Cricket, football, and kabaddi are the three most watched sports in India, with a combined sports audience of over 678 million viewers across television and streaming platforms
India’s sports industry is now valued at USD 19 billion and is projected to hit USD 40 billion by 2030. From packed stadiums during IPL matches to millions streaming Pro Kabaddi League on their phones, India’s sporting appetite stretches well beyond cricket today.
This article breaks down the top 10 most watched sports in India with current viewership data, key leagues, and what’s driving each sport’s popularity in 2026.
Top 10 Most Watched Sports in India at a Glance
Here is a quick summary of the most popular sports in India based on audience size, league viewership, and overall fan engagement.
| Rank | Sport | Estimated Audience (India) | Key League/Event |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cricket | 612 million | IPL, ICC Events |
| 2 | Football | 305 million | ISL, EPL, FIFA |
| 3 | Kabaddi | 208 million | Pro Kabaddi League |
| 4 | Badminton | ~155 million (PBL) | PBL, BWF Events |
| 5 | Field Hockey | ~41 million (HIL) | Hockey India League |
| 6 | Wrestling | Growing | Olympics, CWG |
| 7 | Tennis | Urban following | Grand Slams, ATP |
| 8 | Athletics | Growing rapidly | Olympics, World Champs |
| 9 | Boxing | Growing | Olympics, CWG |
| 10 | Kho Kho | 64 million (UKK) | Ultimate Kho Kho |
1. Cricket: India’s Undisputed Number One Sport
Cricket dominates Indian sports viewership with an audience base of 612 million, according to the Ormax Sports Audience Report 2024. That figure alone tells you everything about cricket’s grip on the country.
Research from BARC India shows that cricket accounts for roughly 93% of all sports viewers in India. No other sport comes even close to that kind of monopoly.
IPL 2026: Record-Breaking Viewership Numbers
The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 shattered all previous records by reaching over 1.2 billion viewers across television and digital platforms. That represented a 7% jump from the previous year.
Total watch time during IPL 2026 touched a staggering 870 billion minutes. The final between Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Punjab Kings alone attracted over 400 million viewers, making it the most watched IPL match ever.
The opening weekend of IPL 2026 itself pulled in 515 million viewers with 32.6 billion minutes of watch time, a 26% increase over the IPL 2025 opener.
ICC Events and Global Cricket Viewership
International cricket events consistently draw massive audiences too. The 2025 ICC Champions Trophy opening matches were watched by 110 million TV viewers in India across just the first three games.
Meanwhile, the ICC T20 World Cup semifinal between India and England set a global live-streaming record with 65.2 million peak concurrent viewers on JioHotstar.
Several factors keep cricket at the top. The IPL has turned cricket into year-round entertainment, blending sport with Bollywood-style spectacle. Additionally, 72% of digital IPL viewers watch on smartphones, perfectly aligned with India’s mobile internet penetration of 850 million users in 2026.
Moreover, India has approximately three million registered cricketers and over 2,000 cricket academies spread across the country. Every city has at least one stadium, and cricket remains the default playground game for millions of kids.
2. Football: India’s Fastest Growing Spectator Sport
Football ranks second in India’s sports audience with 305 million fans, according to the Ormax Sports Audience Report 2024. Separately, Nielsen’s 2024 data pegs India as a football hotbed with 138.7 million dedicated fans
Indian Super League (ISL) Viewership
The Indian Super League (ISL) attracted a unique viewership of 157.2 million in the 2024-25 season, an 18% increase over the previous year.According to Statista, the ISL ranks fifth globally among football leagues by average audience per match.
The 2025-26 ISL season saw 14 teams compete, with East Bengal winning their first ISL title. The highest attendance match drew 62,201 fans for the Mohun Bagan vs East Bengal derby.
Global Football’s Pull on Indian Fans
Football’s growth in India is not just about the ISL. The global pull of superstars like Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo drives enormous engagement through TV and social media. The English Premier League enjoys the top position among foreign football leagues among Indian fans.
States like Kerala, Goa, West Bengal, and the northeast have particularly strong football cultures. With the FIFA World Cup 2026 approaching, football viewership in India is only expected to surge further.
3. Kabaddi: India’s Homegrown Powerhouse (Pro Kabaddi League)
Kabaddi is the third most watched sport in India with an audience base of 208 million viewers.The Pro Kabaddi League (PKL) is the most popular non-cricket sports league in India, and it has been India’s second most watched sports league overall since its launch in 2014.
Pro Kabaddi League Viewership Growth
PKL’s viewership has grown consistently since inception. Season 10 hit a record-breaking 225 million viewers based on BARC ratings. Season 11 maintained strong momentum with 201 million viewers, making it the most watched non-cricket sporting league in 2024.
To put that debut in perspective, the very first PKL season in 2014 attracted over 435 million viewers across the tournament, while the IPL pulled 552 million that same year.For a sport that was considered a village game just a decade earlier, those numbers were nothing short of remarkable.
PKL Season 12 (2025): Key Highlights
The PKL Season 12 ran from August to October 2025 with 12 teams competing across 117 matches. Dabang Delhi K.C. won their second title by defeating Puneri Paltan in the final.
PKL broadcasts in multiple languages, including Hindi, Tamil, Kannada, Telugu, and English, helping it connect with diverse regional audiences across 12 cities. The league airs on Star Sports Network and JioHotstar, giving it massive distribution reach.
What Makes PKL Special
Kabaddi has cemented its position as the third most-watched sport in India, with PKL Season 12 recording a 3X growth in digital reach, a 22% rise in watch time, and over 936 million video views across social platforms. The upcoming Pro Kabaddi League 2026 (Season 13) carries that momentum forward, with all 12 franchises returning and an auction expected to shatter previous spending records. With a new generation of raiders and defenders entering the league alongside established stars like Pawan Sehrawat and Mohammadreza Shadloui, Season 13 is primed to set a new viewership benchmark for non-cricket sports in India.
4. Badminton: A Shuttlecock Revolution
Badminton has seen explosive growth in India over the past decade, largely thanks to the exploits of PV Sindhu, who won Olympic silver in 2016 and bronze in 2020. Her success inspired a generation of players and fans, pushing badminton firmly into India’s top five sports.
Premier Badminton League and Growing Viewership
The Premier Badminton League (PBL) saw its TV viewership jump to a record 155 million viewers in 2019, up from just 42 million the previous year. That kind of year-on-year jump showed badminton’s potential to become a serious commercial sport in India.
India also clinched the Thomas Cup in 2022, their first-ever title in the prestigious men’s team championship. This win further boosted the sport’s profile and participation numbers across the country.
Grassroots Growth
The Badminton Association of India manages tournaments at local, national, and international levels. Schools and colleges across urban India have taken up badminton as a core sport, and the number of academies has grown significantly.
Beyond Sindhu, players like Kidambi Srikanth, Saina Nehwal, and Lakshya Sen have kept India competitive on the global stage, sustaining fan interest throughout the year.
5. Field Hockey: The Sport of India’s Golden Past and Rising Present
Field hockey carries enormous emotional weight in India. The country won eight Olympic gold medals in hockey between 1928 and 1980, a record that remains unmatched.Although cricket overtook hockey in popularity after the 1983 World Cup win, hockey has staged a strong comeback in recent years.
Hockey India League: A Revival Story
The Hockey India League (HIL) returned in 2024-25 after a seven-year break, and the results were impressive. The season drew a cumulative reach of over 40.8 million viewers, a 48% increase over HIL 2017’s 27.5 million.
The 2025-26 HIL season raised the bar even higher. Within just two weeks, the league crossed 1 billion social media views and saw a 37% increase in TV viewership compared to the same stage last season.
Olympic Medal Momentum
India’s hockey revival got a major boost from back-to-back Olympic medals. The bronze at Tokyo 2020 ended a 41-year Olympic medal drought, and the momentum carried forward into Paris 2024. These results reignited public interest and helped the HIL attract better sponsors and broadcast deals.
Notably, the women’s HIL matches drew nearly equal viewership to the men’s games at times, a rare achievement in any Indian sport. The men’s final alone pulled 3.07 million viewers, while the most-watched women’s match attracted 2.92 million.
6. Wrestling: India’s Ancient Combat Sport Still Thriving
Wrestling (known as Kushti or Pehlwani) is one of the oldest sports in India, with roots going back thousands of years. Traditional akharas (wrestling schools) continue to train young athletes, especially in states like Haryana, Punjab, Maharashtra, and Uttar Pradesh.
Olympic and International Success
Indian wrestlers have consistently medaled at the Olympics, Commonwealth Games, and Asian Games. Haryana alone has produced several world-class wrestlers, and the state government offers significant incentives for medal winners.
Names like Sushil Kumar (double Olympic medalist), Bajrang Punia, and Vinesh Phogat have become household names. Bollywood movies like Dangal further amplified wrestling’s appeal, particularly among younger viewers.
Participation Across India
Wrestling enjoys widespread participation in rural India, where traditional competitions remain a staple of village festivals. The sport requires minimal equipment and infrastructure, making it accessible across economic classes. Government programs under the Khelo India initiative have also channeled funding into wrestling academies.
7. Tennis: Urban India’s Favourite Racquet Sport
Tennis has carved out a strong fanbase in India’s urban centers, particularly in northern states like Punjab, Haryana, and Rajasthan. The sport gained mainstream attention through the careers of Leander Paes and Sania Mirza, both of whom achieved remarkable success on the international circuit.
Viewing Habits and Fan Engagement
Indian fans closely follow the Grand Slam tournaments, especially Wimbledon and the Australian Open, which attract significant TV audiences. Globally, all four Grand Slams together cross two billion viewers in viewership annually.
Schools and colleges across India’s metro cities have strong tennis programs, and the emergence of players like Sumit Nagal and Rohan Bopanna has kept Indian fans engaged. The Indian Open (Chennai Open) also attracts international players and media attention each year.
8. Athletics: Neeraj Chopra’s Effect on a Whole Sport
Athletics in India experienced a genuine breakthrough moment when Neeraj Chopra won the gold medal in javelin throw at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. That single achievement put track and field sports on the map for millions of Indian fans who had never paid attention to athletics before.
Growing Momentum Since Tokyo
Chopra followed up his Olympic gold with a World Championship gold in Budapest 2023 (88.17m throw), becoming India’s first-ever World Athletics champion. He remained competitive through 2025, winning the Ostrava Golden Spike with an 85.29m throw.
At the 2023 Asian Games, India secured 29 medals including six golds across athletics events. This consistent success has created a pipeline of young athletes who now see track and field as a viable career path. Programs like Khelo India have provided funding and infrastructure support to budding athletes across the country.
Viewership Impact
Athletics events at the Olympics, Commonwealth Games, and World Championships now draw considerable Indian viewership, especially when Indian athletes are competing. The Neeraj Chopra vs Arshad Nadeem rivalry has added a compelling narrative that keeps fans invested in javelin throw specifically.
9. Boxing: From Mary Kom to a New Generation of Fighters
Boxing has a rich history in India, with Mumbai serving as the sport’s traditional hub since the early 20th century. The Indian Amateur Boxing Federation (originally the Bombay Presidency Amateur Boxing Federation, established 1925) has nurtured talent across decades.
Star Power Driving Popularity
Two names have done more for boxing’s popularity in India than anyone else: Mary Kom and Vijender Singh. Mary Kom’s six World Championship golds and Olympic bronze made her a national icon. Vijender Singh’s transition to professional boxing brought mainstream media coverage to the sport.
At the Paris 2024 Olympics, Indian boxers featured across multiple weight categories, further raising the sport’s profile. State sports departments actively promote boxing through dedicated training camps and international-level coaching setups.
Rising Participation
Boxing academies have mushroomed across India, particularly in Haryana, Manipur, and Assam. The sport’s appeal lies in its discipline, physical demands, and the international recognition it offers. Young athletes from smaller towns and villages are increasingly choosing boxing as their path to sporting glory.
10. Kho Kho: India’s Traditional Sport Goes Professional
Kho Kho is another indigenous Indian sport that has recently undergone a professional makeover. The launch of the Ultimate Kho Kho (UKK) league in 2022 marked a turning point for a sport that was previously confined to school playgrounds and rural tournaments.
Ultimate Kho Kho League: Viewership and Impact
The inaugural UKK season recorded a viewership of 64 million, with 41 million viewers from India alone. That made UKK the third most viewed non-cricket sports league in India after PKL and ISL.
Sony Pictures Network India signed a 5-year broadcast deal worth Rs 200 crore (USD 24 million) for UKK, signaling serious commercial confidence in the sport.
First Kho Kho World Cup (2025)
India hosted the inaugural Kho Kho World Cup in January 2025 at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium in New Delhi, with 20 men’s and 19 women’s teams participating. The event was backed by the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) and marked a significant step toward internationalizing the sport.
With fan engagement growing, UKK expanding, and international tournaments now on the calendar, kho kho’s future as a major Indian sport looks increasingly promising.
What’s Driving Sports Viewership Growth in India?
Several factors have combined to make India one of the most dynamic sports markets globally. Understanding these drivers helps explain why sports beyond cricket are finally getting their moment.
Streaming and Digital Access
India’s mobile internet penetration reached 850 million users in 2026, and affordable data plans have made live sports accessible to millions who previously relied only on television. Platforms like JioHotstar, FanCode, and YouTube stream everything from IPL to HIL, often in multiple languages.
League-Based Franchise Models
The IPL proved that franchise-based leagues can work spectacularly in India. That model has since been replicated across kabaddi (PKL), football (ISL), hockey (HIL), kho kho (UKK), and badminton (PBL). Each league has brought professional management, broadcast deals, and star players into sports that were previously amateur.
Programs like Khelo India and the Fit India Movement have funneled government resources into grassroots sports development, scholarship programs, and infrastructure upgrades. These initiatives have directly increased participation in athletics, wrestling, hockey, and boxing at the school and university levels.
Women’s Sports Growth
Women now make up 36% of India’s total sports audience.The Women’s Premier League (WPL) in cricket drew 41.6% female viewership in 2023, and the women’s HIL matches nearly matched men’s viewership figures. This trend is expected to accelerate as more women’s leagues launch across sports.
Final Thoughts: Cricket Is The Most Watched Sports in India
India’s sports ecosystem has transformed dramatically over the past decade. While cricket remains the undisputed champion with over 600 million fans, the rise of football, kabaddi, badminton, hockey, kho kho, and other sports shows that India is becoming a truly multi-sport nation.
With the sports industry projected to grow from USD 19 billion to USD 40 billion by 2030, more leagues, better infrastructure, and digital accessibility will keep pushing these viewership numbers higher. The next decade promises to be the most exciting period for Indian sports fans.
