As IPL 2025 draws to a close, the finals will feature two teams chasing their maiden title, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) and Punjab Kings (PBKS). Unlike previous years, when the final is typically held on a Sunday, this year's clash is scheduled for a Tuesday, 3rd June 2025.
Despite the IPL 2025 final falling on a weekday, the excitement is sky-high, especially among RCB fans. One die-hard supporter, Shivanand Mallannavar from Belagavi, has even written to CM Siddaramaiah, requesting a public holiday titled ‘RCB Fans’ Festival Day’ if the team wins.
Influencers and sports creators are organising screenings where their fans could gather together and enjoy the match together on big screens. One such example is the Youtube channel, 2 sloggers, Shubham Gaur and Taran Singh, who run the channel, are organising screenings in Delhi. Various cafes in Bengaluru like One8 (co-owned by Virat Kohli), Maize & Malt, and others, have specially curated RCB-themed menus.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) commands a massive fanbase, with estimates ranging between 35.5 to 38.4 million followers across social media platforms. In terms of valuation, RCB ranks third among IPL teams, valued at $117 million. Adding to the emotional weight this year, Virat Kohli has retired from Test cricket following his earlier exit from the T20 format, which many fans see as a sign that RCB's long-overdue title could be a great farewell gift. The last time RCB reached the final was in 2016.
Does RCB reaching the finals, and the final happening on the weekday, have an impact on the ad rates too?
Ad Rates on JioStar
JioStar is majorly offering advertisers three ad-buying options during IPL 2025:
- Full tournament package – ad slots across all matches
- Key matches package – includes playoffs, semi-finals, and the final
- Single match buy – ads for a specific game, like the final
Using Rs 100 as the base rate:
- The key matches package typically costs 40–50% more, i.e., around Rs 140–Rs 150
- A single match buy for the final can go as high as Rs 200 or more
This pricing model mainly applies to digital platforms, though TV follows a similar logic, with slight variations depending on the nature of the tournament and demand.
Samir Sethi, Head of Brand Marketing at Policybazaar, shared that RCB’s entry into the final won’t significantly impact digital advertising. Since most digital buys are based on impressions, a spike or dip in viewership doesn’t drastically affect campaigns already in place. Policybazaar itself is advertising on IPL via mobile platforms.
However, Sethi noted that for brands advertising only on TV, there could be a slight impact. With the final scheduled on a weekday (Tuesday, June 3), viewers might begin watching on mobile devices during their commute before switching to TV at home.
In terms of ad rates, Sethi doesn’t expect any major changes. "Most advertisers plan their IPL spends well in advance. Last-minute or impulse-driven buys are rare for high-stakes events like the IPL final," he said.
According to him, while RCB’s entry has certainly generated fan excitement, it hasn’t translated into any major shifts in advertising rates.
Mayank Shah, Vice President at Parle Products, notes that IPL ratings typically spike during high-stakes matches like eliminators, qualifiers, and the final. However, he points out that viewership is significantly amplified when these games fall on weekends or public holidays.
“With the final scheduled on a weekday this year, viewership will still be strong due to the nature of the match, but it won’t match the potential of a weekend or holiday slot,” he explains. “The audience will tune in, but the quantum of viewership could have been higher with better timing,” he adds.
Addressing whether RCB’s qualification, bolstered by Virat Kohli’s star power impacts ad rates, Shah clarifies: “Not really. It’s the finale itself that drives ad value. Teams like RCB, CSK, or MI do have large fan bases and can nudge viewership slightly, but not enough to influence pricing.”
He mentions, “At a national level, factors like match timing and the day of the week have a much greater bearing on viewership than which teams make it to the final.”
Kushal Bhuva, Associate Director at White Rivers Media, (Independent, integrated digital advertising and creative agency), echoes a similar sentiment, noting that ad slots for the IPL final are typically pre-sold well before the finalists are confirmed. However, he adds that some brands may scale up their investment as excitement builds around the competing teams.
“With the finals falling on a weekday, we expect fewer group viewings and a rise in mobile streaming,” says Bhuva. “This shift is prompting broadcasters and brands to focus more on digital engagement to maintain momentum,” he mentions.
While RCB’s entry into the final hasn’t impacted ad rates it has significantly boosted fan engagement and added to the overall buzz. It’s shaping up to be an exciting finale, with a new champion set to lift the IPL trophy this year.
