Temasek, Singapore’s state-owned sovereign investment firm, is weighing a potential move into the Indian Premier League, signaling growing global investor interest in one of the world’s most valuable sports properties. They have a long history of investments into India.
Temasek’s India managing director, Vishesh Shrivastav, told Reuters the firm is actively exploring opportunities in the IPL, noting that the league’s soaring media rights, rising team revenues, and expanding global profile have made it attractive for sovereign wealth funds, private equity firms, and billionaire investors. “IPL is a marquee property and we remain interested in it,” Shrivastav said, while declining to identify specific franchises under review. He added that Temasek would “jump on” the right opportunity — the firm’s first public confirmation of interest in the league.
Two major deals this year underscore the IPL’s escalating valuations. In March, United Spirits, the Indian arm of Diageo, agreed to sell Royal Challengers Bangalore at a $1.8 billion valuation to a consortium that includes billionaire David Blitzer’s Bolt Ventures and Blackstone. U.S. investment bank Houlihan Lokey now pegs the IPL’s overall valuation at more than $18.5 billion.
Temasek’s net portfolio value hit a new high of $518 billion in the financial year ended March 31, it reported on July 8.The investment company said it continues to deliver resilient long-term returns, with a 20-year total shareholder return of 6.8 per cent.
Temasek has been steadily expanding its India portfolio, which has grown more than fourfold over the past decade to $42 billion. Shrivastav said the firm will continue prioritizing financial services, consumer businesses, and healthcare — sectors where Temasek already holds stakes in companies such as Haldiram’s and Manipal Hospitals.
