IPL 2026 viewership: Why the best T20 league is struggling to keep fans hooked

Here are the possible reasons behind IPL's viewership slump

T20 fatigue catching up with fans

Ahead of the IPL 2025 season, Team India had played Tests in Australia and followed it up with an ODI series at home against England. This was soon followed by the ICC Champions Trophy that Rohit Sharma’s side went on to win. Ahead of the 2026 season, there has been too much T20 cricket being played. 

The Men in Blue hosted South Africa for two Tests in November 2025, followed by ODI matches and T20I series, which ended in December last year. New Zealand then came visiting for a three-game ODI series and five-match T20 series. Fans then saw the Indian team successfully defend their World Cup crown in the game’s shortest format, which spanned a month. Five months of T20 cricketing action not only causes massive viewer fatigue but also causes interest burnout. 

MS Dhoni factor

Chennai Super Kings are the most followed team in the IPL, and MS Dhoni’s absence has played a huge role in the drop in viewership. The 44-year-old had suffered a calf injury before the season began. Chennai’s former skipper not only enjoys a massive fandom at home but also amongst the away fans as well. 

The early few weeks of the campaign saw many tune in to see if the veteran star would make his return. As the season progressed, hardcore MSD fans have given up hope of seeing their ‘Thala’ in action. 

Batting havens, small boundaries, and one-sided results 

Each year, the league faces massive questions regarding the game being tilted more in favour of the batters. In pro-wrestling parlance, it is like a stacked card where the babyfaces outshine the heels. In this case, the babyfaces are the batters who are looking to outshine the bowlers. 

47 innings this year have seen the 200-plus runs being scored. A very good example is 25th April 2026, where two games were played. Both matches saw high-scoring games with the chasing side coming out on top. The first match of the day was between DC vs PBKS, where a total of 529 runs were scored for the loss of six wickets. 

Batting first, Delhi scored 264 runs with KL Rahul top scoring with 152. Punjab overhauled the target with ease, with six wickets in hand and over to spare. The same day, Rajasthan Royals batted first and scored 228, which Sunrisers Hyderabad chased down, scoring 229 for the loss of five wickets and won the game with nine balls to spare. Whopping 986 runs were scored for the loss of just 11 wickets with an average of 89 runs per wicket. 

No close contests and other factors

IPL has always been known for its drama on the field, and many matches over the years have produced last-ball finishes. This season, most of the matches have been one-sided, and the fans have started to lose interest in one-sided contests. The last over finishes, including a tie in the LSG vs KKR encounter, had raised fan interest. 

Lack of close contests and overwhelming tilt in favour of the batters this year has left even some of the experts surprised. Add to that the fact that most of the pitches this year have been flat, and the boundaries have gotten smaller. Wankhede Stadium saw Hyderabad chase down the 244-run target with relative ease. 

What can BCCI do to regain falling TV viewers?

The Indian cricket board can look at making the playing surfaces favour an equal contest between the bat and ball. If scores of 260 are being chased down with relative ease in T20 cricket, one cannot fault the players. The surfaces need to have something in them for the pacers and also for the spin bowlers. 

Another rule change the board needs to look out for is the Impact Player rule. Many have voiced their concern and displeasure with this latest addition. Teams tend to pack in power-hitters in their line-up, and the chasing team gets a massive advantage with this rule. The league must revert to the 11 vs 11 level playing field in a bid to not only bring back the excitement but also have the TV viewers glued to their seats.