Cricket fans across North America have a new reason to cheer as Willow, the premier cricket broadcaster in the region, launches its flagship Willow and Willow 2 networks on YouTube TV, announced earlier today. The timing couldn’t be better: the Indian Premier League (IPL), the world’s most-watched T20 cricket tournament, kicks off this Saturday, March 22, and will now stream live to YouTube TV’s 8 million-plus subscribers. The move, pairing two cricket powerhouses with Google’s streaming giant, promises to amplify the sport’s growing foothold in the U.S. and Canada.
“Cricket is winning over fans across North America, and Willow is fueling this growing passion by offering unmatched access to the sport,” said Todd Myers, COO of Willow. “With our launch of Willow and Willow 2 on YouTube TV—fans can enjoy even more ways to watch live matches and highlights. With the IPL starting this weekend, this is the perfect opportunity to bring the world’s most popular T20 tournament to YouTube TV’s millions of subscribers.” Available via YouTube TV’s NFL RedZone with Sports Plus add-on for $10.99 monthly (on top of the $82.99 base plan), the networks deliver comprehensive coverage of global cricket, including live IPL matches, highlights, and top tournaments from boards like India, Australia, and England.
Willow’s expansion onto YouTube TV marks its latest push to dominate cricket streaming. Since the 2024 Major League Cricket season, the service has inked deals with Fubo, YES Network, ROOT Sports, NBC Sports Bay Area, Monumental Sports, and Bally Sports, alongside launching Willow Sports. With Willow and Willow 2, fans get dual feeds—ideal for overlapping matches—covering marquee events beyond the IPL, like the Big Bash League and international Test series. “It’s a cricket buffet now,” one X user posted, reflecting early excitement, though some noted the extra cost atop YouTube TV’s base fee.
Reaching over 5 million fans in the U.S. and Canada, Willow bills itself as North America’s cricket hub, uniquely positioned to tap the Asian Indian diaspora—the fastest-growing U.S. demographic and a passionate cricket base. Myers highlighted its appeal to advertisers, targeting an affluent, educated audience hooked on stars like Virat Kohli and matches drawing 200 million-plus global viewers per IPL season. The YouTube TV launch, just days after Roku added Monster Jam, underscores streaming’s sports boom—43.5% of U.S. TV viewing in February 2025—and Willow’s bid to ride that wave.
For YouTube TV subscribers, Willow and Willow 2 join a sports lineup including ESPN and FS1, with the IPL’s March 22 opener—likely Mumbai Indians vs. Chennai Super Kings—set to test the partnership’s draw. As cricket’s North American fandom swells, this deal could be a game-changer, bringing stumps and sixes to more screens than ever—just in time for Saturday’s first bowl.
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