The IPL viewership has experienced a decline, and that could be due to many reasons.
The Indian Premier League is one of the most popular sporting events in the world. It unites some of the best cricket players to showcase their sheer brilliance on a worldwide platform with millions watching them at home and abroad. The tournament has shattered records in viewership across India, as people stayed indoors during the pandemic last year. However, it has seen a sharp rise in TV viewership this season – which is new for IPL fans who were forced to stay indoors due to fear caused by that same pandemic just two years ago!
The viewership for the IPL has seen a jump of 23% in 2020, and that same number is continuing into the current season. The second half of this year’s edition also saw impressive figures. However, lower numbers are being witnessed this time around – many factors can be attributed to that decline in viewership.
This is the fifteenth season of IPL, and so far it has been quite a disappointment. With the new addition of two more franchises in this year’s tournament, fans were expected to be ultra-energetic about their favorite cricketing event but things have not exactly turned out that way for them.
There are five reasons why TV viewership ratings have dropped off this year from before:
1) Indian Premier League will be returning just six months after being put on hold.
The Indian Premier League has returned after a six-month break this year. The last season ended in October of 2018, with Chennai Super Kings winning their fourth title by defeating Kolkata Knight Riders in the final. If we go by the increase or decrease in viewership of its matches, one possible reason for less viewers could be that there have been too many matches over a span of time and not enough cricketing action on TV screens recently.
Last year’s and this year’s IPL were both held in the latter stages of the year. The decision to do so was made by BCCI as a result of normalizing with pandemic situations, which wasn’t needed during that time due to their resurgence beforehand.
For some people, the most popular T20 league in the world is no longer enough to satisfy their craving for entertainment. There’s a saturation point where they just reach this point of content and are unable to watch live-action games any more.
2) There has been an overdose of T20 Action in the recent past.
So, for the past year or so, there has been a lot of T20 action. Due to the Covid-19 situation, international teams have preferred engaging in a three or five-match T20 bilateral series instead of competing in white ball cricket which includes ODI matches and one dayers. Additionally, last 6 months we had several domestic leagues around the world like IPL 2021 and Big Bash League as well as Pakistan Super League! That was all broadcasted on Indian television too!
At the moment, viewers may be feeling a bit overloaded with T20 action. They were treated to an epic month of non-stop cricket in October and November last year. That being said, they can also say that they are quite used to watching a lot more than what is available on television at present.
India has also been involved in three T20 bilateral series this year, which include home series against New Zealand, West Indies, and Sri Lanka. The overdose of T20 matches might be one of the primary causes for a dip in TV viewership during the 15th edition of India’s premier cricketing competition – IPL.
3) MegaAuction features favorite players of fans on different teams.
This season for the Indian Premier League, fans had to go through a few transitions as most of the players were bought and sold. With Mega Auction happening earlier this year and new teams being added, there was substantial change in terms of sports franchises across India. This meant that some divisions became more complicated than others.
For instance, David Warner has worn the Sunrisers Hyderabad jerseys for years. But he wasn’t retained by his team and was instead picked up by Delhi Capitals in this year’s mega auction. Fans were used to seeing players like Hardik Pandya and Yuzvendra Chahal play with Mumbai Indians or Royal Challengers Bangalore respectively this season when they found their new homes in these franchises all at once!
The stars have already started to swap their teams, which could have a major effect on the IPL fans who are used to seeing their favorite players compete for the same franchise year after year.
4) Big-name stars are absent
Cricket icon Chris Gayle has announced his retirement from all forms of cricket, after the conclusion of IPL 2021. This is an especially sad moment for the world’s most-dangerous bowler as he holds many records including fastest hat-trick in T20 internationals and a career average of 38.90 in ODIs
Suresh Raina decided to retire from all forms of cricket, due to persistent injuries on different parts on his body.
Chris Gayle was not in the tournament and there is a chance he may never return to IPL cricket. Chris Gayle, the former Chennai Super Kings player has chosen not to participate. Suresh Raina, on the other hand did not get sold at this auction so he’s sitting with us today as our commentator instead of playing himself.
While these three big names have left their respective teams this season, it is not just the fans that feel nostalgic about them. This nostalgia has been coupled with a change in guard of leadership at two of the most prominent IPL franchises – Chennai Super Kings and Royal Challengers Bangalore.
Must Read: A List of the Most Iconic Matches in IPL History
5) The most popular teams are MI and CSK, who aren’t doing well.
Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings remain popular team names in the Indian Premier League. Moreover, they are two of the most successful teams as well, with Mumbai claiming five titles to date whereas CSK claiming four so far. So fans expect both teams to perform well each season given their consistency over time.
This season has begun on a grim note for the two IPL powerhouses. Both teams are in last place and it will be unlikely that they make the playoffs if there isn’t backwards progress soon. The Men in Yellow, led by Ravindra Jadeja barely managed to claim their first win recently, after losing all of their opening games.
CSK and MI, the two most successful teams in the Indian Premier League’s last five seasons (including this one), have been dominating. Their poor start to this season could impact their respective fanbases’ interest-time will tell for sure!
Must Read: Here are the Top 10 Players in Indian Premier League History
