IPL 14 Phase 2 starts on ESPNcricinfo with a Six: Record Traffic & Advertisers

The 14th season of IPL has resumed, and the 2^nd phase of the IPL has already witnessed a strong surge in consumption, with a 30% jump in Time Spent¹ and 25% growth in Unique Users¹ on the back of a fantastic India-England test series. With over 95% active users, the ESPNcricinfo app is buzzing with cricket fans checking out exciting new features like pinning & sharing of live scores, Dark Mode, Runs Forecaster and more.  The launch of Askcricinfo (the revolutionary AI-powered tool for all cricket stats) is the latest in new product launches for the voice and FOMO generations. Check out Askcricinfo here for more.

With live shows, chat rooms, stats-based insightful daily coverage, fun & comedy, off-field stories & more, ESPNcricinfo’s content across English and Hindi serves fans with the best perspectives of the game from experts, in an interactive format.

What stands out most with fans is the pre-, the mid- and post-match show - ESPNcricinfo T20 Time:Out that provides a holistic analysis of every single match through contemporary conversations with the best experts. Fans can hear expert analysis from the likes of, Carlos Brathwaite, Daniel Vettori, Gautam Gambhir, Dale Steyn, Ian Bishop, Aakash Chopra, Deep Dasgupta. The daily live show will be simulcast live on the ESPNcricinfo YouTube and Facebook channels, to enhance reach and make it available to fans “Anytime Anywhere”.

Gautam Gambhir, who is popular among fans for his credible opinions and insights on each game said, “Being a part of the Indian Cricket Team brings with it a certain eye and aptitude for judging performances of any team on the pitch. Being able to convey this to the viewers makes for an intriguing show of T20 Timeout. It not only keeps me involved with the game I love so much but also gives the enthusiasts a way to understand and pick up the nuances in the game and truly become one with it.” 

Speaking about his T20 Time:Out debut, West Indies cricketer Carlos Brathwaite said, “The T20 World Cup is where I found my stance as a cricketer and being a part of ESPNcricinfo’s flagship show T20 Timeout brings back the happy memories of that phenomenal night. Watching the players strategically fight it out in the sport that changed my life gives me great joy and I am ecstatic to share my opinions on their gameplay during the show.”

Akshaya Kolhe, Head of Sales, South Asia, “ESPNcricinfo has once again proven its dominance as a leader in well-rounded cricket coverage and in nurturing a strong community for cricket fandom & multiple opportunities for advertising and content partnerships. We have an excellent lineup of traditional and new age brands onboard with Maruti Suzuki, Intel, HDFC ERGO General Insurance, TVS Tyres, ITC Bingo, Coinswitch Kuber, HDFC Life, ForexTime, GoMechanic, Swiggy, Playerzpot, Upstox, FreshToHome and others. We are thankful for our partners on the continued trust put in the platform, a testimony to the hallmark of our multiple brand partnership opportunities.

As Mr. Shashank Srivastava, Senior Executive Director - Sales & Marketing, Maruti Suzuki says, “Indian customers love two things – cricket and value for their money! As the presenting sponsors on ESPNcricinfo T20 Timeout, we are thrilled to engage cricket fans across the country, throughout the day as they consume match-related content and stories. We also have the daily post-match segment – Kam Se Kaam Banega Player of the Day centered on the key facet of our current campaign, optimization, or efficiency. These content propositions are a great way to resonate with our customers as they seamlessly integrate our brand communication and help us drive brand love.”

Endorsing ESPNcricinfo’s strength as an important media platform in cricket-led marketing, is Ravi Vishwanath, President - Accident & Health Business · HDFC ERGO General Insurance. He adds, “We believe it is important for fans to be cautious and aware of what they’re purchasing when it comes to a Health Insurance plan and our partnership will witness fan-favourites come together and educate viewers on the nuances of our Optima Secure Health Insurance. IPL is a great communication platform for brands and ESPNCricinfo being the hub of all things cricket provides the opportunity to build awareness through intriguing post-match segments like Sabse Bada Performer.”

Akshaya Kolhe adds “We are really excited about our partnership with HDFC ERGO General Insurance that brings out their current market communication through a post-match segment that highlights the best use of our native content association.”

In addition to the flagship show, and with a view to give cricket fans an experience of a lifetime, ESPNcricinfo is also hosting a range of in-depth knowledgeable shows such as Newsroom and debate-led shows like Runorder and Mute Me.

On the back of strong insights basis fans’ needs and on how brands can best leverage, ESPNcricinfo continues to consistently host new cricket experts and engaging shows that fans of the mega cricket season resonate with, and partners can ride on.