The 2026 season of the Indian Premier League (IPL) is around the corner. According to initial reports, this year the T20 league will commence from March 28 and will run till May 31. While the exact schedule of the league is awaited, things have been put into motion as the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium got a nod to hold IPL matches this year.
From young guns like Vaibhav Sooryavanshi to veterans like MS Dhoni, the 2026 IPL will have a vast array of talent across ages and they will be gearing themselves for two months of grind.
Ahead of IPL 2026, Folk Frequency published a report titled "Behaviour Pulse 2026", where they analysed how Indians live a season of the IPL. Here are the key takeaways of the study:
1. IPL is planned, not casual
The report found out that 93% of people either "know everything and plan in advance" or are "clued into big matches and make some plans. Only 7% say they don't know much until others start talking.
2. Fans are emotionally affected beyond the final ball
Around 82% of respondents said that memorable games from the league affected their mood beyond the match, into the night or the next day and beyond. This reflected in the people re-watching the match highlights and getting involved in intense discussion about the match with the friends the next day.
3. Cricket is serious for most, not just background noise
Around 9 in 10 people who participated in the survey confirmed that they described themselves as serious or hardcore fans and not casual or “just for jokes”.
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4. IPL adds to tension
As people get hooked onto to their screens to consume non-stop drama that unfolds during an IPL season, it adds tension to personal relationships. According to the report, a majority said that the people close to them complained about how absorbed they get into IPL, especially on their phones and many felt at least somewhat guilty about the time spent on cricket.
5. IPL matches are now a multi-screen event
People who watch the IPL, consume the games via different platforms at the same time. This includes streaming the games on mobile, checking the live score apps, posting reels and memes on social media platforms and chatting with fellow fans and friends on WhatsApp.
6. Food is now an integral part of the IPL experience
The survey found 56% of the participants agreed that they planned something special to eat or ordered in because of a match. Another 80% accepted that they reached for chips/namkeen, with many adding sweets, soda or alcohol to what they eat during match time.
7. Ads are just tolerated, not enjoyed
Perhaps the most significant takeaway of the study is that the IPL viewers are not enjoying the TV commercials and are just tolerating them. The report says that a clear majority (60.5%) feel there are too many ads during IPL.
Many tolerate the ads and accept it as the price they have to pay in order to watch an IPL match. Further, a smaller segment of respondents said that the ads made matches less enjoyable.
8. Most IPL matches are being watched by people at their homes
About 96% of people said that they watched IPL matches at their homes. Only a minority of people watched in bars, cafés or public screenings.
9. Official voices still matter
Despite a boom of sports content creators who are taking over the social media platforms with their long-form videos and short clips, core IPL fans still have their faith firmly on official commentators and player panels as their main post-match content.
Around 63% enjoyed cricket content, in real time or after the match, from official commentators and cricketers on panels.
Methodology of the survey:
The survey was conducted online in December 2025 with IPL viewers who:
1. Watched at least 3 matches in the last IPL season.
2. Are 18+ and currently living in India.
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