The 2025 edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) has shattered viewership records across streaming platforms. As the tournament ¡ª running from March 22 to May 25 ¡ª enters its back end phase with the Top 4 soon to be confirmed, fan engagement is at an all-time high.
With the Playoff race heating up, each match is drawing massive audiences on both JioHotstar and the Star Sports Network. Notably, among the five most-watched games on JioHotstar, four feature the ever-popular Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB). Despite still chasing their first title, RCB's star batter Virat Kohli remains a major draw for viewers.
Here are the top 5 most-watched IPL 2025 matches on JioHotstar:
1st Match in Kolkata | Viewership: 41.7 crore
RCB kicked off IPL 2025 with a convincing win over defending champions KKR. After a slow start, Krunal Pandya turned things around with 3 wickets, supported by Josh Hazlewood's 2. Chasing 175, Phil Salt (56 off 31) dominated the Powerplay, while Virat Kohli (59* off 36) accelerated with two sixes off Spencer Johnson. Despite losing two quick wickets, Rajat Patidar (34 off 16) kept the chase on course, and Kohli calmly guided RCB home with 22 balls to spare.
8th Match in Chennai | Viewership: 37.4 crore
Despite never having won at Chepauk since 2008, RCB posted 196/7 after strong efforts from Phil Salt (32 off 16), Devdutt Padikkal (27 off 14), Rajat Patidar (51 off 32), and Virat Kohli (31 off 30), who shifted gears after a blow to the helmet. Tim David added a late burst with 22 off 8. Chasing, CSK faltered early as Hazlewood took 3 wickets up front, with Liam Livingstone and Yash Dayal grabbing 2 each. Despite Rachin Ravindra's 41 off 31 and MS Dhoni's 30 off 16, CSK were bowled out for 146 and lost by 50 runs.
RCB finally broke their 10-year drought at Wankhede with a 12-run win. They piled up 221/5, powered by Virat Kohli (67 off 42), Rajat Patidar (64 off 32), Devdutt Padikkal (37 off 22), and Jitesh Sharma (40 off 19). MI started strong with Rohit Sharma (17 off 9) and Ryan Rickelton (17 off 10), but quick wickets followed. Tilak Varma (56 off 29) and Hardik Pandya (42 off 15) threatened a comeback, but RCB's spinners controlled the middle overs, sealing the win.
RCB completed their 1st-ever league double win over CSK, defending 213 in a nail-biter. Virat Kohli (62 off 33), Jacob Bethell (55 off 33), and Romario Shepherd (53* off 14; 4 fours, 6 sixes) lit up the innings¡ªShepherd's half-century equalling the second-fastest in IPL history.?CSK's chase was led by 17-year-old Ayush Mhatre, who smashed 94 off 48 (9 fours, 5 sixes). But with 14 needed off the last over, Yash Dayal once again held his nerve against MS Dhoni (12 off 8) and Ravindra Jadeja (77* off 45), sealing a two-run win.
MI slumped to their 13th consecutive opening-game loss. Noor Ahmad struck early with the ball, while Rachin Ravindra (65* off 45) calmly anchored CSK's chase. After losing Rahul Tripathi (2 off 3), CSK surged to 74/1 in 7 overs, thanks to Ruturaj Gaikwad¡¯s explosive 53 off 26.?Debutant Vignesh Puthur kept MI in the game with 3 wickets in his first 3 overs, but CSK remained ahead. Missing suspended skipper Hardik Pandya, MI faltered early: Rohit Sharma was out for 0 off 4, Rickelton made 13 off 7, Suryakumar Yadav added 29 off 26, Tilak Varma 31 off 25, and Deepak Chahar 28 off 15 ¡ª but they could only reach 155/9.
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