Courtesy: IPL/PSL
Over the better part of next three months, the fans of cricket will get to witness a stellar level of franchise T20 cricket as two major cricketing competitions IPL and PSL are going to deliver some extraordinary action worldwide. This year, both leagues will clash with each other as IPL 2025 will be played from March 22 to May 25, while PSL has also announced their 2025 schedule with the tournament to be held from April 11 to May 18. The schedules of both leagues will be colliding for the first time after 2020 when the pandemic was tormenting the entire world.
Back in 2016, PSL conducted their inaugural season in the United Arab Emirates. The next year, it organised its maiden game in Pakistan with Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium hosting the final of the second edition of the league. IPL has conducted 17 seasons thus far in which four were organised outside India. In 2009, it was held in South Africa due to Lok Sabha elections, while in 2014, a major chunk of the season was played in the UAE. The same country also hosted the entire 2020 IPL and the latter stage of the 2021 installment due to the influence of COVID-19 in India.
IPL, which kicked off in 2008, is the biggest cricketing league in the world, and it has left a major impact in the sport since then. PSL turned 10 years old recently and has strived to play a major role in development of the sport. While the comparison between IPL and PSL will keep on continuing year after year amongst the fans, the former has an upper hand over the latter as IPL is superior to its Pakistan’s counterpart PSL in terms of revenue, overseas players’ participation, infrastructure, and viewership.
Metrics on which SportsTiger compares IPL and PSL ahead of their respective 2025 seasons
Brand Value
IPL’s brand value has soared over the years. Back in 2010, the league’s worth was estimated around INR 18998 Crore or 4.1 billion US dollars which has reached 12 billion US dollars in 2024, as per the report from the Times of India. On the other hand, PSL’s value was 5.2 million US dollars or PKR 54.4 crore in 2016. Talking about the recent figures in the media, the prominent Pakistani league is worth PKR 340 crore or 22.2 million US dollars.
Overseas players’ participation
IPL hosts renowned overseas players every year. Back in 2008, when the league was started major figures from different cricketing nations registered their presence. In the last 17 years, nothing has changed as most eminent names, who are currently reigining in international cricket, appear in the league. PSL attracts a majority of retired foreign players or active international veterans, who see themselves at the verge of hanging their boots.
Quality of stadiums
In terms of infrastructure, IPL has proven themselves with their exceptional quality of stadiums. Iconic venues such as Wankhede Stadium, Eden Gardens, Arun Jaitley Stadium, MA Chidambaram Stadium, and M Chinnaswamy Stadium have a majestic level of drainage system, quality dressing rooms for players and amazing seating arrangements for spectators. Besides that, BCCI also ensures a stellar level of security for players and fans during IPL matches.
PSL organises its games in Pakistan’s Karachi, Lahore, Rawalpindi, and Multan apart from hosting the league for years overseas in recent years. Compared to Indian grounds, Pakistan’s grounds lack some major facilities but despite some challenges, PCB has displayed efforts to improve in terms of infrastructure.
Viewership
IPL has emerged as the most successful cricketing league with millions of fans in India and all over the world watching its matches on a regular basis on television and streaming devices. It recorded a colossal following of 600 million in the 2024 season, making it the fifth biggest sporting league in terms of viewership. PSL attracted 350 million viewers in 2024, which is decent, but when it is compared with that of IPL, it’s still far away. Follow: PSL Live Score
