Cricket Fever: Mumbai Indians

Production

When Netflix wanted to create content for Indian viewers, Condé Nast Entertainment’s Alexander Edgington said a cricket show was a natural choice. He explained that cricket is deeply embedded in Indian culture, alongside Bollywood. The goal was to make the series engaging for both newcomers and seasoned fans who already know terms like “googly.” The Mumbai Indians were chosen partly because the Ambani family owns the team, which Edgington believed would draw viewer interest. Netflix confirmed on February 4, 2019, that the series would launch in 190 countries on March 1, 2019.

Reception

Firstpost's review noted that despite a flaw or two, the docu-series has enough novelty to keep viewers invested. Medium wrote that the main problem is a lack of focused narrative but concluded it is a must-watch for Indian, Mumbai Indians, or IPL fans.

The Indian Express and The Hindustan Times each gave the series 3.5 stars out of 5, while NDTV gave 3 stars out of 5. Decider found the series enjoyable even for viewers unfamiliar with cricket, comparing it to HBO's Hard Knocks and stating it has established characters and storyline. The website recommended that readers stream the series.