Cricket is a global sport played and watched by millions worldwide. As of today, the International Cricket Council (ICC) recognizes over 400 professional domestic cricket leagues. In addition, there are more than 20 recognized international cricket tournaments, including regional competitions and bilateral or tri-series events.
While many of these tournaments may not always make the headlines, a few hold global prominence, capturing the attention of cricket fans and even non-fans worldwide every time they take place. These tournaments have gone beyond mere sports events; they have become cultural and monumental landmarks that players and fans look forward to.
In this article, we’ll examine the top 5 most popular cricket tournaments, exploring what they are, when they take place, and why they hold such significant prestige in the cricketing world. Let’s get right into it!
ICC Cricket World Cup
The ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup is the highest level of competition in cricket, much like the FIFA World Cup in football. The tournament takes place every four years and combines 14 different countries competing in the ODI format of cricket. So far, the ICC Cricket World Cup has only taken place 13 times. The inaugural season was held in 1975, and the next edition is scheduled for 2027.
The ICC world is not just one of the most popular cricket tournaments; it is also one of the most popular sporting events. The 2019 ICC World Cup is currently the sixth most-viewed sporting event ever, recording a whopping 1.6 billion in viewership. The 2023 edition of the event also made the ICC World Cup the fifth most attended sports event of all time, as it brought in over 1.25 million spectators throughout the entire duration of the tournament.
Indian Premier League (IPL)
The IPL is the men’s annual Twenty20 (T20) cricket league held in India. The tournament combines world-class cricket with entertainment, attracting top players from all over the globe. What sets the IPL apart is its high-octane format, where matches are packed with star-studded lineups and thrilling moments. Also, its massive sponsorship deals, team franchises, and broadcasting rights make it the richest cricket league globally, contributing to its high production quality and marketing reach.
The IPL was officially launched in 2007, and there have been 17 editions of the competition so far. The tournament takes place between March and May every year, and it currently features ten teams, each representing Indian cities.
With India being the home of cricket, the IPL is understandably the highest-ranked domestic cricket league worldwide. However, its prestige expands beyond India and is well documented globally, drawing the attention of cricket fans, enthusiasts, and sports analysts worldwide. Beyond viewership, it is also, in fact, the domestic cricket league that attracts the most cricket bet online action.
T20 World Cup
The T20 World is another international tournament organized by the ICC. Unlike the ODI World Cup, it takes place biennially and features 20 teams competing in the T20 cricket version. It is also a relatively recent tournament, having been officially launched in 2007.
So far, the tournament has taken place nine times, and each time, it has recorded impressive viewership. In fact, the most recent edition, which took place this year, June 2024, recorded a whopping $1.15 billion in media revenue, the highest media revenue for any cricket tournament. India-Pakistan especially drew the most attention during the tournament, recording a staggering 256 million viewing hours in India alone.
The Ashes Series
Every two years, the Australian and English men’s cricket teams meet for the legendary Ashes series, which has been taking place since the 1880s. It is a series of five Test matches hosted concurrently by either team. Specifically, the team that wins the most recent edition of the series hosts it and also retains the trophy if the series ends in a draw.
The England-Australia ash series is not just one of the greatest rivalries in cricket; it is one of the greatest in sports history. This is why each time the two teams meet, even outside the series, it always draws massive attention from cricket enthusiasts globally. So far, the series has been played 73 times, with Australia recording 34 wins and England winning on 32 occasions. The encounter has ended in a draw seven times.
Australian Big Bash League
Regarding followership and popularity, the Australian Big Bash League is arguably the second-ranked domestic cricket league worldwide, next to the Indian IPL. The tournament, officially launched in 2011, currently features eight teams competing in the T20 cricket version. So far, it has been held 13 times, with the next edition scheduled to kick off this year on December 15th, 2024.
Although not at the level of the IPL, the Australian BBL is also reasonably popular, and it’s growing steadily by the year. Specifically, in the most recent edition of the tournament, over 1 million spectators witnessed the matches live. This was a 23.7% increase in attendance from the previous year. The tournament also reached over 9 million nationally, averaging over 700,000 viewers per match.
Conclusion
For most cricket fans, these top cricket tournaments are more than mere sports events. They represent the heart and soul of the sport, each offering a unique experience for players and fans alike. From the grand ICC World Cup to the star-studded and frenzied IPL, these tournaments will continue delivering the best cricketing moments and captivating audiences worldwide.
