Cricket is one of the most famous sports around the world, with many fans located in the South Asia region. Among one of these cricket-crazy nations is the country of India, which boasts arguably the most well-known cricket culture of all. The frenzy for the sport runs so deep that they have their own domestic cricket league known as the IPL (Indian Premier League) that consists of players from around the world and garners viewership on an international scale. 

In fact, over 140 million viewers tuned in to this season’s opening match despite it being the first edition after the devastating COVID-19 pandemic, a clear testament to the immense popularity of the IPL. The pandemic had unprecedented impacts on India and the game as a whole as matches were played in front of empty stadiums and travel was heavily restricted for many teams, not to mention a difficulty in simply scheduling matches in the first place. This led to financial and developmental problems across the board for the sport, leaving many wondering what needed to be done in order to help remedy the myriad of issues plaguing international cricket. However, the success experienced by the IPL this early into the season provides a blueprint for cricket to redevelop, and this comes in two main forms – the increase in the overall quality of cricket played as well as the long-awaited return of fans to stadiums.

For one, the matches as a whole have been more high-scoring and heavy-hitting than in previous seasons, making for higher-quality matches and more intriguing cricket overall. With dynamic batting and some incredible individual performances, such as Shikhar Dhawan’s 99-run innings, the actual athletic aspect of the sport is dazzling. Adding to this appeal is the reintroduction of fans to stadiums after the hiatus caused by the pandemic, and this has brought back the same, if not a greater, energy and passion to the matches this year. 

“Fans returning to stadiums has made the IPL more interesting to watch, as it feels more welcoming and inviting,” Lambert sophomore and die-hard cricket fan Srishti Iyer explained.

With India’s dedicated and loyal fanbase returning by the masses this year, the IPL has truly had a comeback season, with both match stats and viewership counts meeting and even exceeding pre-pandemic numbers. This also represents an overall rejuvenation of global cricket as a whole as it shows how simply allowing the sport to run its normal course can help push the game forward into the post-COVID future. Many such leagues around the world have been hit hard by the absence of fans and modified season formats due to the pandemic, but the IPL’s massive success so far this season shows that going back to normal is the way to move the sport forward. However the near future turns out for the sport, one thing is for sure – this year’s 2023 IPL has knocked it out of the park.