The high-voltage India vs Pakistan clash at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 has rewritten the record books.
JioStar, the official digital and broadcast partner of the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026, confirmed that the match delivered an unprecedented digital reach of 163 million, surpassing the viewership of the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2024 Final between India and South Africa.
India’s dominant performance played a crucial role in driving engagement, with digital reach rising 56% compared to the India-Pakistan game in the 2024 edition.
On mobile devices, the fixture recorded the highest reach ever for a league-stage match in ICC T20 history. It attracted 1.2 times more viewers than the last India-Pakistan clash in 2024.
Celebrated as cricket’s Greatest Rivalry, the contest once again demonstrated its unmatched pull, with millions tuning in via JioHotstar.
Large-screen digital consumption saw explosive growth. On Connected TV, reach soared to 2.4 times the 2024 India-Pakistan fixture, highlighting the accelerating shift toward premium, living-room streaming experiences.
This sharp rise reflects the broader trend of Indian households increasingly consuming live sports on smart TVs rather than just mobile screens.
The India-Pakistan showdown generated a staggering 20 billion minutes of watch time across all screens.
Compared to the 2024 encounter, total consumption grew by 42%, underlining both:
The intensity of the rivalry
India’s commanding on-field performance
Stronger digital penetration across markets
India also extended their head-to-head record in ICC Men’s T20 World Cup clashes to 8-1, further adding narrative weight to the fixture.
The excitement was not limited to digital platforms.
The match delivered a TVR increase of 71%, making it the highest-rated India-Pakistan T20 contest since 2021.
This surge underscores the enduring strength of traditional broadcast television, which continues to provide a shared, collective viewing experience during marquee sporting events.
Even before the knockout rounds begin, the cumulative digital reach of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 at the end of the group stage is already set to surpass the total digital reach of the previous edition.
Strong performances from associate nations and competitive fixtures have sustained engagement beyond marquee clashes, contributing to overall growth.
Anup Govindan, Head – Sales, Sports at JioStar, said:
"The India vs Pakistan game had all the ingredients of a true spectacle. The record-breaking reach and engagement reflect the massive scale at which fans interact with this tournament across platforms. The response sets the tone for an exciting ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, with the best moments still to come."
Siddharth Sharma, Head of Content, Sports at JioStar, added:
"The unprecedented viewership for India vs Pakistan is a testament to the nation’s passion for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup. Combining India’s on-field excellence with JioStar’s extensive content offerings, we are giving fans more reasons to stay tuned as India aims to become the first team to win back-to-back T20 World Cups."
With India securing their spot in the Super 8 stage starting February 21, the tournament now enters a decisive phase.
As defending champions, India will aim to maintain momentum and attempt to “repeat and defeat history.”
If current viewership trends continue, the knockout rounds could deliver even bigger milestones for digital and broadcast sports consumption in India.