Singapore’s Temasek Wants A Piece Of The $18.5 Billion IPL

India-West News Desk

MUMBAI- Singapore’s state investment firm Temasek is looking at investment opportunities in the Indian Premier League (IPL), as the cash-rich cricket tournament continues to attract interest from investors.

The IPL, India’s premier Twenty20 cricket league, has become one of the world’s biggest sports businesses, with soaring media rights, sponsorship deals and rising franchise values drawing sovereign wealth funds, private equity firms and billionaire investors.

Vishesh Shrivastav, Managing Director at Temasek India, confirmed the firm’s interest in the league during an interview with Reuters, describing the IPL as a marquee sporting asset. He said Temasek would move ahead if the right opportunity emerged, but declined to identify any franchise under consideration.

“For the right opportunity, we would jump on it,” Shrivastav said.

The league’s growing appeal has been reflected in recent franchise deals. Earlier this year, United Spirits, the Indian subsidiary of Diageo, agreed to sell Royal Challengers Bengaluru at a valuation of about $1.8 billion to a consortium that included Bolt Ventures, backed by billionaire investor David Blitzer, along with Blackstone.

According to U.S.-based investment bank Houlihan Lokey, the IPL’s overall valuation crossed $18.5 billion last year, making it one of the world’s most valuable sports leagues, Reuters noted.

Temasek has also significantly expanded its presence in India, with its portfolio exposure growing more than fourfold over the past decade to about $42 billion. The firm continues to focus on financial services, consumer businesses and healthcare, with investments including snacks maker Haldiram’s and Manipal Hospitals.