IPL 2020 opener between Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and Mumbai Indians (MI) was watched by as many as 20 crore people across the globe on TV and digital medium Disney+ Hotstar, BCCI secretary Jay Shah has said while quoting report of the television rating agency BARC.
Indian cricketers returned to field after almost 6-month of gap and a large viewership was expected. Also, the IPL 2020 is being held in UAE behind closed door because of the coronavirus pandemic.
Jay Shah added that the numbers were highest ever opening day viewership for any sporting league in any country, adding that no league has ever opened as big as this.
Opening match of #Dream11IPL sets a new record!
— Jay Shah (@JayShah) September 22, 2020
As per BARC, an unprecedented 20crore people tuned in to watch the match. Highest ever opening day viewership for any sporting league in any country- no league has ever opened as big as this. @IPL @SGanguly99 @UShanx @DisneyPlusHS
Total viewership on @StarSportsIndia and @DisneyPlusHS.@starindia @ThakurArunS @BCCI
— Jay Shah (@JayShah) September 22, 2020
Thank you, India and . It's been a dream start to #Dream11IPL. We've recorded highest ever TV & DIGITAL viewership in IPL history
— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) September 22, 2020
200 million viewership - #MIvCSK@ChennaiIPL @DelhiCapitals @lionsdenkxip @KKRiders @mipaltan @rajasthanroyals @RCBTweets @SunRisers
CSK and MI are two franchises who have rich fan bases in the cash-rich league and they also have few of the biggest names in the cricketing world, playing for them.
CSK had chased down MI's target of 163 runs in the opener, courtesy blistering knocks by Ambati Rayudu and Faf du Plessis.