IPL 2022 | Why is viewership falling? Here are the six key reasons

The Indian Premier League (IPL) is not just a bunch of players in colourful clothes playing a game. It's a festival. A festival where everyone gets to showcase their talent – players and advertisers. IPL's consistently high viewership record throughout the years has ensured that it gets premium sponsors and top-line advertisements.

However, the viewership data for this year (2022) is concerning, to say the least. The numbers from BARC (Broadcast Audience Research Council) indicate a 33% decline in the TV rating of IPL for the first week compared to that of the previous year. The same data for the second week shows a 28% decline. So what is ailing the IPL? Let's have a look at some of the key problems.

1. The Abundance of Cricket

IPL 2022 is being played just after six months of IPL 2021. And in those six months, India has continuously played international cricket. It started with the T20 World Cup and was followed by full-fledged series against New Zealand, South Africa, West Indies, and Sri Lanka. And as soon as the Sri Lanka series ended, the Indian stars were back to playing the multi-million-dollar league. But unfortunately, this overdose of cricket has not only pushed some of the fans away but has also caused injury problems for many cricketers, which brings us to our second point.

 
2. The Absence of Star Players

Deepak Chahar has been ruled out of the entire season of the IPL due to a back injury. At the same time, players like Jason Roy and Alex Hales have decided to take a break from the bio bubble after constantly spending months in those dire circumstances. Mark Wood has also been ruled out of the entire season due to an elbow injury. In addition, many international players were also unavailable for the first week of the IPL due to their international duties. This includes Pat Cumming, Aaron Finch, Glenn Maxwell, Josh Hazlewood, Marcus Stoinis, Kyle Mayers, Alzari Joseph, and Johnny Bairstow.

3. Poor Form of Mumbai Indians (MI) and Chennai Super Kings (CSK)

Mumbai and Chennai are the two most successful, popular, and fan-favourite franchises of IPL. They have a large and extremely loyal fanbase that has supported them throughout the history of the IPL. But their performances have been far from their standards this year. While CSK has just won 1 out of their first five games, the Mumbai Indians have yet to open their winning account, having lost all of their first six games. 

These disappointing performances have not fared well for the fans, as many have openly shown their disappointment on social media platforms. However, a drastic turn in the fortunes of these two teams might bring back those fans to the IPL party.

4. Too many afternoon games

The IPL schedule is relentless. Add to that the inclusion of 2 new franchises this year, and we have the total number of games rising up to 74 from 60 last year, a 23% increase. The pressure to conduct all these games inside a small window means too many games are happening in too little time. It also means more afternoon games, which historically tend lower viewership. This year, IPL will have 12-afternoon games, which will contribute to lower television ratings.

5. Out of form Indian Stars

Fans often watch cricket to see their favourite players play. Many Indian cricketers are now popular household names and have a godlike status among their fans. Unfortunately, most of them have failed to match their fans' expectations. After the first two weeks, India's latest all-format captain Rohit Sharma has scored less than 100 runs. 

Former captain Virat Kohli has also failed to contribute to the IPL significantly. And the legendary wicket-keeper and former skipper, MS Dhoni, has blown hot and cold with the bat. Among the youth stars, Rishabh Pant, Sanju Samson, and Shreyas Iyer have also not been at their best so far. Sub-par performances by all these players have contributed to many fans turning away from this season.

6. Lack of Cheerleaders!

What would you like to watch after a batsman hits a belligerent boundary? An acrobatic and cheerful dance performance or the faces of some officials sitting in a lounge? For many years, cheerleaders have been an integral part of sports. But, in a game full of leather balls and iron helmets, cheerleaders bring a certain softness. 

In a game driven by testosterone, cheerleaders get the needed human touch. Unfortunately, IPL has abolished the custom of cheerleading, possibly affecting the fans' overall viewing experience.

Going forward, it will be interesting to see how the BCCI tackles the problem of falling viewership. The IPL has faced and come out of many challenges over the years, and the fans would hope it comes out victorious from this as well.