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Cricket is not just a sport in India! It is often regarded as the “unofficial religion” of the nation.

The biggest cricket events, such as the Indian Premier League (IPL), the World Cup, and the Champions Trophy, captivate hundreds of millions of fans, increasing media consumption, viewership, advertisement, and even influencing investor behavior.

Recent cricket events also reassured how the stock market is seen as a reflection of the national sentiment, responding based on either euphoria of the sport or disappointment from the losses.

In this article, we explore the relation between the major cricket events in India, such as the IPL and the World Cups, and India’s stock market. Also, what to look for when considering to invest in smallcase.



The Relation Between IPL Seasons And the Stock Market

The Indian Premier League (IPL), since its inception in 2008, has become a significant annual event, merging sports with entertainment and involving substantial stakes in sponsorships, media rights, and franchise revenues.

While the broad stock market indices might not show a consistent rising or falling pattern every IPL season due to the stronger influence of fundamentals and global economic cues, certain interesting observations emerge.

Sector-Specific Impact

Stocks of companies directly linked to the IPL ecosystem, such as media broadcasters, team owners, and sponsors, can experience short-term fluctuations based on IPL developments.

Media Rights and Investor Sentiment

Any Announcements of major IPL media rights deals or exceptional team performance can positively impact related stocks.

For example, Star India's significant bid in 2017 for IPL broadcast rights generated optimism, leading to increased stock prices of media and entertainment companies involved.

Similarly, the tripling of IPL media rights value in 2022 benefited winning stakeholders like Disney and Viacom18 as investors anticipated increased advertising revenues.

Media Giants and IPL Telecast

Media conglomerates holding IPL rights often witness shifts in investor sentiment.

Historically, companies like Disney (via Star India) and Sony have traded strongly on news of securing IPL telecast rights, as a successful IPL season is expected to boost advertising revenue and subscription numbers.

Conversely, IPL seasons affected by controversies or reduced viewership (e.g., due to COVID-19 or scandals) can temporarily dampen the performance of these stocks.


How Does the Market React To World Cups, ODI Series, And Champions Trophy?

Major ICC tournaments, including the Cricket World Cup, ODI series, and the Champions Trophy, also elicit reactions from the stock market.

However, these are primarily sentiment-driven "knee-jerk" reactions and are typically transient, with no lasting impact on market fundamentals, and the markets usually revert to normal within a day or two.

To reorient your investment strategy, you should opt for the best smallcase in India for investment, such as PINC Momentum Fundamental, focusing on stocks where visibility in earnings continues for the next 4 to 6 quarters.

Historical Index Performance During Cricket World Cups

The World Cup years have shown varied stock market performances, influenced by both the prevailing cricket sentiment and the broader economic context.

  • 2003: India reaching the World Cup finals coincided with a post-dot-com economic recovery, and the stock market saw a significant surge of approximately 72%
  • 2007: Despite India's early exit from the World Cup, the robust Indian economy led to stocks climbing by about 55% throughout the year, with the tournament contributing to a positive investor mood.
  • 2011: India's victory in the World Cup on home soil sparked nationwide euphoria; however, the stock market ended down by about 24% that year, influenced by global recessionary aftershocks.
  • 2015:This year saw a mild decline of around 4% in the stock market.
  • 2019: Optimism returned with the stock market gaining approximately 12%.

Short-Term Sentiment Swings After Cricket Matches

In the immediate aftermath of high-stakes cricket matches involving India, the stock market often exhibits short-term reactions driven by investor sentiment.

Wins Leading To Brief Market Rally

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) intervenes in the foreign exchange market to manage volatility.

For example, after India's 2011 World Cup win, the Sensex experienced a brief rally.

Losses Causing Mild Dips

Heartbreaking losses can dampen the mood on Dalal Street, potentially leading to a subdued opening or a slight dip in the market the following day.

Following India's loss to Australia in the 2023 World Cup final, the Nifty index closed marginally lower, reflecting the national disappointment.

Trading Volumes During Matches

During high-profile cricket games, trading volumes on exchanges have occasionally decreased as market participants focus their attention on the match.

This suggests a temporary shift in market liquidity during crucial cricket encounters.

Transient Nature of Reactions

Market commentators have observed that benchmark indices often tend to slip into the red immediately after India's exit from a major ICC tournament.

However, these are primarily sentiment-driven "knee-jerk" reactions and are typically transient, with no lasting impact on market fundamentals, and the markets usually revert to normal within a day or two.

To reorient your investment strategy, you should opt for the best smallcase in India for investment, such as PINC Momentum Fundamental , focusing on stocks where visibility in earnings continues for the next 4 to 6 quarters.


What Are The Sector-Specific Impact On Cricket Events?

Cricket tournaments have a wide-reaching impact on various sectors, with some experiencing a direct boost from increased viewership, consumer spending, and engagement.

Media & Broadcasting

Massive viewership translates into high advertising revenues for broadcasters like Disney Star, Sony, and Viacom18.

A successful season boosts stock sentiment due to increased earnings. Ad rates reached record levels during the 2023 ICC World Cup, and digital ad revenues were expected to double.

JioCinema also broke global streaming records during IPL 2023, strengthening Reliance’s digital position.

Consumer Goods & Retail

The cricket season drives a surge in sales for FMCG brands (like Pepsi and Coca-Cola) and retailers.

Brands often report improved quarterly performance due to consumption during matches and advertising campaigns.

Retailers experience increased demand for sports merchandise and electronics, with big-screen TV sales doubling during the tournaments.

There are QSR chains like Domino’s and McDonald’s that also report increased orders on match days.

Hospitality & Tourism

Cricket events fuel sports tourism and demand for hospitality services. Hotel chains reported rising occupancy rates and higher tariffs.

Restaurants and bars screening matches reported record sales. Multiplexes like PVR INOX screened games to increase footfall.

Fantasy Sports & Betting Platforms

Platforms like Dream11 and MPL see significant spikes in user activity, boosting their revenue and valuations.

Stocks like Nazara Tech (fantasy investments) and Delta Corp (gaming/casinos) often trade higher on match days. However, regulatory risks associated with betting and fantasy gaming can introduce volatility.

Digital Entertainment & Tech

Cricket viewership drives the usage of OTT platforms and telecom services. JioCinema’s success with IPL streaming reinforced Reliance’s digital strategy.

Data consumption rises sharply during matches, benefiting telecommunications companies like Jio and Airtel. Digital advertising spending during events reached significant numbers, benefiting companies like Google, Meta, and ad-tech firms.


Conclusion

The cricket’s influence on India's stock markets is a complex interaction of economic factors, investor psychology, and deeply ingrained national culture.

There is indeed short-term market volatility due to the sentiment-driven trading around the major cricket tournaments like the World Cup and IPL.

So, this has an overall impact on the stocks that are linked with the cricket or sports sector, as well as a long-term economic impact.

For the last four decades, PINC Wealth Management has been integral, offering expert-driven, research-backed and well-balanced investment opportunities with promising smallcase returns.

We at PINC Wealth offer well-curated smallcase portfolio options that help investors confidently navigate dynamic market conditions, such as cricket or other sports events. Start your smallcase investment today!

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