Oscar Piastri is set to closely follow the Indian Premiere League for the first time this year. This highly popular cricket tournament garners a massive audience in India, with millions of viewers tuning in annually. As the IPL gains global recognition, McLaren F1 driver Oscar Piastri expressed his interest in watching the league this season.
The Tata IPL, now in its seventeenth season in 2024, features ten teams competing for the championship. Piastri announced on a social media platform that he would be following the league this year and sought suggestions from his followers on which team to support during his inaugural season as a spectator.
Given his nationality, Piastri may have a preference for supporting Australian players in the IPL. Captaining the victorious 2023 Men’s World Cup team, MS Dhoni, and talented bowler Virat Kohli were the highest-paid players in the 2024 Tata IPL auction. Consequently, Piastri might lean towards supporting Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) and Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) this season.
Expressing his excitement for the IPL, Piastri asked for recommendations on which team to support, signaling his eagerness to immerse himself in the tournament. Karun Chandhok, one of only two Indians to have competed in a Formula 1 Grand Prix, responded to Piastri’s post. Chandhok suggested that the Australian driver should lend his support to Chennai Super Kings (CSK) this year, likely due to the presence of Indian cricket legend MS Dhoni. It is worth noting that Piastri previously taunted Chandhok after Australia’s victory over India in the 2023 Men’s World Cup final.
On the other hand, Formula E driver encouraged Piastri to cheer for Mumbai Indians (MI). Australia’s delivered an impressive performance for Mumbai in their match against Sunrisers Hyderabad, led by Pat Cummins, despite SRH emerging as the victors. Both Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings have a rich history of success in the IPL, with each team securing five IPL titles.
It would undoubtedly please Indian Formula 1 fans to see Oscar Piastri become a supporter of the IPL. The Australian driver has had a fondness for cricket for many years, but he has never truly followed the premier T20 cricket league before. As the seventeenth season of the IPL approaches, it remains to be seen which team Piastri will ultimately choose to support.