T20 leagues have transformed the landscape of modern cricket, and among them, the Indian Premier League (IPL) and Pakistan Super League (PSL) stand out as two of the most prominent and competitive franchise tournaments.
Both leagues have not only entertained millions globally but have also played a crucial role in developing young talent, enhancing fan engagement, and bringing financial growth to their respective cricket boards.
While the IPL is known for its grandeur, massive fan base, and international star power, the PSL has earned praise for its bowling depth, competitive matchups, and emerging local talent.
This comparison explores how IPL and PSL stack up across key aspects of cricket and entertainment.
Indian Premier League vs Pakistan Super League – An Overview
The Indian Premier League (IPL), launched in 2008 by the BCCI, is the world’s most popular and lucrative T20 league, featuring global superstars, massive broadcasting reach, and unmatched fan engagement. Known for its high-octane matches, glamorous presentation, and massive player auctions, the IPL has revolutionized franchise cricket.
In contrast, the Pakistan Super League (PSL) began in 2016 under the PCBs banner and has quickly grown in stature. While relatively newer, PSL is praised for its competitive nature, focus on nurturing local talent, and strong bowling lineups. Both leagues have played significant roles in shaping modern T20 cricket and elevating its global appeal.
Let’s take a closer look at the details of each league:
| Details | IPL | PSL |
|---|---|---|
| Inaugural Year | 2008 | 2015 |
| Board | BCCI | PCB |
| Number of Teams | 10 | 6 |
| Format | T20 | T20 |
| Completed Seasons | 17 | 9 |
Indian Premier League (IPL)
The Indian Premier League (IPL) is a professional Twenty20 cricket league in India, founded in 2008 by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). It has grown into one of the world’s most popular and lucrative cricket tournaments, featuring a blend of international stars and Indian cricketing talent.
The league is known for its high-octane matches, glamorous appeal, and massive fan following globally.
IPL Winners from 2008-2024
Here’s a list of IPL winners from 2008 to 2024:
- 2008 – Rajasthan Royals
- 2009 – Deccan Chargers
- 2010 – Chennai Super Kings
- 2011 – Chennai Super Kings
- 2012 – Kolkata Knight Riders
- 2013 – Mumbai Indians
- 2014 – Kolkata Knight Riders
- 2015 – Mumbai Indians
- 2016 – Sunrisers Hyderabad
- 2017 – Mumbai Indians
- 2018 – Chennai Super Kings
- 2019 – Mumbai Indians
- 2020 – Mumbai Indians
- 2021 – Chennai Super Kings
- 2022 – Gujarat Titans
- 2023 – Chennai Super Kings
- 2024 – Kolkata Knight Riders
IPL – Most Runs and Most Wickets
Most Runs in IPL History:
- Virat Kohli – 8101*
- Shikhar Dhawan – 6769
- Rohit Sharma – 6649*
- David Warner – 6565
- Suresh Raina – 5528
Most Wickets in IPL History:
- Yuzu Chahal – 219*
- Piyush Chawla –192
- Dwayne Bravo – 183
- Bhuvaneshwar Kumar – 183*
- Ravi Ashwin – 183*
Note: The (*) symbol denotes players who are currently part of the IPL roster.
IPL Teams
As of 2025, the IPL features 10 teams:
- Mumbai Indians (MI)
- Chennai Super Kings (CSK)
- Delhi Capitals (DC)
- Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR)
- Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB)
- Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH)
- Rajasthan Royals (RR)
- Punjab Kings (PBKS)
- Lucknow Super Giants (LSG)
- Gujarat Titans (GT)
These franchises represent different cities, adding regional flair and fierce rivalries to the tournament. The inclusion of new teams like LSG and GT has intensified the competition, bringing fresh dynamics to the IPL landscape.
Prize Money
The IPL offers substantial prize money, reflecting its global stature. The 2024 IPL prize pool was around ₹20 crore (approximately $2.5 million) for the winning team. The breakdown is typically as follows:
- Winner: ₹20 crore
- Runner-up: ₹12.5 crore
- Third Place: ₹7.5 crore
- Fourth Place: ₹5 crore
Additionally, players achieve lucrative individual contracts, endorsements, and performance bonuses, making IPL a financial goldmine for cricketers worldwide.
Pakistan Super League (PSL)
The Pakistan Super League (PSL) is a professional Twenty20 cricket league in Pakistan, founded in 2015 by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB). Since its inception, the PSL has grown into one of the most exciting and watched T20 leagues in the world.
With top-tier international and domestic players, the PSL has gained a reputation for thrilling matches, intense rivalries, and a passionate fanbase.
PSL Winners from 2016-2024
Here’s a list of PSL winners from 2016 to 2024:
- 2016 – Islamabad United
- 2017 – Peshawar Zalmi
- 2018 – Islamabad United
- 2019 – Quetta Gladiators
- 2020 – Karachi Kings
- 2021 – Multan Sultans
- 2022 – Lahore Qalandars
- 2023 – Lahore Qalandars
- 2024 – Multan Sultans
PSL – Most Runs and Most Wickets
- Most Runs in PSL History:
- Babar Azam – 3504*
- Fakhar Zaman – 2525*
- Mohammed Rizwan – 2403
- Shoaib Malik – 2336
- Rilee Rossouw – 2015*
- Most Wickets in PSL History:
- Wahab Riaz –113
- Hasan Ali – 108*
- Shaheen Afridi – 103*
- Shadab Khan – 91*
- Faheem Ashraf – 78*
Note: The (*) symbol denotes players who are currently part of the PSL teams.
PSL Teams
As of 2024, the PSL features 6 teams:
- Islamabad United
- Peshawar Zalmi
- Karachi Kings
- Lahore Qalandars
- Multan Sultans
- Quetta Gladiators
These teams represent major cities in Pakistan, adding regional pride and fierce competition to the league. The PSL has created some of the most intense rivalries in the world of cricket, with teams like Lahore Qalandars and Multan Sultans dominating recent seasons.
Prize Money
The PSL offers attractive prize money, making it a highly lucrative competition. The 2024 PSL prize pool was around ₨10 crore (approximately $1.5 million) for the winning team. The prize distribution is usually as follows:
- Winner: ₨10 crore
- Runner-up: ₨5 crore
- Third Place: ₨3 crore
- Fourth Place: ₨2 crore
Besides the prize money, players benefit from endorsement deals, performance bonuses, and substantial contracts, further elevating the tournament’s appeal.
IPL vs PSL – Net Worth, Media Rights & Viewership
Let’s look at the other aspects of IPL and PSL
Net Worth
When comparing the Indian Premier League (IPL) and the Pakistan Super League (PSL), the contrast is significant in terms of their financial strength, media rights deals, and viewership numbers. The IPL stands out as one of the most valuable cricket leagues globally, with an estimated net worth of over $6 billion.
Its massive brand value comes from sponsorships, broadcasting rights, and merchandise sales. The league’s influence extends beyond cricket, making it a major entertainment and business phenomenon in India. In contrast, the PSL has a net worth estimated at around $500 million. While it has gained immense popularity, particularly in Pakistan and among international audiences, it still trails behind IPL in terms of financial scale.
Media Rights
Media rights further highlight the gap between the two leagues. In 2022, Disney Star and Viacom 18 secured the media rights for IPL for a staggering $6.8 billion for the next five years. This deal underscores IPL’s dominance in the sports broadcasting industry, attracting global investors due to its enormous fan base. On the other hand, the PSL’s media rights have been acquired by A Sports and PTV Sports for $24 million for the next two years.
While this is a significant deal for PSL, it pales in comparison to IPL’s massive broadcasting contract, reflecting the disparity in global reach and market value.
Viewership
Viewership numbers also showcase the difference in popularity. The IPL 2022 witnessed an astronomical viewership, with over 229 million people tuning in to watch the matches on television. This figure highlights IPL’s dominance in the cricketing world and its ability to attract audiences across different demographics and regions.
The PSL 2022 had an impressive viewership as well, with around 144 million people watching the matches live on TV. While this is commendable, especially considering Pakistan’s population size and the league’s regional focus, it still doesn’t match IPL’s massive global reach.
While both leagues are incredibly popular, the IPL clearly leads in terms of net worth, media rights, and viewership. Its financial strength and global appeal make it the premier T20 league worldwide.
On the other hand, the PSL is rapidly growing, with increasing viewership and expanding commercial opportunities, making it a promising league in the cricketing landscape.
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Conclusion: IPL vs PSL – The Clear Winner Is IPL!
In conclusion, when comparing the IPL and PSL, the clear winner is the IPL. With its massive net worth exceeding $6 billion, record-breaking media rights deal of $6.8 billion, and a staggering viewership of 229 million in 2022, the IPL dominates the global cricketing landscape.
Its financial strength, international star power, and extensive fan base make it the premier T20 league worldwide. While the PSL is growing rapidly with impressive viewership and expanding commercial opportunities, it still lags behind the IPL in terms of global reach, revenue, and overall impact.
