India’s sports sector to be next hot investment destination - US$100bn industry by 2027 | Details of report

Anand Rathi Advisors Limited (ARAL) has compiled a comprehensive report that presents various facets of India’s sports sector. The report, covers India’s sports economy ranging from the organization of sports events, sports goods manufacturing, the fitness industry, sports nutrition, etc.

The report confirms what sports pundits have been claiming for long – that India’s time as a sporting superpower has come. According to ARAL, the sports industry is expected to touch US$12.6bn by 2027; up 4x from US$27bn in 2020, as per Anand Rathi Advisors.

According to the report, India is on the cusp of a revolution in the sports business. 

The report further makes a compelling case for investors and industry heavyweights to invest in India’s sports economy.

Highlights of the report released :

-India’s sports sector is expected to be an industry of US$100bn by 2027; up 4x from US$27bn in 2020.

-We hypothesize, that the industry will be driven by India’s gigantic youth population (400m people, larger than the population of the US) and rapidly improving economic conditions.

-Historically we have seen that as basic needs are met, populace leans towards consumption that supports a healthier lifestyle and entertainment.

-Indian Premier League (IPL), with a record 9mn+ viewership has shown the path for the successful commercialization of sports in India. Just like football unites Europe, the IPL can bind South Asia together leading to more stability, economic prosperity and peace in the region.

-The Indian sports media market’s size was ~ $1bn in 2020, which, the report estimates, would grow to over $13.4bn by 2027. Considering that the global media rights market is worth $52.1bn, it indicates tremendous growth potential.

-While the share of cricket in the global media rights mix grew from 2.7% to 3.0%, football continued to occupy the pole position at 42%.

-India is one of the largest manufacturer of sports goods and equipment in Asia after China & Japan. Yet it is listed as the 24th largest exporter of sports goods in the world in 2019. The sports goods market, worth $4.5bn in 2020 and estimated to touch $6.6bn by 2027, presents a promising investment avenue.

-The Indian sports apparel market was worth $14bn in 2020 and is estimated to grow to $21bn by 2023. The men’s wear category will continue to dominate the market.

-Online games, nutrition and sports media dominate investor interest currently, with the domain garnering ~98% of the $4bn invested since 2015.

-There are more than 4,000 nutraceutical start-ups in India, that market vitamins and minerals, nutritional bars, healthy snacks, energy and sports drinks, dietary supplements, etc.

While unveiling the report, Samir Bahl, CEO – Investment Banking, Anand Rathi Advisors Ltd., said, “At Anand Rathi, we aim to provide thought leadership and information that will assist the investment community in identifying macro trends and compelling investment ideas in consumption driven niche segments. In this regard, we have lined up a host of informative reports that will be released periodically."

He adds, "India emulates the west in terms of its consumption. We have seen the growth in education, e-commerce, D2C brands and believe sports will be an additional dimension to our consumption story. The recent IPL media rights auctions, gives us further confidence in stating that sports is at the cusp of explosive growth.”

Atul Thakkar, Director – Investment Banking, Anand Rathi Advisors Ltd., added, “We have taken a deep look at the Indian sports sector. We are confident that our report would provide potential investors with an incisive look into the potential of the country’s sports economy. We believe that it is poised for a giant leap. Undoubtedly, India would soon become a sporting superpower.”