The 2026 season of the IPL has begun on a high note, with JioStar delivering its biggest-ever opening weekend, underlining the tournament’s unmatched pull among cricket audiences in India. Driven by two high-scoring encounters featuring 200-plus run chases, the league witnessed record-breaking reach and engagement across both television and digital platforms.

According to an Economic Times report, the opening weekend recorded a combined reach of over 515 mn viewers across linear TV and digital platforms. Total watch-time surged to 32.6 bn minutes, reflecting a 26 percent increase compared to the opening matches of the previous season, signalling stronger viewer stickiness and deeper engagement early in the tournament.

A key growth driver this season has been Connected TV (CTV), which saw a 30 percent rise in reach and a sharp 61 percent jump in peak concurrency. On traditional television, the first two matches registered a 24 percent increase in TVR over last year, further reinforcing the IPL’s continued dominance across viewing formats.

This year’s broadcast has also introduced differentiated viewing experiences aimed at enhancing fan engagement. The CTV Hindi feed, featuring former cricketers such as Ravichandran Ashwin, Suresh Raina, Harbhajan Singh, Virender Sehwag and Irfan Pathan, has added a more interactive dimension through expert-led analysis and watch-along formats, blending entertainment with insights.

Commenting on the strong start, Ishan Chatterjee, CEO – Sports, JioStar, said the opening numbers reflect both the scale of live cricket in India and the network’s ability to deliver immersive, multi-platform experiences. He noted that the integration of large-screen viewing with digital interactivity is driving deeper engagement while offering strong value to brand partners.

Echoing similar sentiment, IPL Chairman Arun Singh Dhumal described the start as “extremely encouraging,” highlighting how high-quality cricket combined with enhanced viewing formats is resonating strongly with fans. BCCI Honorary Secretary Devajit Saikia added that the numbers reflect not just scale but also the quality of engagement, as the league continues to evolve with changing audience expectations.

Backed by a strong roster of sponsors including Google Search AI Mode, Campa Energy, Havells & Lloyd as co-presenting partners, along with brands such as Hero MotoCorp, Amazon and others, the IPL 2026 season has clearly set the tone for what could be its biggest edition yet. With momentum already building, JioStar’s platforms appear poised to sustain this scale and engagement as the tournament progresses.