400m viewers! IPL 2026 final becomes most-watched match
What's the story
The 2026 Indian Premier League (IPL) edition reached a whopping 1.2 billion viewers, according to official broadcaster JioStar. This marked a seven percent year-on-year growth for the tournament. The season concluded with Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) defeating Gujarat Titans by five wickets in Ahmedabad, marking their second consecutive IPL title victory. RCB became the third side to defend their IPL title.
Record-breaking finale
'Most-watched IPL match ever'
JioStar announced that the IPL 2026 final, which saw Rajat Patidar leading RCB to the title, had a viewership double. It became the most-watched IPL match ever, with over 400 million viewers across platforms. The broadcaster also reported that total watch-time for this season reached an incredible 870 billion minutes.
Digital growth
Notable digital trends from IPL 2026
The season witnessed a massive growth in digital consumption. Connected TV viewership grew by an impressive 22%, while digital video views reached a staggering 25 billion, marking an 8% increase from last year. Regional language watch-time share on digital platforms also saw a significant jump, increasing by 33% during this period.
Final
History for RCB
For 17 years, RCB waited for their first IPL trophy. And less than 12 months later, they had two. RCB became the third side to defend their IPL title after beating Gujarat Titans in the 2026 final at Ahmedabad's Narendra Modi Stadium. They successfully chased down 156, banking on Virat Kohli's blistering knock. Have a look at their journey.