Swiggy sees IPL food orders jump 32 per cent during 2026 season

MUMBAI: When the boundaries started flowing, so did the biryanis. India’s favourite sporting spectacle once again proved that cricket and food are a match made in heaven, with Swiggy reporting a 32.31 per cent year-on-year surge in food delivery orders during IPL 2026 compared with the previous season. According to the platform’s latest IPL Food Ordering and Dining Insights, fans not only ordered in record numbers but also flocked to restaurants to catch the action live, helping generate a 41 per cent increase in Swiggy Dineout bookings compared with IPL 2025.

The biggest feast unfolded during the tournament’s business end. During the Qualifier 2 and Final on May 29 and May 31, Bengaluru, Mumbai and Hyderabad emerged as the country’s top food-ordering cities, while Surat, Thiruvananthapuram and Vadodara stood out among the fastest-growing emerging markets.

As millions settled in for the matches, Chicken Biryani, Chicken Fried Rice and Veg Burgers dominated main-course orders, while Pav Bhaji and Chicken Popcorn became go-to snacks. Dessert lovers kept things sweet with Choco Lava Cake, Tender Coconut Ice Cream and Rasmalai emerging as the most-ordered treats.

The numbers became even more staggering as the action intensified. During the second qualifier on May 29, food orders peaked at 8:12 pm, with more than 5,200 orders placed in a single minute. One customer in Gurugram ordered 45 Special Veg Thalis worth Rs 20,205, making it the largest order of the match.

If that was impressive, the final delivered an even bigger appetite. As Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Gujarat Titans battled for the trophy on May 31, food orders surged 30 per cent higher than the qualifier. The platform averaged more than 1,300 orders per minute, peaking at over 6,200 orders at 7:56 pm. One cricket fan in Dharamshala went all out, ordering a lavish spread featuring Fish in Lemon Butter Sauce, Grilled Chicken Peri-Peri, Chicken 65 and more.

The appetite wasn’t confined to living rooms. Fans increasingly opted for a stadium-like atmosphere at restaurants, with Swiggy Dineout users collectively saving more than Rs 3.5 crore over the finals weekend.

Bengaluru, Delhi, Hyderabad, Mumbai and Pune recorded the highest Dineout bookings during match hours, while Ahmedabad, Jaipur, Chandigarh and Lucknow led growth among emerging markets.

One of the standout celebrations came on May 29, when a group of 20 diners in Bengaluru ran up a single restaurant bill of Rs 2,14,061 while watching the match. Two days later, Bengaluru once again topped the charts, registering a 32 per cent increase in Dineout bookings compared with May 17 and leading the country in premium dining reservations between 7:30 pm and 11:30 pm.

Meanwhile, Gujarat’s cricket faithful brought their own flavour to the tournament. Ahmedabad recorded the highest bookings in the state, while groups of 30 diners each in Surat and Vadodara turned match night into community feasts.

The report underlines a growing trend, IPL is no longer just a cricket tournament. It has evolved into one of India’s biggest food occasions, where every six, wicket and super over seems to arrive with a side of biryani, burgers and dessert.