3 reasons behind IPL 2026 TV viewership drop

IPL 2026 has witnessed a 26% decline in TV viewership.

Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 has entered its final stage, with a few more games left in the league stage. All the teams are toiling hard to book their berth in the playoffs. While some teams are favourites to finish in the top four, a few others are expected to be eliminated soon.

IPL 2026 has recently witnessed a massive decline in TV viewership. While the digital streaming platforms like Jio Hotstar have witnessed a rise, the drop in TV viewership has been quite visible. On that note, below are three major reasons behind the decline in television viewership in IPL 2026.

Reasons behind the 26% decline in TV viewership in IPL 2026

1. Too many cricket tournaments leading to fatigue

In the last few years, many franchise T20 leagues like The Hundred, SA20, and Major League Cricket have come into existence, which has led to too many games being played throughout the year. This has decreased the value of high-stakes matches.

Moreover, IPL tournaments are too long and span over two months, making it a hectic for many viewers and leading to fatigue among fans. Recent data shows that the IPL TV viewership has dropped by 26%.

2. Ban on fantasy sports gaming apps

Last year, the Indian government banned fantasy sports gaming apps by considering them gambling. Some of these apps were also advertised during IPL matches.

Fantasy gaming apps like Dream11 and My11 Circle allowed fans to form their teams and earn money. Notably, many fans watched IPL matches to keep track of the performances of their fantasy teams. However, after the ban, there are no such activities among fans.

3. Dominance of batters in IPL 2026

Unarguably, the balance between batting and bowling has highly diminished in IPL 2026. Due to the use of flat pitches and impact player rules, batters have dominated in the tournament while bowlers have been at the receiving end of thrashing.

Many games have witnessed both teams crossing 200+ totals, while mammoth totals were also chased down with ease. For instance, the Punjab Kings chased down a 265-run total against the Delhi Capitals.

The dominance of batters has made the matches one-sided affairs and taken away the sense of fightback. When the matches are closed-fought, social media speculations often drive people back to the TV sets. Low-scoring thrillers and regular dismissals also keep people addicted to their screens.

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