 12.5 |
| 2019 | Mumbai Indians | Chennai Super Kings | 20 | 12.5 |
| 2020 | Mumbai Indians | Delhi Capitals | 10* | 6.25* |
| 2021 | Chennai Super Kings | Kolkata Knight Riders | 20 | 12.5 |
| 2022 | Gujarat Titans | Rajasthan Royals | 20 | 13 |
| 2023 | Chennai Super Kings | Gujarat Titans | 20 | 13 |
| 2024 | Kolkata Knight Riders | Sunrisers Hyderabad | 20 | 13 |
| 2025 | Royal Challengers Bengaluru | Punjab Kings | 20 | 12 |
* In 2020, the BCCI halved prize money as a COVID-19 cost-cutting measure. The full structure was restored in 2021.
What was the single biggest jump in prize money?
The most significant step-up came in 2010, when the winner’s prize more than doubled — from ₹4.8 crore to ₹10 crore. Another notable jump came in 2014, when it rose from ₹10 crore to ₹15 crore; and in 2016, it hit ₹20 crore for the first time. It has remained at that level, barring the 2020 COVID exception.
So how much does the IPL winner get in total — prize plus player salaries?
Prize money is separate from player auction salaries, which have grown dramatically in parallel. The highest-paid player in IPL 2025 was Rishabh Pant at ₹27 crore for a single season — more than the entire winner’s prize pool in early IPL years. For context: a franchise that wins the IPL could collectively pay its players upwards of ₹100 crore in salaries (depending on squad composition), while earning ₹20 crore in prize money. The prize is significant but is just one of several revenue streams for a franchise, which also earns from ticket sales, sponsorships, and a share of the central media rights revenue.
IPL 2025 Prize Money — How It Was Distributed
| Position | Prize Money (IPL 2025) |
| Champions | ₹20 crore |
| Runners-Up | ₹12–13 crore |
| 3rd Place (Qualifier 2 loser) | ₹7 crore |
| 4th Place (Eliminator loser) | ₹6.5 crore |
| Orange Cap (top run scorer) | ₹10 lakh |
| Purple Cap (top wicket taker) | ₹10 lakh |
| Emerging Player | ₹10–20 lakh |
| Most Valuable Player | ₹10 lakh |
| Per-match fee (playing XI) | ₹7.5 lakh per match (from 2025) |
How big is the IPL’s overall broadcast deal?
Enormous. In 2023, the BCCI sold media rights for the 2023–2027 cycle for $6.4 billion to JioStar (digital streaming via JioHotstar) and Star Sports (satellite broadcast). Each IPL match is now valued at $13.4 million — making it the second most valuable sports property per match in the world after the NFL. For IPL 2026, Tata Group continues as the title sponsor under a five-year deal worth ₹2,500 crore (2024–2028).
WHO HAS WON BEFORE
Which team has won the most IPL titles?
Mumbai Indians (MI) and Chennai Super Kings (CSK) are joint leaders with five titles each. Kolkata Knight Riders are third with three titles. Gujarat Titans and Sunrisers Hyderabad have one title each, as do Rajasthan Royals and the now-defunct Deccan Chargers. Royal Challengers Bengaluru finally broke their duck in 2025, winning their first title after 18 seasons.
Who are the most successful captains in IPL history?
MS Dhoni and Rohit Sharma are the two most decorated IPL captains, with five titles each. Dhoni won all five with CSK (2010, 2011, 2018, 2021, 2023). Rohit won all five with MI (2013, 2015, 2017, 2019, 2020). Gautam Gambhir is third with two titles, both with KKR (2012, 2014).
What happened in 2020 — why was prize money lower that year?
The 2020 IPL was held entirely in the UAE due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In a circular to franchises, the BCCI announced it would halve prize money as part of cost-cutting measures: the champion got ₹10 crore instead of ₹20 crore, and the runners-up received ₹6.25 crore. The full prize structure was restored for the 2021 season. Mumbai Indians won the 2020 edition.
The IPL did not always have ten teams — how did the league evolve?
The IPL began with eight teams in 2008. Kochi Tuskers Kerala played one season in 2011 before being terminated for contract breaches. Pune Warriors India played from 2011 to 2013 before withdrawing over financial disputes. Deccan Chargers were terminated in 2012 and replaced by Sunrisers Hyderabad in 2013. In 2016 and 2017, CSK and Rajasthan Royals were suspended due to a betting scandal; Rising Pune Supergiant and Gujarat Lions temporarily replaced them. The league reached its current ten-team format in 2022 with the addition of Gujarat Titans and Lucknow Super Giants.
IPL 2026: WHAT TO WATCH
Who are the defending champions going into IPL 2026?
Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), who won their first-ever IPL title in 2025, defeating Punjab Kings by six runs in the Final at Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad. The victory ended an 18-year title drought for the franchise. RCB open their title defence today, March 28, at home against Sunrisers Hyderabad.
Where can I watch IPL 2026?
IPL 2026 is broadcast live on Star Sports (satellite television) and streamed on JioHotstar (digital). The Bangladesh government has banned IPL broadcasts in Bangladesh following geopolitical tensions with India.
What else is new in IPL 2026?
A few things stand out. The group format has been reversed to mirror the 2023 edition. A major off-field story: the Rajasthan Royals franchise was sold for a record $1.6 billion in early 2026 — a measure of how valuable IPL franchises have become. There is also significant anticipation around teenage batting prodigy Vaibhav Suryavanshi, who rose to prominence in IPL 2025.
— North Desk Bureau
Published: March 28, 2026 | North Desk (northdesk.in)
