More than seven in ten (71%) urban Indians polled are enthused about the Indian Premier League (IPL) according to a new study by Ipsos, a global market research company.

Most buoyant audience are from Ahmedabad (90%) – with Gujarat Lions debuting this IPL, their enthusiasm is very high; followed by Mumbaikars (88%); Chennai (72%); Delhi – 64%; Kolkata – 69%; Bangalore – 66%; Hyderabad – 52% and Lucknow – 69%.

However, a significant number of respondents are either going to watch the IPL in bits and pieces (overall, 14%; 23% in Delhi; 22% in Kolkata; 20% in Lucknow; 18% in Bangalore) or will give the IPL a complete miss (overall 4%; 10% in Bangalore).

“Allure of cricket transcends Indian cities, age groups, and strata. The pace of IPL and format of the game has appealed to the sensibilities of urban Indians to a great degree,” says Amit Adarkar, Managing Director- India, Ipsos.

Ipsos IPL survey was conducted by Ipsos Public Affairs team in April 2016 among 1028 Indian respondents across eight cities - Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Lucknow and Ahmedabad.

Overall, 41% of respondents said that world class players in mixed teams was what they liked the most about the game; 32% like the format of the game T20; for 21% respondents it is watching these players live

in stadium that takes the cake; 17% respondents polled are taken in by all the fun, colour, music, celebration and cheer leaders that glamorise this event; 12% respondents love this event but are undecided about what makes this event so appealing to them and 5% like all elements of the IPL, in totality.

Adarkar feels that this event is like one big jamboree for cricket lovers. “In its 9th Season now, the IPL has captured mind space widely; everything else other than the IPL gets a short shrift, much to the chagrin of many. But marketers, movie producers, TV channels have reconciled and learnt to postpone some of their mega launches and events to avoided clashing with the popular cricket event (IPL). ”

The IPL has kicked off and all cricket lovers are hooked. So where does India watch the IPL matches? An overwhelming 84% of respondents polled said that they would be watching the IPL at home. 19%

respondents plan to watch most matches of the IPL at home but with their gang of friends; 10% respondents said that they would be watching the game of the IPL in the stadium, live; 2% would be watching in a Sports Bar or a restaurant with friends; and 1% said that they would be catching the game online, on their laptops or desktops.

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