ipl 2021

IPL 2021 postponed as Covid count increases

Mumbai Indians (MI) – The Winner of IPL 2020

It’s time to sit tight and watch the defending champions Mumbai Indians fight for the winning trophy yet another year.

The 14th edition of the Indian Premier League will commence on 9th April 2021 and will go up to 20th May 2021, where cricket fans all over the world get to rejoice this ultimate sports extravaganza. This year’s IPL T20 will feature some of the most prominent cricket players who have been keeping us glued to our seats with their batting and bowling skills for so many years.

What’s So Exciting and New About This Season?

IPL 2021 will be played in 6 bio-secure locations in India, Chennai, Bengaluru, Ahmedabad, Mumbai, New Delhi, and Kolkata. Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the 13th edition of the IPL was played in the UAE in Sharjah, Abu Dhabi, and Dubai. Mumbai Indians won the match against Delhi Capitals in Dubai in 2020. But this year, it is being hosted in India. It is a 52-day tournament and there will be 60 matches.

IPL 2021 Teams | Winning Stats | Records

Team Captain Title Winning Year(s)
Mumbai Indian Rohit Sharma 2013, 2015, 2017, 2019, 2020
Chennai Super Kings MS Dhoni 2010, 2011, 2018
Kolkata Knight Rider Dinesh Karthik 2012, 2014
Rajasthan Royals Steve Smith 2008
Sunrisers Hyderabad David Warner 2016
Royal Challengers Bengaluru Virat Kohli
Delhi Capitals Shreyas Iyer
Kings XI Punjab KL Rahul

Ways to Watch T20 IPL Cricket Live

If you are so used to watching IPL matches on the TV and mobile screen, you can go for a different perspective and enjoy the game live. The tickets are available at IPL’s official website.

You can also check these broadcasting channels in different countries that will bring IPL to your home TV screens live.

  • Star Sports – india India
  • ESPN – united-states-of-america United States and canada Canada
  • Sky Sports – united-kingdom United Kingdom
  • Fox Sports – australia Australia

If you have not subscribed to the above channels, IPL live streaming option is available on its official streaming application – Hotstar.

Though Hotstar requires a premium subscription to access its complete library, live events like the T20 IPL matches are free to watch.

But, unfortunately, Hotstar doesn’t work outside the US, Canada, UK, and India, due to geo-blocks. That’s where a VPN can help you. More than unblocking geo-based censorship, a VPN ensures a secure streaming experience.

Why Should You Use a VPN to Stream T20 IPL Live Online?

In general, if you try to stream Hotstar videos from your home country, you will either experience a blackout warning message or get access to the regional version of the content. Moreover, the US version of Hotstar doesn’t have a free plan, unlike the Indian version.

Using a VPN service saves you from blackouts and allows you to consume international content from anywhere in the world. If you are so keen about streaming the IPL T20 event away from India for free, you need to go for a premium VPN service provider.

A VPN or a Virtual Private Network lets you replace your IP address with a new one and puts your device into a new location virtually. It thus tricks Hotstar to think that you are trying to access its content from India. This geo-spoofing technique can also save your online activities from the prying eyes of your ISP and other offensive third parties like hackers and advertisers.

There are a lot of premium VPN service providers with advanced features and extensive server networks that will allow you to pick an IP from India and experience the best quality streams.

If you are feeling overwhelmed to choose the best VPN provider for your streaming needs, take a look at our list of recommendations that will ease your job.

Top VPNs recommended for streaming T20 IPL 2021

  • NordVPN
  • ExpressVPN
  • Surfshark VPN

NordVPN – #1 Choice for streaming T20 IPL 2021

NordVPN is compatible with almost all major devices and they operate more than a whopping 5000 servers in over 60 countries. Some of the features they offer include a 256-bit AES encrypted connection, an in-built CyberSec feature that blocks ads and protects you against malware attacks. Additionally, there is a DoubleVPN feature that provides dual encryption for an extra layer of privacy. You can use all these features of NordVPN on 6 different devices at the same time. Some of the specialty servers of NordVPN include features like Onion Network Over VPNs, P2P connections, dedicated IP address, and streaming optimized servers.

NordVPN has more than 18 servers in India. So, getting an Indian IP will surely be a piece of cake, using which you can enjoy the best quality streams of T20 IPL on Hotstar.

You can also check our expert-evaluated NordVPN review to know if it matches your streaming and privacy needs.

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  • 5200+ servers in 62 countries
  • Use up to 6 devices
  • Next-generation Encryption
  • Double VPN Feature
  • Strict no-logs policy

ExpressVPN – Fastest VPN for sports streams

ExpressVPN remains one of the most popular VPN providers in the industry due to its feature-packed attribute, fast speeds, user-friendliness, and efficiency in streaming. ExpressVPN’s security credentials do not disappoint privacy nerds. The provider has its business headquarters in the British Virgin Islands, which is outside the scope of any international surveillance programs. Moreover, ExpressVPN maintains a strict no-log policy.

On the security hemisphere, ExpressVPN has a vibrant set of cybersecurity features, which include robust encryption/tunneling protocols, network kill switch, leak protection, and the TrustedServer technology that wipes out all user data on ExpressVPN’s servers.

ExpressVPN has Indian servers located in Mumbai and Chennai. With these high-speed VPN servers, you can easily unblock the Indian version of Hotstar and watch the T20 IPL event live without any lag or buffer, just like how you stream it using a regular connection.

To know what our team of specialists say about this VPN provider, you can read our ExpressVPN review and gain some useful insights on its features, pricing, and more.

expressvpn logo
  • 160 server locations
  • Network Lock kill switch
  • Zero-knowledge DNS
  • VPN split tunneling
  • Stream Sports online

Surfshark VPN – Allows unlimited connections to watch the IPL Cricket Match

Though Surfshark is a relatively new provider in the VPN industry, it has managed to enter into the list of top 10 VPN providers by earning customers’ trust. It offers robust data security, uncompromising anonymity, and fast speeds at an incredibly affordable price. The security features of Surfshark keeps getting better each time.

It uses the strongest AES-256-GCM encryption, which is almost impossible to decrypt. This provider also has an automatic internet kill switch that deactivates your internet connection, if your VPN network drops unexpectedly. With Surfshark’s built-in DNS, WebRTC, and IPv6 leak protection features, one can assure that it doesn’t have DNS or IP leak issues.

Surfshark VPN’s Indian server locations include Mumbai and Chennai. With these streaming-friendly servers, you can safely stream Hotstar without any buffer or interruption.

If you are interested to know more about this VPN’s functionality and pricing structure, you can go through our Surfshark VPN review.

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  • Connect unlimited Devices
  • AES-256-GCM encryption
  • IP & DNS leak protection
  • Unlimited bandwidth
  • Free Browser Extensions
  • Strict no-logs policy

How to Stream IPL Cricket Live Outside India?

It doesn’t matter if you live in the US, UK, Canada, Australia, or anywhere far from India, getting an Indian IP address and streaming the most-watched IPL Cricket is an easy breeze with a Virtual Private Network.

Here’s a step-by-step procedural guide that will help unblock the official streaming site of IPL 2021, Hotstar.

  • Choose one of the VPN providers suggested above. If you are geographically far away from India, NordVPN will be our recommendation.
  • Download and Install the application.
  • Sign in and choose a VPN server from India.
  • Install the Hotstar application on your preferred device and sign up/sign in. Alternatively, you can also visit https://www.hotstar.com/in
  • Start watching the IPL 2021 matches free.

You can also check our extensive guide about unblocking Hotstar that tells you more about its content, subscription plans, and techniques to bypass blackouts.

Concluding Thoughts

Cricket is indeed an addictive sport for both the players as well as the spectators, especially the T20 IPL event is celebrated by millions of cricket fans in India and abroad. You can also be a part of this celebration and cheer your favorite team from anywhere on the planet. Get the right VPN provider today and start streaming the matches on Hotstar.