Cricket is still a game followed under Country banner - most fans of every major T20 league's country will prefer T20I WC over any PL or SL. But, IPL is fun also and the quality of cricket is high. Another factor is in IPL, more or less on papers every team is equal (same for most draft systems), hence every team starts with almost equal chances of making the play-offs, it's on game performance that eventually filters the top 4. Still, no comparison with the appeal of International cricket. Even during it's peak years of relative popularity (1895-1912), English County cricket was never even remotely close to the appeal of an Ashes, but County was more popular than a Test series with South Africa.
It would have been opposite for soccer in Europe - World Cup will be behind in priority over EPL, La Liga, Seria A, Bundes Liga, Liege 1, Eredevise ..... I think, it might be only in Germany & France that the poll could be close, but in England, Spain, Italy......pools should be close but in favor of league. In fact in Spain, it's opposite - their fans prioritize the two Clubs over National team; one main reason Spain has been the biggest under achievers in soccer history. Also, same in Netherlands as well - Ajax, Feyenoord, PSV over the Orange, hence they are also under achievers.
