IPL Ranked Third in Global Franchise Cricket League List

In a surprising turn of events, the Indian Premier League (IPL) has been ranked third in a recent global franchise cricket league assessment by the World Cricket Association. This ranking, which evaluates various leagues based on multiple criteria, places the IPL behind England's The Hundred and South Africa's SA20. Despite its high valuation and player salaries, the IPL's ranking has raised eyebrows among fans and experts. The article delves into the details of the ranking and its implications for the future of cricket leagues worldwide.

By Narendra Chaudhary Mar 19, 2026, 18:01 IST

Surprising Rankings of Franchise Cricket Leagues

A recent ranking of franchise cricket leagues published by the World Cricket Association (WCA) has stirred discussions by placing the Indian Premier League (IPL) in third position. This comes as a shock to many, as the IPL is often viewed as the pinnacle of T20 franchise tournaments globally. The ranking, unveiled on March 19, evaluated ten prominent cricket leagues, including the IPL, Pakistan Super League, SA20, The Hundred, Big Bash League (BBL), Bangladesh Premier League (BPL), Caribbean Premier League (CPL), Major League Cricket (MLC), International League T20 (ILT20), and Abu Dhabi T10.

IPL's Unexpected Third Place

The most surprising aspect of this ranking is that the IPL secured third place with a score of 62.6 points, trailing behind England's The Hundred, which scored 75, and South Africa's SA20 with 68.0 points. The BBL and PSL followed in fourth and fifth places with scores of 62.5 and 48, respectively. The rankings were determined based on various criteria, where the IPL fell short in areas such as dispute resolution, revenue sharing with players, and organizational rights. However, it did excel in terms of average player salaries.

Despite this ranking, the IPL remains the second most valuable sports league worldwide, just behind the National Football League (NFL). The salary cap in the IPL significantly surpasses that of other cricket leagues, and while Indian players are restricted from participating in other leagues, top players from various countries (excluding Pakistan) are permitted to compete in the IPL, enhancing the league's competitive quality.

In the women's leagues ranking, the Women's Premier League was placed second, following The Hundred's women's league.

According to WCA, they have a comprehensive view of the global cricket landscape and engage daily with players across various leagues. The evolution of domestic leagues has been largely positive for the sport, with potential for further improvement. The WCA aims to ensure that all sanctioned leagues thrive while providing fair protections and standards for participants. In light of the absence of enforceable global standards in critical areas identified by players and their representatives, the updated Leagues Hub offers consolidated benchmarks on current practices.

WCA CEO Tom Moffat stated, "We have reached out to each league inviting them to collaborate with us to meet best practice benchmarks and to further the professionalization and growth of our sport. We plan to provide regular updates on both positive practices and emerging issues throughout the year."