Delhi: IPL 2026 is at the peak of its popularity and the trend of supporting one’s favorite team by wearing its jersey is increasing rapidly. It is not difficult to guess that the jerseys of cricketers like Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli are in highest demand. Everyone’s new favorite Vaibhav Suryavanshi is also getting closer to them.

With time, the official jersey of the team has become very expensive and for a common cricket lover, buying the official jersey is becoming a big burden on the pocket.

That’s why along with expensive official merchandise (i.e. promotional items made by the team), replicas (exact copies) and fan editions are also in the market so that the price does not become a hindrance in cheering-up the team.

Every team has a different marketing strategy in this matter. The popularity of cricketers is the biggest factor in this. If there is a competition between Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli on the ground then it is also in the merchandise market.

Both are cricket superstars and their jerseys are in demand, it does not matter whether they are captain or not, even if Rohit Sharma is not fit and does not play the match.

Well, it can be easily guessed that whether it is a jersey or any other merchandise, its price is decided according to the category, imitation and fan edition. That’s why even if all the team’s jerseys seem to be the same in quality, the brand of the team decides its price. For example, the most expensive official jersey of Mumbai Indians is Rs 5999. They are one of the bottom teams in the season but the price of their team jersey has not dropped.

Mumbai Indians call their top jersey premium ‘Player Edition’ and the Rohit Sharma kit is the most expensive among them. This jersey is priced at Rs 5999. Royal Challengers Bangalore has kept the price of jersey in its top brand Virat Kohli kit at Rs 5499, which is the second most expensive jersey this season. Similarly, in the First Replica segment, the prices of the jerseys have come down to Rs 2499 and Rs 2299 respectively. Even though it is not easy to tell the difference between the top range and the replica range, there is no compromise with the quality, because the franchises want the fans to remain connected to the team even after the IPL and promote the brand by wearing the jersey.

At number three is the ‘Fan Edition’ jersey which is recognized for pre-match purchase or to represent your favorite team on a special occasion. This is also a marketing strategy that for the common fan, Mumbai Indians jersey is priced at Rs 999 while RCB has kept its price at Rs 1299. These jerseys are also not bad in quality and the free jerseys distributed by every team for promotion are from this segment.

The factor of price cannot be ignored in the sale of any product in the Indian market and the price also decides the choice.

You would definitely like to know which of these jerseys do the team players, officials or franchisees themselves wear? They do not use jerseys from any of these segments. Let us tell you that all of them use ‘authentic’ or player edition jersey (on-field kit). It is not that they are not for sale but they do not have any fixed price tag, they give the identity of status symbol and charge the desired price for it on different occasions. There is a record of such jerseys being sold for lakhs of rupees in promotion programs.

One more thing. Despite these different categories, it is not surprising that counterfeit products enter the market and are traded separately in parallel markets. Counterfeit products are not available through official online stores and stadium outlets, but outside the stadiums and in general markets on match days. No one knows who makes them, but this business also goes on simultaneously.

Price of jersey of each franchise

Mumbai Indians: Top Edition Rs 5999, Replica/Fan Edition Rs 2499 to Rs 999

Royal Challengers Bangalore: Top Edition Rs 5499, Replica/Fan Edition Rs 2299 to Rs 1124

Chennai Super Kings: Top Edition Rs 2499, Replica/Fan Edition Rs 1199 to Rs 899

Gujarat Titans: Top Edition Rs 1999, Replica/Fan Edition Rs 999

Kolkata Knight Riders: Top Edition Rs 1899, Replica/Fan Edition Rs 999

Rajasthan Royals: Top Edition Rs 1619, Replica/Fan Edition Rs 899

Delhi Capitals: Top Edition Rs 2499, Replica/Fan Edition Rs 999

Sunrisers Hyderabad: Top Edition Rs 1499, Replica/Fan Edition Rs 899

Lucknow Super Giants: Top Edition Rs 1999, Replica/Fan Edition Rs 999

Punjab Kings: Top Edition Rs 1899, Replica/Fan Edition Rs 899