A question about IPL for non-India, non-India based fans

[Attitude]

This is a question for those who are not Indians, not based in India or expats.

IPL is very popular in India, and teams have wild fanbases. However, I wanted to explore what the situation is outside of India.

Do fans or cricket watchers outside of India identify strongly enough with any of the IPL teams to refer to the team in 'we' terms? We won today, etc?

If possible please also mention which team. If you could also include in your reply, information about your friends who follow IPL and whether they identify with any team in 'we' terms. Additionally, do you have any favourite teams in the IPL and why? Is it because a player from you nation plays for that team or another reason entirely?



Kind Regards

 

[GotSpin]

This is a question for those who are not Indians, not based in India or expats.

IPL is very popular in India, and teams have wild fanbases. However, I wanted to explore what the situation is outside of India.

Do fans or cricket watchers outside of India identify strongly enough with any of the IPL teams to refer to the team in 'we' terms? We won today, etc?

If possible please also mention which team. If you could also include in your reply, information about your friends who follow IPL and whether they identify with any team in 'we' terms. Additionally, do you have any favourite teams in the IPL and why? Is it because a player from you nation plays for that team or another reason entirely?



Kind Regards

Not that I know of

 

[Athlai]

Haven't ever met a kiwi that cares about it at all beyond what NZ players do in it

 

[Test_Fan_Only]

T20 is an abomination that is ruining cricket. It is not cricket in the true sense, it has none of the intrigue and battle of good cricket. I would rather die than watch the IPL.

 

[_Ed_]

I used to hate T20 but have grown to really enjoy it in recent years, even preferring it to the 50-over stuff. But, no, I don't have much interest in the IPL - I'm still put off by the garish uniforms, ridiculous team names, sponsorship of everything, and obnoxious team owners (seemingly, anyway - they might be perfectly nice people).

So, yeah, as Athlai suggested, my interest is limited to how the Kiwis are performing.

 

[trundler]

No. And I abhor it for killing international cricket for ****ing months.

 

[Cletus Kasady]

No one cares about it here except a Thai British guy who told me IPL is coming up soon about which I had no ideal

 

[Burgey]

Yeah I don’t think it’s widely cared about here. I think for a number of years it wasn’t even shown on tv here. We hear how the Aussie blokes are going but I can honestly say very few people giving a fig for it, because it’s just so obviously contrived and lacking in soul and meaning.

 

[morgieb]

I don't think I've met a person who cares about it. I'll pay attention to how certain players are going but \_/ re: results.

 

[Bijed]

I'm never fussed at all about how well or otherwise any particular teams do, but do take a bit of an interest in how English players perform. Will generally keep half an eye on most matches as I do enjoy some of the more ridiculous lollapses etc

 

[Andy1993]

Yeah i do sunrisers, watched it since first IPL when was deccan chargers, and have backed them every year

 

[Daemon]

I'm never fussed at all about how well or otherwise any particular teams do, but do take a bit of an interest in how English players perform. Will generally keep half an eye on most matches as I do enjoy some of the more ridiculous lollapses etc

Yeah this basically but I look out for the more exciting players. Enjoy watching the ridiculous feats like Russell this season or Mujeeb in the previous. Completely cbf about results.

 

[cnerd123]

Teams are starting to form more distinct styles of play, and the core players for each team are starting to get more recognisable. Once teams really settle on a certain philosophy and team culture behind their cricket, it will be much easier for a casual fan to get behind them in spite any allegiance to the region they're meant to represent. I for one could see myself really support a team that plays a brand of data-driven, 'moneyball' style cricket with unheralded players, regardless of if they're from Chennai or Kolkata or Azerbaijan or whatever. And I think there will be markets for teams that focus on different approaches towards recuriting players and winning games. We're already seeing the start of that, and so I hope it continues.

Another problem with the IPL ATM is the way it is presented. It's fine for an Indian audience -used to all the noise and sensationalism and advertisments- but it isn't that appealing to global fans. Not sure if the IPL really works towards this though, given where all the money actually is atm

 

[slippy888]

Teams are starting to form more distinct styles of play, and the core players for each team are starting to get more recognisable. Once teams really settle on a certain philosophy and team culture behind their cricket, it will be much easier for a casual fan to get behind them in spite any allegiance to the region they're meant to represent. I for one could see myself really support a team that plays a brand of data-driven, 'moneyball' style cricket with unheralded players, regardless of if they're from Chennai or Kolkata or Azerbaijan or whatever. And I think there will be markets for teams that focus on different approaches towards recuriting players and winning games. We're already seeing the start of that, and so I hope it continues.

Another problem with the IPL ATM is the way it is presented. It's fine for an Indian audience -used to all the noise and sensationalism and advertisments- but it isn't that appealing to global fans. Not sure if the IPL really works towards this though, given where all the money actually is atm

***** where you been, you not post in a long time.

 

[Attitude]

Yeah i do sunrisers, watched it since first IPL when was deccan chargers, and have backed them every year

Good to know. So if one were to base this thread, 1 in 12 non-Indian cricket fan has a strong relationship with an IPL team.

I do think its far less, but then there is a cultural thing too. I don't think the shameless commercialisation of the sport goes well with non-Indian fans.

 

[PikeyB]

Let's see , I'm a white Brit and have casually followed IPL since the early days ...only casually though . I tried following players but that didn't work out for me , Some of them spent most the season on the bench . Also the English International team and the County game is just revving up at IPL time so we have the situation where English guys go home before the end of the competition . England need to sort that out in the future .It appears IPL has been beneficial for the cricket of many players that attend .

However recently Netflix did a series length documentary on Mumbai Indians . I kinda enjoyed the flavour so this year , I followed most the Indians games . I suspect further installments of that sort of frank media content might really help attract global fans .

BBC have the radio rights for the next couple of years . Most cricket is behind a paywall in the UK , so any free-to-air transmission of games would grow the brand locally. I also think there's a large untapped market for paid ondemand matches after the game is finished in the UK .