The hype and hoopla over Twenty20 cricket’s Indian Premier League (IPL) notwithstanding, its most valued Mumbai team is not even one-tenth the value of top American baseball team New York Yankees.

According to a new list of the 30 major league baseball (MLB) teams published in a special edition of business magazine Forbes and ranked on the basis of their valuation, New York Yankees are currently valued at $1.306 billion.

In comparison, all the eight IPL teams currently fighting for the league’s first ever trophy in India, together carry a value tag of just about half this figure at $723.7 million.

Besides, even the most valued IPL team carries a value less than the least valued of the 30 MLB teams.

Mumbai Indians, owned by billionaire Mukesh Ambani who runs the country’s most valued corporate house, is valued at $111.9 million — greater than any other team of the league.

It is closely followed by Bangalore Royal Challengers, owned by another billionaire businessman Vijay Mallya, with a team value of $111.6 million, while Hyderabad Deccan Chargers — owned by media house Deccan Chronicle — is the only other IPL team with a valuation of over $100 million.

In comparison, the least valued among all the 30 MLB teams — which operates North America’s two topmost professional baseball leagues, the National League and the American League — has a value of $256 million.

However, New York Yankees is the only team currently valued at over one billion dollar, according to the Forbes list.

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