India Vs Pakistan Champions Trophy 2025 Match Shatters Viewership Records, Surpasses 2023 World Cup Clash

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The ICC Champions Trophy 2025, hosted in Pakistan and Dubai, has achieved a landmark by becoming the most-watched multi-nation cricket tournament in India.

Surpassing the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup 2023 viewership figures by 23%, this event has underscored the deep-rooted affection and ever-increasing popularity of cricket among Indian audiences. The tournament not only set a new standard for viewership but also highlighted the sport's growing appeal across the country.

A significant feat was the tournament's total watch time, which soared to around 250 billion minutes. This staggering figure was achieved through broadcasts on Star Sports and JioHotstar, with the finale between India and New Zealand on March 9 in Dubai drawing particular attention.

This climactic match alone witnessed peak concurrent viewership numbers of 122 million on TV and 61 million on JioHotstar, establishing a new high for digital cricket viewership.

The grand finale's success was not isolated, as it became the second-highest rated ODI on TV outside of World Cup matches. It attracted 230 million viewers and amassed 53 billion minutes of watch-time across all platforms.

This event's remarkable success was further illustrated by the India-Pakistan league-stage clash, which captivated audiences, making it one of the most viewed ODIs in India. This particular match saw over 26 billion minutes of watch-time on TV, surpassing the viewership figures from their encounter during the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023.

ICC Chair Jay Shah expressed his enthusiasm about the tournament's success, particularly noting the exceptional viewership figures from India, especially for the final between India and New Zealand.

He highlighted the Champions Trophy's significant appeal in India and the positive impact of airing ICC events in various languages to enhance fan engagement. Shah lauded the effective marketing strategy of the Champions Trophy, which played a pivotal role in exciting both existing and new fans, made possible by compelling cricket action throughout the tournament.

The unparalleled viewership numbers are attributed to JioStar's comprehensive coverage, which presented the tournament in multiple languages, catering to a diverse fan base across the country. Broadcasts in English, Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, and Kannada on Star Sports and Sports 18, alongside digital streaming on JioHotstar with 16 feeds, including nine language options, ensured wide accessibility. This extensive coverage strategy, accompanied by specialized feeds, such as those in Indian Sign Language, significantly contributed to the tournament's success.

Jio Star's CEO, Sports, Sanjog Gupta, expressed his delight over the digital viewership numbers, attributing the success to the synergistic effect of extensive, multi-platform sports coverage and innovative storytelling. He emphasized the importance of a targeted marketing approach, which engaged diverse audience segments, further boosted by India's thrilling, undefeated championship run, which significantly increased fan interest and viewership for the final.