IPL an asset class? Karan Taurani on what RCB price tag of $1.8 billion means for Indian cricket and investors

United Spirits' $1.8 billion sale of Royal Challengers Bangalore has sparked debate on IPL franchise valuations, nearly doubling analyst expectations. While scarcity and strong underlying metrics like 20-25% revenue CAGR and 35% EBITDA margins support high valuations, future growth may moderate due to media rights dynamics and underdeveloped alternative revenue streams.