New Delhi, March 4: The ongoing T20 World Cup has officially become the most-watched edition in the tournament’s history, with viewership in India alone exceeding 500 million. International Cricket Council (ICC) Chairman Jay Shah confirmed the record-breaking figures on Wednesday, noting that the event has surpassed all previous broadcasting benchmarks.
The 2026 tournament, jointly hosted by India and Sri Lanka, was designed to be the most accessible cricket event to date. Officials stated that high-stakes matches and a surge in digital consumption were the primary drivers behind the unprecedented growth. This success follows the momentum of the 2025 Champions Trophy, which previously set records with 250 billion minutes of total watch-time.
Jay Shah affirmed that the achievement aligned with the ICC’s long-term strategy. “The journey of the T20 World Cup 2026 began with the ambition to make it the most global and accessible cricket event ever,” Shah stated via his official social media handle. He declared himself “humbled” by the immense response from fans, which has already eclipsed the viewership totals from the 2024 edition held in the Americas.
Digital platforms have seen a similar spike in engagement. Shah noted that concurrent viewership on JioHotstar reached a peak of 60.5 million during the tournament. He maintained that with the knockout stages beginning tonight, the sport is poised to set further milestones before the final on March 8.
The ICC Chairman asserted that the “immeasurable love” from Indian supporters remains a cornerstone of the sport’s commercial and cultural expansion. As the semifinals approach, organizers expect the final broadcast figures to widen the gap between this event and all prior global cricket competitions.
