File picture of a CSK game at the M.A. Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai
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STRINGER
A 10th-place finish for Chennai’s own Chennai Super Kings in IPL 2025 along with rising player and tournament costs pulled down the profitability of Chennai Super Kings Cricket Ltd (CSKCL), the company behind the team, in FY26.
On a standalone basis, CSKCL’s total revenue fell marginally to ₹636 crore in FY26 from ₹644 crore due to a decline in central rights income, CSKCL’s annual report showed. However, revenue from operations rose by around 1 per cent as sponsorship and tournament-related income grew. Net profit was ₹161 crore as against ₹181 crore in the previous fiscal as expenses rose.
The company’s central rights income dropped to ₹430 crore in FY26 from ₹468 crore, a decline of about 8 per cent. Central rights income is a portion of earnings a sports franchise receives from the governing sports board, and reduction in CSKCL’s share is due to the standing of the Team at the tenth position in IPL 2025 as against the fifth position in IPL 2024, the company said in its annual report.
Additionally, other income declined to ₹14 crore from ₹28 crore due to a decrease in interest income. The surplus funds, during FY26 have been redeployed from Inter Corporate Deposits in the previous year to mutual funds, resulting in the reduction in interest income, CSKCL said.
The company’s cost of operations rose to ₹379 crore from ₹372 crore due largely to an increase in player & support staff remuneration and tournament expenditure.
In the IPL 2025 season, the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) finished in 10th position (last place). This was the first time in the history of the Indian Premier League that CSK finished in the bottom place. In the IPL 2026 season, the team finished eighth.
On a consolidated basis, revenue rose to ₹712 crore from ₹704 crore, and profit attributable to CSKCL owners fell to ₹124 crore from ₹151 crore, a decline of about 18.3%.
CSKCL’s international expansion is currently revenue-generating but not yet profitable. Operating loss narrowed in Joburg Super Kings and losses increased in the US franchise Texas Super Kings. “With the continued growth and rising popularity of Major League Cricket, the company remains confident about the long-term potential of the franchise in the US market,” it said.
During the year, Superking Ventures Private Limited (SKVPL) also continued to make progress in its flagship initiative, the Super Kings Academy (SKA), a state-of-the-art cricket coaching venture run by the IPL franchise. The number of academies has subsequently grown to more than 30 centres, including expansion into new geographies such as Singapore, Canada, Qatar and Dubai, CSKCL said.
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