Delhi Capitals (DC) have been part of the IPL since its start. Even after 15 seasons, they have not won the IPL trophy. In the first season, DC reached the knockout stage but lost to Rajasthan Royals (RR) in the semi-final.
In the next season, DC played strong cricket and finished at the top of the round-robin stage. However, they lost to Deccan Chargers in the semi-final. In 2012, their campaign ended in the playoffs round.
DC’s first appearance in the IPL final came in 2020. They faced Mumbai Indians (MI), but MI won the match and the title. Even though they lost, DC earned INR 12.5 crores, their highest-ever prize money due to their position in the league.
Throughout IPL history, DC has reached the semi-finals or playoffs in 2008, 2009, 2012, 2019, 2020, and 2021. Their only final appearance was in 2020 against Mumbai Indians.
Delhi Capitals has a large following on social media. They have millions of fans across different platforms.
Delhi Capitals ranks 6th among all IPL teams in terms of the number of followers. This shows the strong support the team has online. Their growing fan base helps them connect with fans and attract sponsors. This plays an important role in their financial stability and brand growth.
Sponsorships play a vital role in the revenue generation of any IPL team, and Delhi Capitals is no exception. Over the years, Delhi Capitals have worked with many brands. These brands include both global companies and local businesses and these partnerships have helped improve the team’s financial position.
Let’s look at the major sponsors and partners associated with Delhi Capitals in the 2024 IPL season.
Ahead of the IPL 2024 season, Hero FinCorp, a non-banking finance company based in New Delhi, became the title sponsor of the Delhi Capitals. This partnership puts the Hero FinCorp logo on the team’s matchday and training shirts. The title sponsorship is a crucial source of income for the team, and this deal aligns the Capitals with a well-known name in the Indian financial sector.
Greenpanel Industries, one of India’s leading wood panel manufacturers, entered a partnership with Delhi Capitals ahead of the 2023 season. As a principal sponsor, Greenpanel’s logo is prominently displayed on the team’s matchday jerseys. This association with a prominent industrial player in India adds to the brand value of Delhi Capitals.
In early 2023, DP World, a global logistics company, became the logistics partner of Delhi Capitals. This deal allows DP World to showcase its brand on the team’s matchday jerseys and training gear. DP World’s involvement brings logistical expertise to the team and ensures smooth operations throughout the IPL season.
Several companies have joined as associate sponsors for Delhi Capitals. Their support has helped increase the team’s financial strength. Among them are:
Delhi Capitals has a range of official partners that contribute to their financial strength. Some of these partners include:
PayTM, an Indian fintech giant, became the exclusive ticketing partner for Delhi Capitals in the 2023 season. The team sells tickets for matches through PayTM Insider. This brings in extra revenue for the franchise. PayTM’s partnership helps make ticket sales smooth and efficient.
Delhi Capitals, like other IPL franchises, relies heavily on various revenue streams to support its operations. These include media rights, sponsorship deals, stadium ticket sales, merchandise, and prize money. Below is a breakdown of how the team generates its income and manages its expenses.
In June 2022, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) sold the IPL media rights for 2023-2027 for INR 48,390 crore. This deal includes both digital and TV rights, boosting the IPL’s financial value. The BCCI shares 40-50% of this income with the teams. Delhi Capitals will benefit greatly from this increase. The media rights deal will be a major source of income for the team. Their share could double compared to previous years, giving the team more revenue for operations and player salaries.
Sponsorships contribute significantly to the franchise’s earnings, accounting for approximately 20-30% of their total revenue. The Delhi Capitals have partnered with a variety of brands over the years, each contributing to the franchise’s financial success. The current crop of sponsors, including Hero FinCorp, Greenpanel, DP World, and others, have helped elevate the brand’s value while providing a steady flow of income.
The Delhi Capitals play their home matches at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi, which has a capacity of 35,200 spectators. Ticket sales contribute a substantial amount to the franchise’s income. Despite a reduced number of matches during the COVID-19 pandemic, the team’s return to a full home-and-away format in 2023 saw a spike in attendance, leading to increased revenue from ticket sales. The BCCI and sponsors take a small percentage of the earnings, but the franchise still benefits greatly from this source.
Merchandise sales bring in money for the Delhi Capitals. Fans buy T-shirts, caps, and other team products during the IPL season. The team doesn’t have its online store. However, it works with companies like Wrogn to sell merchandise. This helps the team reach more fans. Sales go up during the IPL, which helps the team’s finances.
While prize money is not the largest contributor to the Delhi Capitals’ finances, it does provide an additional income source. The team earned INR 12.5 crore in 2020 after reaching the IPL final. However, Delhi Capitals has struggled to win the title and has finished in the bottom half of the points table in many seasons. As a result, prize money remains a relatively smaller source of income compared to other revenue streams.
In August 2024, the owners of Delhi Capitals made a historic deal by purchasing Hampshire for £120 million. This acquisition makes Hampshire the first English county owned by a foreign franchise. The agreement includes full ownership of Hampshire and 51% shares of Southern Brave, with an option to fully acquire the Hundred franchise.
The deal was made possible by the GMR Group, which holds a 50% stake in Delhi Capitals.
The Delhi Capitals have built a solid financial base through smart sponsorships, media rights deals, and strong fan support. Major partners like Hero FinCorp, Greenpanel, and DP World have helped the team secure a range of sponsorships that add to their income.
With income from media rights, DC sponsorships, ticket sales, merchandise, and prize money, the Delhi Capitals are among the most financially stable teams in the IPL. As the franchise grows both on and off the field, attracting sponsors and generating revenue will be key to its future success.
Also read about:
Sunrisers Hyderabad Sponsors and Brand Collaborations
Kolkata Knight Riders Sponsors and Revenue Analysis
Gujarat Titans Sponsorship Deals and Financial Partners
Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) Sponsors and Brand Collaborations
Lucknow Super Giants: Earnings, Sponsorships, and Team Growth
Punjab Kings: Cricket, Money, Sponsorships and Pride
The Indian Premier League (IPL) has some of the most popular and competitive cricket teams.…
The Chennai Super Kings (CSK) is one of the most iconic franchises in the Indian…
Punjab Kings (PBKS), formerly Kings XI Punjab (KXIP), is a cricket team based in Mohali,…
Here is how Gameweek 16 of the 2024/25 Premier League season panned out. All ten…
Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) is a new team in the Indian Premier League (IPL). It…
In this article, we take a look at the SWOT Analysis of 2008 IPL champions…