IPL 2026 Season Kicks Off
“Snap is the place where real-time chatter around cricket happens. We bring the banter to the broadcast,” said Yagnesh Ravi, highlighting the evolving landscape of cricket viewership.
The IPL 2026 season is set to commence on March 28 at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru, where the defending champions, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), will aim to secure another title.
Last season, the IPL saw a significant shift in viewership dynamics, with digital platforms surpassing television for the first time. In 2025, digital platforms attracted 652 million viewers, compared to 537 million on TV, contributing to a total of over one billion viewers across both mediums.
RCB will not only play key matches at their home ground but will also host two home games in Raipur, expanding their reach and fan engagement.
Ravi further emphasized the importance of instant reactions in cricket, stating, “When someone takes a great catch or hits a big six, people want to react instantly, ‘What a shot!’ or ‘That was unbelievable.’ Those spontaneous reactions happen on Snap.” This reflects the growing trend of real-time interaction among fans, particularly among younger audiences.
About 85% of Gen Z in India actively follows cricket, indicating a robust interest in the sport among younger demographics. With Snapchat boasting over 250 million users in India, primarily under the age of 32, platforms like Snap are becoming crucial for engaging this audience.
Ravi noted, “Attention has four times higher correlation with brand recall compared to metrics like video completion rate,” underscoring the effectiveness of engaging content in the IPL.
As the tournament approaches, fans are eager to see how RCB will perform and whether they can replicate their previous successes. The IPL’s centre of gravity has shifted significantly over the years, making it a focal point for cricket enthusiasts.
Details remain unconfirmed regarding specific match schedules and player line-ups, but the excitement surrounding the IPL 2026 season continues to build.
With the tournament kicking off soon, all eyes will be on the Royal Challengers Bengaluru as they strive to defend their title amidst a rapidly evolving cricket landscape.
