5 biggest cricketing events in the world

Although run-of-the-mill bilateral series form a major part of the cricketing calendar, what a cricket fan truly lives for is watching iconic series or tournaments irrespective of the format. The interest in the game has been apparently taking a hit in recent years, and the only way the International Cricket Council (ICC) can revive interest is by conducting ICC events at more regular intervals or creating a cricketing rivalry between more nations than there currently exist.Among the biggest events in global cricket, apart from ICC events, India-related tournaments/series make more impact than other clashes, which is the hard reality in global cricket currently, taking into account the incredibly skewed market for the sport in India.Here are the 5 biggest events in global cricket –

#5 Indian Premier League (IPL)

Whether one likes it or not, the Indian Premier League (IPL) is undoubtedly one of the biggest cricketing events in the world today and catches the eyeballs of millions of people across the globe. Riding on India’s success in the 2007 World T20, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) launched the lucrative T20 franchise league in 2008. The Shane Warne-led Rajasthan Royals (RR) won the first season, which took place between April-June 2008, by beating Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in the final, and the tournament has only grown in stature since then. The league’s USP has been the fact that it has been able to attract the best T20 cricketers in the world right from its outset, giving it a massive edge over all of its competitors.

Over the seven seasons of the IPL, CSK have been the most consistent side, having won the tournament twice in addition to having made the knock-out stages each and every season. It’s no surprise, then, that Suresh Raina, who has played a crucial role in CSK’s success, is the highest run-getter in the IPL with 3,325 runs to his name. Mumbai Indians’ Lasith Malinga, meanwhile, has taken 119 wickets across the various editions and is the league’s most successful bowler.