MUMBAI: India's digital sports scene is a proper riot, with cricket still the undisputed king, but other sports are making a right racket too, according to GroupM ESP’s Sporting Nation report for 2024. According to the data, a whopping 74.70 per cent of online sports conversations revolve around cricket, proving it's more than just a game; it's a national obsession.
The Indian Premier League (IPL) takes the crown for sporting event chatter, accounting for a staggering 56.65 per cent of all online discussions. It's a two-month T20 spectacle that keeps fans glued to their screens and keyboards.
But the Paris Olympics also made a significant splash, grabbing 24.46 per cent of the online conversation. It seems India's medal hopes in shooting, wrestling, javelin, and badminton whipped up a proper frenzy. And while the T20 World Cup saw a 15.17 percent share of discussion, the Olympics still pipped it to the post.
Football, meanwhile, trails behind at 12.62 per cent, showing a more "nuanced but demographically concentrated following."
It's not just the Indian Super League (ISL) getting tongues wagging; global events like the FIFA World Cup and European leagues are also part of the digital discourse.
When it comes to individual athletes, cricket's Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli dominate, accounting for over two-thirds of all athlete-related discussions. Rohit's T20 World Cup victory and Kohli's "generational talent" debates keep them firmly in the spotlight.
Outside cricket, wrestler Vinesh Phogat's Olympic disqualification sparked a wave of online sympathy, placing her third in athlete chatter. Neeraj Chopra, Manu Bhaker, Lakshya Sen, PV Sindhu, and chess champ Gukesh Dommaraju also made their mark, capturing the nation's imagination.
Team-wise, Virat Kohli's Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) and MS Dhoni's Chennai Super Kings (CSK) lead the IPL pack, while Mohun Bagan Super Giant reigns supreme in the ISL.
The data reveals that Indian sports fans are a passionate bunch, shaping narratives and amplifying their voices through digital platforms. They're not just spectators; they're active participants in the sporting drama. And with increased media penetration and improved streaming, their voices are louder than ever. It's a proper digital sports carnival.
