Indians are swapping the comfort of their living room sofas for seats at the stadium to catch their favorite franchises live in action during the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) and the craze for cricket is turning match days into full-blown tourism booms with a spike of over 30 percent in travel bookings.
Travel bookings during IPL match days have surged 30-35 percent this year compared to the 20-25 percent rise recorded during IPL 2024, according to EaseMyTrip data.
Travel platform Cleartrip has recorded a three times surge in hotel demand for hotels closer to the stadiums. Overall hotel bookings have recorded a 1.6 times spike on match days, largely driven by fans travelling from nearby cities, said Tavleen Bhatia, Chief Marketing and Revenue Officer, Cleartrip.
Airfares to cities with high IPL traction this season are reflecting the surge in travel demand around match days, said Rikant Pittie, CEO and Co-Founder, EaseMyTrip. "For instance, one-way flights from Mumbai to Bengaluru are currently priced at around Rs 2,650, while fares for the return route from Bengaluru to Mumbai start around Rs 3,950. Those flying from Chennai to Mumbai can expect ticket prices to range between Rs 2,700 and Rs 3,100. The rates rise closer to match days, especially on weekends."
IPL fever
He added that hotels near stadiums, such as Shravanthi Sarovar Portico in Bangalore and Marine Plaza in Mumbai, are often selling out. "Average room rates for premium stays are currently in the Rs 6,000-8,200 range, and the budget stays are between Rs 2,200-5,200. Match weekends, in particular, are seeing sharp spikes in both bookings and rates."
Hotels located near stadiums have experienced strong demand, with some reporting up to a 5 percent rise in occupancy and a 7 percent increase in average daily rates compared to weeks prior to IPL, Pittie added.
For Sarovar Hotels, while occupancy has increased marginally by about 2-3 percent, the Average Daily Rate (ADR) has seen a more notable growth of 10 percent month-on-month.
The growth in ADR indicates stronger pricing power and demand during the ongoing IPL season, said the hotel chain's Senior Vice-President, Akshay Thusoo.
Zostel's Co-founder and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Dharamveer Singh Chouhan noted that the overall booking volumes during the IPL period have jumped by 35–37 percent as compared to last year. The growth is mainly visible in destinations like Dharamshala, Visakhapatnam, Bangalore, and Jaipur, having a higher share of this surge, he said.
Along with flights and hotels, train bookings have also surged due to IPL.
Cricket getaways
"This IPL season has sparked a massive surge in travel, with train bookings to match cities rising by 60–65 percent year-on-year. Fan-favourite destinations like Hyderabad, Mumbai, Kolkata, Delhi, Lucknow, and Dharamsala are each witnessing over 50 percent growth in train bookings, said Dinesh Kumar Kotha, CEO, ixigo Trains & ConfirmTkt.
Mumbai, Bengaluru, Chennai, Hyderabad, and Ahmedabad have emerged as the top hotspots for travel, registering the highest spike in both flight and hotel bookings, Pittie said.
"Ahmedabad is witnessing the most dramatic rise, with bookings more than doubling on key match days. Chennai has recorded close to a 30 percent uptick in travel demand around high-profile matches, while Hyderabad is experiencing a 17-18 percent increase. Bengaluru and Mumbai are also showing robust traction, particularly during weekends and matches featuring local teams," he added.
In addition, Ahmedabad's metro ridership has swelled to over 90,000 passengers on match days, indicating a steep surge in local movement. Bengaluru, on the other hand, has extended its metro service hours to manage the footfall, driven by an approximate 15-18 percent increase in match-day commuter traffic, Pittie added.
Travel trends
Travel platform Skyscanner has observed some fan-led travel trends for the ongoing IPL.
Mumbai leads the scoreboard drawing in 1 in 5 travelers for its electrifying stadium vibes and the chance to soak in the city’s culture.
Skyscanner conducted a survey from March 24 to 31, 2025 among 2,000 Indian cricket fans aged 18 to 65. IPL 2025 started from March 22 and the final will be played on May 25.
Chennai Super Kings fans hit it out of the park as they led the charge, with nearly three in 10 Indians willing to travel to another city to cheer them on, followed by fans of Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Mumbai Indians.
Wankhede is the Holy Grail for cricket fans with the stadium topping the wish list of 55 percent of Indians who are eager to experience the legendary atmosphere.
Cricket trips are a full toss fun for Indians who are turning cricket trips into full-fledged travel experiences, making every trip count.
"With the IPL coinciding with peak summer travel, many individuals are considering attending a match while also planning leisure trips. They either fly into major cities or use them as pit stops on their way to vacation destinations," Cleartrip's Bhatia said.
Travel spike during IPL indicates a continued and growing interest in sports tourism, Pittie said.
"The Indian Premier League (IPL) has become a major driver, with 80 percent of cricket fans excited to travel and support their favourite teams, turning it into one of the most anticipated travel moments of the year. With 48 percent fans planning their trips to watch a live match up to two months in advance, it is clear that cricket-fuelled travel is on the rise. Friends top the list as the preferred matchday companions for 74 percent of Indians, followed by family and spouses or partners," said Mohit Joshi, Skyscanner travel and destinations expert.
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