New Delhi, May 9 -- The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 is facing a worrying slide in popularity. Prominent industrialist Harsh Goenka has called out the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) over a sharp 26% drop in TV viewership, warning that the league risks losing its magic as a true cricket contest.

Harsh Goenka, chairman of RPG Enterprises and brother of Lucknow Super Giants owner Sanjiv Goenka, took to X to voice his concerns. In a widely shared post, he wrote: "IPL TV viewership reportedly down 26%. @BCCI should take it seriously as IPL has become a batting exhibition instead of a cricket contest."

He pointed out that matches have turned into predictable high-scoring affairs, with scores often hovering around 225 versus ...