New Delhi, Mar 5: The ongoing T20 World Cup has shattered all broadcasting records, with viewership surpassing 500 million—the highest ever in the tournament’s history, ICC Chairman Jay Shah said on Wednesday.
The tournament has been described as the most global and accessible edition yet, with strong viewership growth driven by high-stakes matches and digital engagement, key goals set by the ICC before the event began.
An elated Shah posted on his X handle: “The journey of the @ICC #T20WorldCup 2026 began with the ambition to make it the most #global & #accessible cricket event ever. I am humbled that viewership for the event in India has crossed 500 million, the highest ever for any T20 World Cup in history.
“It was also heartening to see concurrent viewers on @JioHotstar hit a peak of 60.5 million. With the knockout matches starting tonight, we hope the immense love from Indian fans helps break even more records.”
Although the two semifinals and the final are yet to be played, viewership has already surpassed the figures from the last edition held in the Americas in 2024.
These record-breaking numbers follow the massive success of the 2025 Champions Trophy, which recorded 250 billion minutes of watch-time and a peak of 122 million TV viewers.
Jointly hosted by India and Sri Lanka, the T20 World Cup began on February 7 and will conclude on March 8. (Agency)
