AP PHOTOS: In cricket-crazy India, the Indian Premier League is a reason to celebrate
Fans of Mumbai Indians cheer before the start of their team match against Sunrisers Hyderabad during the Indian Premier League cricket match at Wankhede stadium in Mumbai, India, Thursday, April 17, 2025. (AP Photo/Rajanish kakade)
NEW DELHI (AP) — The world’s richest franchise cricket league is ongoing in India, a cricket- crazy country of 1.4 billion. The Indian Premier League features top players from around the world and attracts hundreds of millions of TV viewers.
While the format leads to high-tempo action on the field, Twenty20 cricket has also sparked an evolution in off-field entertainment in cricket. Cheerleaders dancing on podiums, DJs sitting behind decks spinning tunes, and fancy dress themes are all part of the T20 game for crowds, bringing a colorful new twist for those at the stadium and broadcast viewers.
This year, 65 international cricketers from Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Sri Lanka, West Indies, England and Afghanistan have joined India’s high-profile players in the tournament.
Cheerleaders and a drummer perform during the Indian Premier League cricket match between Gujarat Titans and Delhi Capitals in Ahmedabad, India, Saturday, April 19, 2025. (AP Photo/Ajit Solanki)
Cheerleaders and a drummer perform during the Indian Premier League cricket match between Gujarat Titans and Delhi Capitals in Ahmedabad, India, Saturday, April 19, 2025. (AP Photo/Ajit Solanki)
Ishu Kumar, a Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s Virat Kohli fan, cheers during an Indian Premier League qualifier cricket match in Mohali, India, Thursday, May 29, 2025. (AP Photo)
Ishu Kumar, a Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s Virat Kohli fan, cheers during an Indian Premier League qualifier cricket match in Mohali, India, Thursday, May 29, 2025. (AP Photo)
Fans wave as a bus carrying Delhi Capitals team arrives for an Indian Premier League cricket match in Lucknow, India, Tuesday, April 22, 2025. (AP Photo)
Fans wave as a bus carrying Delhi Capitals team arrives for an Indian Premier League cricket match in Lucknow, India, Tuesday, April 22, 2025. (AP Photo)
Fans stand behind a fence and use their mobile phones to take pictures of players before the start of an Indian Premier League cricket match in Chennai, India, Friday, April 25, 2025. (AP Photo/R. Parthibhan)
Fans stand behind a fence and use their mobile phones to take pictures of players before the start of an Indian Premier League cricket match in Chennai, India, Friday, April 25, 2025. (AP Photo/R. Parthibhan)
Spectators stands to pay tribute to victims of an attack on tourists in Kashmir, during the Indian Premier League cricket match between Sunrisers Hyderabad and Mumbai Indians, in Hyderabad, India, Wednesday, April 23, 2025. (AP Photo/Mahesh Kumar A.)
Spectators stands to pay tribute to victims of an attack on tourists in Kashmir, during the Indian Premier League cricket match between Sunrisers Hyderabad and Mumbai Indians, in Hyderabad, India, Wednesday, April 23, 2025. (AP Photo/Mahesh Kumar A.)
An ice-cream vendor watches an Indian Premier League qualifier cricket match on a mobile phone in Hyderabad, India, Thursday, May 29, 2025. (AP Photo/Mahesh Kumar A.)
An ice-cream vendor watches an Indian Premier League qualifier cricket match on a mobile phone in Hyderabad, India, Thursday, May 29, 2025. (AP Photo/Mahesh Kumar A.)
Children try to get the attention of their favorite players during the Indian Premier League cricket match between Delhi Capitals and Mumbai Indians in New Delhi, India, Thursday, April 17, 2025. (AP Photo/Manish Swarup)
Children try to get the attention of their favorite players during the Indian Premier League cricket match between Delhi Capitals and Mumbai Indians in New Delhi, India, Thursday, April 17, 2025. (AP Photo/Manish Swarup)
Local dancers perform before the start of the Indian Premier League cricket match between Punjab Kings and Delhi Capitals at Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur, India, Saturday, May 24, 2025. (AP Photo/Surjeet Yadav)
Local dancers perform before the start of the Indian Premier League cricket match between Punjab Kings and Delhi Capitals at Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur, India, Saturday, May 24, 2025. (AP Photo/Surjeet Yadav)
Fireworks light up the sky during an Indian Premier League cricket match at Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, India, Wednesday, April 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Ajit Solanki)
Fireworks light up the sky during an Indian Premier League cricket match at Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, India, Wednesday, April 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Ajit Solanki)
Artists perform at the start of the Indian Premier League cricket match between Delhi Capitals and Mumbai Indians at Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi, India, Sunday, April 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Manish Swarup)
Artists perform at the start of the Indian Premier League cricket match between Delhi Capitals and Mumbai Indians at Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi, India, Sunday, April 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Manish Swarup)
A cricket fan cheers holding an Indian flag during an Indian Premier League cricket match at Wankhede stadium in Mumbai, Sunday, April 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Rajanish Kakade)
A cricket fan cheers holding an Indian flag during an Indian Premier League cricket match at Wankhede stadium in Mumbai, Sunday, April 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Rajanish Kakade)
A pitch invader runs on the field during the Indian Premier League cricket match between Rajasthan Royals and Royal Challengers Bengaluru in Jaipur, India, Sunday, April 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Surjeet Yadav)
A pitch invader runs on the field during the Indian Premier League cricket match between Rajasthan Royals and Royal Challengers Bengaluru in Jaipur, India, Sunday, April 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Surjeet Yadav)
Fans cheer outside Ekana cricket stadium as they arrive for an Indian Premier League cricket match in Lucknow, India, Tuesday, April 22, 2025. (AP Photo)
Fans cheer outside Ekana cricket stadium as they arrive for an Indian Premier League cricket match in Lucknow, India, Tuesday, April 22, 2025. (AP Photo)
Grounds workers cover the field as it rains during the Indian Premier League cricket match between Sunrisers Hyderabad and Delhi Capitals in Hyderabad, India, Monday, May 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Mahesh Kumar A.)
Grounds workers cover the field as it rains during the Indian Premier League cricket match between Sunrisers Hyderabad and Delhi Capitals in Hyderabad, India, Monday, May 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Mahesh Kumar A.)
Artists carry Indian flags as they perform before the start of an Indian Premier League cricket match between Punjab Kings and Delhi Capitals in Dharamshala, India, Thursday, May 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Ashwini Bhatia)
Artists carry Indian flags as they perform before the start of an Indian Premier League cricket match between Punjab Kings and Delhi Capitals in Dharamshala, India, Thursday, May 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Ashwini Bhatia)
People watch the Indian Premier League qualifier cricket match between Punjab Kings and Royal Challengers Bengaluru at a market in Hyderabad, India, Thursday, May 29, 2025. (AP Photo/Mahesh Kumar A.)
People watch the Indian Premier League qualifier cricket match between Punjab Kings and Royal Challengers Bengaluru at a market in Hyderabad, India, Thursday, May 29, 2025. (AP Photo/Mahesh Kumar A.)
Fans watch the Indian Premier League cricket match between Kolkata Knight Riders and Lucknow Super Giants at Eden Gardens in Kolkata, India, Tuesday, April 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Bikas Das)
Fans watch the Indian Premier League cricket match between Kolkata Knight Riders and Lucknow Super Giants at Eden Gardens in Kolkata, India, Tuesday, April 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Bikas Das)
The tournament started March 23 and the final is set for June 3 at Ahmedabad. The championship decider will be played at Narendra Modi Stadium, the world’s largest cricket venue with a seating capacity of 132,000.
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This is a photo gallery curated by AP photo editors.