Cricket
Best T20 League: IPL, BBL, PSL, SA20 Compared (Stats and Insights)
Highlights - SportsBoom has compiled a global T20 league comparison, analysing IPL vs BBL vs PSL vs SA20 using statistics and expert opinions to determine which stands at the top. As cricket shifts its attention towards shorter and more intense matches, long-standing T20 leagues and newcomers are battling to bring in the top stars of the 20-over arena. Sitting at the top are the Indian Premier League (IPL), Australia's Big Bash League (BBL), the Pakistan Super League (PSL), and the rapidly emerging SA20 from South Africa.
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In this franchise cricket league analysis, SportsBoom has compiled a data-informed perspective on where each domestic league currently stands in the global T20 pecking order.
This structured comparison will evaluate the IPL, BBL, PSL and SA20 using key metrics including ‘SB Score’, based on prize money, star talent and average attendance.
This ‘SB Score’ will be combined with ‘Industry Insights’, reflecting expert and media consensus, to calculate an ‘SB Market Index’ and see which T20 league stands at the apex.
‘SB Market Index’ Calculation and Result
| Rank | League | SB Score (Value) | SB Score (Weighted 20%) | Industry Insights (Value) | Industry Insights (Weighted 80%) | SB Market Index |
| 1 | IPL | 1.0000 | 0.2000 | 5 | 4.0 | 4.2000 |
| 2 | SA20 | 0.5120 | 0.1024 | 5 | 4.0 | 4.1024 |
| 3 | BBL | 0.2840 | 0.0568 | 5 | 4.0 | 4.0568 |
| 4 | PSL | 0.2595 | 0.0519 | 5 | 4.0 | 4.0519 |
Part 1 - The T20 Hierarchy: The ‘SB Score’
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The ‘SB Score’ has evaluated these four leagues on three critical aspects: the financial reward for winning, the density of elite national talent, and fan engagement reflected in attendance figures.
Core League Metrics (Prize Money Converted to USD)
| League | Winner’s Prize Money (Approx. USD) | Top T20 Players (Estimated) | Average Attendance |
| IPL | $2,400,000 | 30+ | 42,129 |
| PSL | $500,000 | 10+ | 10,000 (Estimated) |
| BBL | $450,000 | 7+ | 21,505 |
| SA20 | $1,700,000 | 7+ | 25,000 (Estimate) |
‘SB Score’ Methodology Explained
The ‘SB Score’ has been weighted as follows, with raw statistics normalised before weighting:
- Winner’s prize money (USD): 40% (this reflects a league’s financial clout and prestige)
- Number of top T20 players: 35% (this factors in the league’s current elite talent density)
- Average attendance: 25% (this measures on-ground popularity and fan engagement)
The ‘SB Score’ Result
| Rank | League | SB Score |
| 1 | IPL | 1.0000 |
| 2 | SA20 | 0.5120 |
| 3 | BBL | 0.2840 |
| 4 | PSL | 0.2595 |
Interpreting this ‘SB Score’
Based on SportsBoom’s statistical model, the IPL (SB Score: 1.0000) leads comprehensively, excelling across all three metrics: prize money, concentration of top players, and average attendance.
The SA20 (SB Score: 0.5120) is a strong second in this statistical comparison, notably due to its significant prize money and solid estimated attendance, outperforming the BBL and PSL in these categories.
The BBL (SB Score: 0.2840) and PSL (SB Score: 0.2595) score lower in this model primarily due to lower prize money and, for the PSL, lower estimated average attendance according to this dataset.
The Expert and Media View: ‘Industry Insights’
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Beyond specific metrics, SportsBoom has looked at how global cricket experts, commentators, and prominent media outlets generally perceive the standing of these four T20 leagues.
This score reflects the consensus from surveying five reputable international cricket media outlets and analysts.
A league receives 1 point if a source explicitly states or strongly implies that it is among the ‘best’ or ‘top tier’ T20 leagues globally, in comparative discussions or rankings.
| League | Top 10 Richest(CricketPanda) | Best T20 League(Detail - Stake99) | Top 5 Leagues(Sportstig) | Sporting News(India) | Wikipedia League(Pageer) | Total Mentions |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IPL | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 5 |
| PSL | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 5 |
| BBL | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 5 |
| SA20 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 5 |
‘Industry Insights’ Scorecard
| League | ‘Industry Insights’ |
|---|---|
| IPL | 5 |
| PSL | 5 |
| BBL | 5 |
| SA20 | 5 |
Interpreting the ‘Industry Insights’
Interestingly, in terms of ‘Industry Insights’ from SportsBoom’s surveyed sources, all four leagues - IPL, PSL, BBL and SA20 - received equal recognition with 5 points each.
This suggests that while the IPL might be seen as the outright financial and star-power leader by many, experts and the media acknowledge the significant quality, competitiveness, and unique appeal of the PSL, BBL, and the rapidly rising SA20 as being among the world’s top T20 cricket leagues.
The Combined Perspective: The ‘SB Market Index’
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SportsBoom has fused the leagues’ statistical profiles with broader expert and media perception to determine the final ‘SB Market Index’.
The ‘SB Market Index’ Verdict (Based on this Final Model)
This multi-layered analysis, culminating in the ‘SB Market Index’ which heavily weights ‘Industry Insights’ (80%), positions the IPL (SB Market Index: 4.2000) as the world’s top T20 league.
However, due to all leagues receiving equal ‘Industry Insights’ scores in this scenario, the differentiation in the final ranking comes purely from their ‘SB Scores’.
Consequently, the SA20 (SB Market Index: 4.1024) is a very strong second, followed closely by the BBL (4.0568) and the PSL (4.0519), with their final rankings mirroring their ‘SB Score’.
Best T20 League in the World: A Brief Overview of the Contenders
Indian Premier League (IPL):
Widely acknowledged as the most popular domestic T20 competition, the Indian Premier League has set the standard for 18 seasons as of 2025. Thanks to a number of established franchises, intense fan support and a blend of local and international stars, the impressive sums of IPL prize money (around $11 million this year) have made the competition a lucrative brand attracting some of the biggest names. The league also serves as a strong platform for Indian talent looking to get themselves noticed by the selectors.
Big Bash League (BBL):
As another well-established domestic 20-over competition, Australia’s Big Bash League wrapped up its 14th season in January 2025. Boasting a good balance of international and domestic players, thanks to the capping of global stars for franchises, the league stands apart due to its production quality and innovation, including player microphones, bat flips instead of coin tosses, and flashing bails. The BBL attendance is strongly centred on creating a family-friendly atmosphere at the stadiums, while also contributing to Australia’s development structures and nurturing young cricket prospects.
Pakistan Super League (PSL):
The Pakistan Super League completed its 10th season in 2025, closing the door on another highly competitive campaign. This has been the hallmark of the competition since its inception, with PSL top players often going on to headline efforts in the national team and serving as a platform for aspiring Pakistani cricketers. Major emphasis has been placed on the quality of bowling, local rivalries, and massive crowd engagement. There are also rumblings about the PSL expanding to eight franchises in future, highlighting its growing appeal.
SA20 (South Africa):
Despite being among the youngest of the mainstream domestic T20 leagues, the strong backing of IPL franchises and large-scale investment has positioned SA20 favourably to challenge the far more established 20-over competitions. Already attracting major international stars in just its third season (as of 2025), the South African league has benefited from being scheduled in January and February, allowing cricketers from many other domestic T20 structures to also compete. Despite dates clashing with the BBL, the high-profile composition of the SA20 has already attracted widespread attention.
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