Sports junkies may be looking for another outlet once the NCAA men’s basketball tournament ends. You could tune into the MLB, but the season is a much more drawn out commitment. For something a bit different, yet still full of passion and excitement, check out the Indian Premier League (IPL) — the world's most lucrative cricket league.
The IPL is back for its 16th season in 2023 and both cricket fanatics and newbies in the US have a couple options for streaming every single match.
What is the Indian Premier League?
Established in 2008, the Indian Premier League(opens in a new tab) — known as the IPL — is a professional Twenty20 (T20) cricket league. Unlike the MLB or similar US-based sports leagues, it operates on a simple round-robin group and knockout format. Each of the eight teams play each other home and away, accumulating two points for wins, one point for ties, and zero points for losses. After the double round-robin, the bottom four teams are eliminate and the top four go to the playoff series.
When does the IPL 2023 season start?
The IPL 2023 season kicked off on March 31 with the Gujarat Titans hosting the Chennai Super Kings in Ahmedabad. The regular season lasts just 52 match days and concludes on May 21, followed by the playoffs and the final match taking place on May 28.
The 16th season is the first full-fledged IPL season since 2019, thanks to COVID-19 disruptions. So, needless to say, it's highly anticipated by cricket junkies.
Can you stream IPL matches for free?
This season, streaming every IPL match is free on the JioCinema App. There's just one problem: you must be based in India to access it. Fortunately, there's a work around for US-based fans.
You can access global streaming platforms from anywhere in the world with a VPN. Of course, some VPNs are better than others (more on that later), but with the right one, you can seamlessly stream every electric IPL match for free on JioCinema. Here's how:
Download and sign up for a streaming-friendly VPN (check out our top picks below)
Open the VPN app and select a server based in India (the options vary based on which VPN you choose)
Head over to JioCinema.com(opens in a new tab)
Choose your language, order a pizza, and watch for free
It's worth noting that our top VPN picks do require monthly fees. So, technically, you won't be streaming the matches completely free. They do, however, tend to offer money-back guarantees, free trials, and discounted subscriptions.
What is the best VPN for streaming IPL matches?
ExpressVPN: Save 49% on a 15-month plan(opens in a new tab)
Mashable contributor Branford Shaw tested ExpressVPN and found it to be an excellent all-rounder, noting that it's "easy to use, it works well, and there's amble support available whenever you need it." It's our top pick for those reasons, plus its 3,000+ servers around the globe, which allow you to connect to the web via India.
Read our full review of ExpressVPN.
CyberGhost VPN: Save 84% on a 27-month plan(opens in a new tab)
CyberGhost VPN features 29 dedicated servers in Mumbai, India, which makes streaming the IPL a more seamless experience. Plus, as Mashable shopping reporter Haley Henschel noted, the friendly provider offers "dedicated streaming, gaming, and torrenting servers and cheap fixed rates."
Read our full review of CyberGhost VPN.
Proton VPN: Save 50% on a 2-year Plus plan(opens in a new tab)
For security sticklers, Proton VPN is a solid pick. As Mashable's Haley Henschel noted, "Proton VPN isn't the biggest or most well-rounded VPN on this list, but it deserves major props for its commitment to consumer privacy." It also offers a 30-day money-back guarantee, which is always a bonus for those who don't want to commit to a long-term plan. There are no physical Proton VPN servers(opens in a new tab) located within India due to India privacy laws, but you can still access an Indian IP address via Smart Routing servers for India (which are physically located in Singapore).
Read our full review of ProtonVPN.
Other ways to stream IPL 2023
For those not looking to subscribe to a VPN (although we highly suggest it), you can still stream the IPL 2023 via Sling TV and Willow TV. However, these services require a monthly subscription fee and do not offer a free trial.
