IPL vs PSL: A Complete Comparison – History, Facts, and Key Differences

Cricket leagues like the Indian Premier League (IPL) and the Pakistan Super League (PSL) have revolutionized T20 cricket, attracting global audiences and top players. While the IPL is the richest and most-watched league, the PSL has grown significantly in popularity. This article provides a detailed comparison of IPL vs PSL, covering history, finances, champions, player salaries, and more.

IPL vs PSL: History and Origin

IPL: Founded in 2008 by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), the IPL revolutionized T20 cricket by combining sport with entertainment, attracting global stars and massive audiences. It currently has completed 17 seasons as of 2024, with the 2025 season underway.

• IPL (2008): Founded by BCCI after India’s 2007 T20 WC win. Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) as a revolutionary franchise-based T20 league., with the first season played in 2008. The idea emerged after the success of the Indian cricket team in the 2007 ICC T20 World Cup.

PSL: Launched in 2016 by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), the PSL aimed to develop local talent and provide a competitive platform with international players. It has completed 9 seasons by 2024 and continues to grow in stature.

• PSL (2016): Launched by PCB to boost Pakistan’s T20 cricket.initiated by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to develop Pakistan’s domestic T20 structure. The concept was discussed for a few years before its implementation, facing logistical and security challenges in its initial stages, which led to the first season being held in the UAE.

Number of Seasons

Formats Analysis of IPL and PSL

Both leagues follow a Twenty20 format with group stages followed by playoffs. The IPL format is a round-robin followed by playoffs including qualifiers and eliminators. PSL also follows a similar structure but with fewer teams.

• Both leagues follow a double round-robin format followed by playoffs.

• IPL hosts 10 teams while PSL operates with 6 teams.                                                                                                                        

Both the IPL and PSL follow a Twenty20 (T20) format, which involves two innings per side, with each inning limited to a maximum of 20 overs. Key aspects of the format include:

• Round-robin stage: Each team plays every other team a set number of times.
• Playoffs: The top teams from the round-robin stage qualify for the playoffs, which typically include qualifiers and eliminators leading to the final.
• Player Squads: Both leagues feature a mix of international and domestic players in each team squad, with a limit on the number of overseas players allowed in the playing eleven.

While the fundamental T20 format is the same, the specific rules and regulations are governed by the respective cricket boards (BCCI for IPL and PCB for PSL).

IPL vs PSL Earnings Comparison

As highlighted throughout this analysis, IPL players, teams, and the league itself generate significantly higher earnings compared to the PSL. This is driven by larger media rights deals, greater sponsorship revenue, higher gate receipts (in India), and a more established and expansive commercial ecosystem. The salary structures for players also reflect this disparity, with top IPL players earning many times more than their counterparts in the PSL.

IPL Vs PSL Revenue and Valuation

To reiterate:

• IPL Revenue (2024): Approximately ₹20,686 crore.
• IPL Valuation (2024): Over ₹1 lakh crore (brand value).
• PSL Revenue (2024): Not publicly specified but significantly lower than IPL.
• PSL Valuation (2024): Not publicly specified but considerably lower than IPL.

The IPL's financial dominance is evident in both its annual revenue and overall brand valuation.

• IPL Net Worth (2025): Over ₹91,000 crore (~USD 11 billion)

• PSL Net Worth (2025): ~₹1,200 crore (~USD 150 million)

IPL vs PSL Budget:

• IPL franchises operate with a budget of ~₹100 crore per team.

• PSL teams operate within PKR 13 crore (~₹3.75 crore) player draft caps.

(IPL is 36x more valuable than PSL.)

IPL VS PSL Prize Money Comparison

(IPL prize money is 5x higher than PSL.)

IPL VS PSL League Quality

The "quality" of a league is subjective and can be assessed based on various factors:

• Player Talent: The IPL generally attracts a larger number of the world's top international cricketers due to its higher salaries and established reputation. However, the PSL also features high-quality international and Pakistani talent.
• Competition Level: Both leagues are highly competitive, with close matches and unpredictable outcomes. The PSL is often praised for its intense rivalries and the quality of its bowling attack.
• Infrastructure and Resources: The IPL benefits from more established infrastructure, larger stadiums, and greater financial resources, which can contribute to the overall fan experience.
• Development of Domestic Talent: Both leagues play a crucial role in developing domestic cricketers. The IPL has provided a platform for numerous Indian talents to shine, while the PSL has been instrumental in nurturing Pakistan's young cricketers.

• IPL: Features a star-studded lineup with many international stars, top Indian talent, and high competition level. It is often considered the benchmark for T20 leagues worldwide.

• PSL: While smaller, PSL has steadily improved quality, nurturing Pakistani talent and attracting international players. It has a passionate fanbase and is growing in global recognition.

• IPL: Globally considered the most elite T20 league, with the highest standard of competition, stadiums, and production.

• PSL: Renowned for top-tier fast bowlers and competitive games, but limited by lower funding and overseas player availability.

While the IPL boasts a greater concentration of global superstars, the PSL offers a high standard of T20 cricket with its own unique flavor and emphasis on local talent.

IPL Vs PSL Media Rights and Viewership

IPL: The 2024 season attracted 620 million viewers on JioCinema and 510 million on Star Sports TV. The media rights deal for 2023-27 fetched $6.4 billion, making IPL the most-watched and richest cricket league globally.

PSL: The 2024 PSL had around 150 million digital viewers. In 2025, PSL viewership reportedly surged by 826.5% compared to the previous year, despite clashing with IPL 2025. PSL media rights are valued at $24 million, significantly lower than IPL.

(IPL viewership is 5x higher than PSL.)

Media Rights (2023-2027 Cycle):

• IPL: ₹48,390 crore (USD 6.2 billion)

• PSL: PKR 8.7 billion (~₹250 crore)

IPL vs PSL Viewership 2025:

• IPL 2025 Viewership: Over 550 million in India

• PSL 2025 Viewership: Around 150 million globally

• IPL: In 2023, the IPL sold its media rights for the 2023-2027 cycle to Viacom18 and Star Sports for a staggering ₹48,390 crore (approximately $6.4 billion USD). This values each IPL match at approximately $13.4 million USD.
• PSL: The media rights for the upcoming PSL seasons were acquired by A Sports and Walee Technologies for $24 million USD. This is considerably lower than the IPL's media rights value.
• IPL 2024: Recorded a total viewership of 546 million on Star Sports (TV) and 620 million on JioCinema (digital), marking an 18% increase from the previous edition.
• PSL 2024: Had approximately 150 million digital views. While TV viewership figures aren't specified, the digital numbers indicate a significantly lower reach compared to the IPL.

IPL vs PSL vs BBL Comparison

Comparing IPL and PSL with the Big Bash League (BBL) of Australia:

• Financial Power: IPL > BBL > PSL
• Viewership: IPL > BBL > PSL (though BBL has a strong domestic following in Australia)
• Player Salaries: IPL > BBL > PSL
• History: IPL (est. 2008) > BBL (est. 2011) > PSL (est. 2016)
• Number of Teams: IPL (10) > BBL (8) > PSL (6)

(IPL is the clear leader, while PSL is ahead of BBL in viewership.)

• IPL: Most valuable, biggest viewership, highest-paid stars

• BBL (Australia): Strong domestic reach, fewer international icons

• PSL: Highly competitive, known for bowling strength, limited global market

• IPL is bigger than the Big Bash League (BBL) in Australia and the English Premier League (EPL) in football in terms of revenue and viewership.

• IPL’s brand value and media rights surpass many global sports leagues, including EPL by some financial metrics, though EPL is a different sport

The BBL is a well-established league with a strong domestic presence and attracts international players, but it generally falls between the IPL and PSL in terms of financial scale and global viewership.

Is IPL Bigger Than the English Premier League (EPL)?

• IPL Valuation (2025): $10.9 Billion

• EPL Valuation (2025): $20 Billion+
  The EPL is still bigger, but the IPL is the second-most valuable sports league in the world, ahead of NBA, NFL, and La Liga in per-match revenue.

IPL vs PSL Most Expensive Player Season wise

IPL Most Expensive Players (Season-wise)