Sports
IPL 2026 Ad Volumes Rise 10 per cent Despite Fewer Brands
Google powers surge as e-com & fresheners dominate; 9 new categories, 45 brands join IPL fray vs 2025
MUMBAI: Google has bowled a googly at the IPL advertising crease and the boundary count is up. Television commercial advertising for the first four matches of IPL 2026 has posted a healthy 9.94 per cent rise in ad volumes compared with the same slice of the 2025 tournament. The indexed growth stands at 109.94 versus a base of 100 for IPL 2025, according to TAM Sports data released today. Yet the playing field itself has thinned: the number of categories slipped from 47 to 40 (a 14.89 per cent drop) and the number of active advertisers fell from 58 to 43 (down 25.86 per cent). All figures are strictly for live-match commercial spots across 25 channels, excluding promos, fillers and non-live programming.
The top five categories in IPL 2026 tell the story of a fresh line-up. Ecom-Other Services stormed to pole position with a 13.78 per cent share, followed a whisker behind by Mouth Fresheners at 13.57 per cent. Air Conditioners claimed 5.94 per cent, Corporate-Financial Institute 5.69 per cent and Paints 5.23 per cent. Last season’s leaderboard looked markedly different: Mouth Fresheners led with 10.73 per cent, Ecom-Gaming sat second on 10.62 per cent, Cellular Phones-Smart Phones took 7.83 per cent, Biscuits 7.66 per cent and Cars 6.60 per cent.
On the advertiser front, Google delivered a masterclass, grabbing a commanding 12.67 per cent share and topping the chart for the first time. Reliance Consumer Products followed with 7.28 per cent, Havells India 5.94 per cent, Vishnu Packaging 5.56 per cent and K P Pan Foods 4.80 per cent. In 2025 the order was Parle Biscuits (7.66 per cent), Vishnu Packaging (5.92 per cent), Apple Computer India (5.52 per cent), Reliance Consumer Products (5.31 per cent) and Billion Brains Garage Ventures (4.52 per cent).
The real buzz lies in the new arrivals. Nine entirely fresh categories made their IPL debut, led by Chocolates, Laptops/Notebooks, Range of Hair Care, Corporate-Pharma/Healthcare and Footwear. Sixteen categories from 2025 sat out this year’s opening spell, the most notable being Ecom-Gaming, Cellular Phones-Smart Phones, Biscuits, Airlines and Fans. Brands, meanwhile, flooded in: 45 new ones appeared, with Google Search Engine, Google Gemini, Lloyd Designer AC, Cadburys Dairy Milk Chocolate and Hero Splendor Plus Range leading the charge. Even Joy Hello Sun Sunblock Anti-Tan Lotion found its way onto the big stage.
In short, IPL 2026’s advertising early overs have delivered more bang for fewer brands, a crisp powerplay of growth laced with some surprising wickets and plenty of debut sixes. The tournament may only be four matches old, but the commercial scorecard already hints at a lively, reshuffled contest ahead.
Sports
After Virat Kohli’s exit, One8 Commune Bengaluru shuts down
Outlet near Chinnaswamy closes amid rent row, compliance issues mount
BENGALURU: The One8 Commune outlet near M. Chinnaswamy Stadium has shut down following a court order, bringing a turbulent chapter for the high-profile dining destination to a close.
The immediate trigger was a legal dispute over unpaid dues. The outlet, operated by Trio Hills Hospitality, had reportedly defaulted on rent payments for nearly six months. Including maintenance charges and revenue share commitments, the outstanding amount is said to have crossed Rs 2 crore. A Bengaluru civil court subsequently directed the closure of the premises until all financial obligations are cleared.
The shutdown comes months after Virat Kohli, whose brand name lent the outlet its identity, had already distanced himself from the Bengaluru franchise. According to reports, concerns around repeated compliance-related issues prompted his team to withdraw the association. The removal of the One8 branding is believed to have impacted footfall, further straining the business.
The outlet had also faced regulatory scrutiny over the years. In 2024, authorities booked the establishment for operating beyond the 1:00 am curfew. The Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike had issued notices over missing fire safety clearances, while an FIR was filed for violating tobacco regulations by not providing a designated smoking zone under applicable laws.
In response to the closure, the brand maintained that the issue stemmed from building-level compliance responsibilities linked to the property owner rather than operational lapses on its part. It also denied that financial default was the primary reason, reiterating that customer safety remained a priority.
For now, the shutters remain down. While a reopening is theoretically possible if disputes are resolved, the absence of Kohli’s brand association makes a return under the One8 banner increasingly unlikely.
