When talking about cricket alone, there’s only one annual event that every cricket fan would agree that they wouldn’t want to miss out on. We’re talking about the Indian Premier League (IPL) where you can witness today’s best local and international cricketers.

Now that cricket is starting to gain more popularity in other parts of the world, it’s no surprise that many are curious about the IPL. If you’re one of them or you simply want to know more about this prestigious cricket event, stick around.

In this article, we’ll have a quick look at IPL’s history, the latest viewership numbers, and why the IPL is one of the most popular cricket leagues today.

How it All Started and the IPL Throughout the Years

The IPL was founded in 2008 and is managed by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). According to many, the IPL was mainly started to ensure that players wouldn’t join the Indian Cricket League which was founded in 2007. 

This was a cricket tournament that wasn’t recognized by either the BCCI or the International Cricket Council (ICC).

Since its inception, the IPL has already had 16 successful tournaments. Today the IPL is also participated in by a total of 10 teams which are the following:

Rajasthan Royals, Chennai Super Kings, Delhi Capitals, Gujarat Titans, Kolkata Knight Riders, Lucknow Super Giants, Mumbai Indians, Punjab Kings, Rajasthan Royals, Royal Challengers Bangalore, and Sunrisers Hyderabad.

The latest IPL tournament happened earlier this year and ran from March 31 to May 29, 2023. This year’s season was championed by the Chennai Super Kings after going against the Gujarat Titans during the final. 

The Indian Premier League in Numbers

Numbers don't lie, and the IPL's statistics are a testament to its monumental success. Based on the recent edition of the tournament, the IPL had over 505 million viewers on television. 

Meanwhile, Disney Star reported that the tournament was able to reach over 427 billion minutes. That’s around 32% growth in television ratings compared to its previous edition. 

JioCinema also reported that the qualifier matches this year had over 2.567 crore viewers and the final between Chennai Super Kings and Gujarat Titans was able to record 3.2 crore viewers.

In total, the league was able to get over half a billion viewers, and this is still expected to grow in the upcoming season. That’s especially because the IPL is now getting more attention outside of India.

Cricket is also finally getting some attention in the US, and this might also help more people show more interest in the league.

While it’s hard to gauge how many would participate in IPL betting, MyBetting in India released a report in 2020 that around 140 million people in India alone would regularly participate in match prediction related games. That includes 10CRIC in the IPL.

Why is the Indian Premier League Such a Big Hit?

The IPL's success can be attributed to a combination of factors and one of them is how it showcases some of the biggest cricket stars of the current period. 

Right now, the most popular cricketers playing in the IPL include the likes of Virat Kohli, AB De Villiers, Rohit Sharma, David Warner, Kane Williamson, and MS Dhoni. The IPL has a great mix of local and international players too.

Even if the IPL is mostly popular in India, the country has a huge population. Also, it’s no secret that Indians are extremely passionate about cricket. They love supporting their local teams and are proud of the most skilled Indian cricket players they have produced.

Of course, many are also passionate about sports betting, and it’s not a surprise that cricket is one of the most favorite sports for this. It’s a fun and sometimes unpredictable sport. Many would only have a feel for who might win the tournament only after seeing the teams perform until the latter part of the season.

Overall, the IPL is simply a perfect platform where cricket fans can witness high-quality entertainment and unpredictability. Let’s not forget the drama that can always easily bring the heat during matches. 

Conclusion

Without a doubt, the IPL is now one of the most popular sports leagues worldwide with over 2.5 billion followers around the world. With cricket getting more attention from more countries like the United States, we can surely expect that the IPL audience will continue to grow in the coming years.