Mumbai: The ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 in India and Sri Lanka has begun on a record-breaking note on JioStar, registering the biggest-ever opening day across JioHotstar and the Star Sports network for any ICC event.
Opening day consumption across JioStar’s digital and linear platforms grew by 59% compared to the 2024 edition, reaching 14.7 billion minutes. Together, the platforms delivered the largest opening day in ICC Men’s T20 World Cup history. As the day concluded with India beating the USA in their first match of the tournament, JioHotstar recorded a reach of 101.9 million, marking an 81% increase over the previous edition.
India’s opening fixture against the USA also drove strong viewership momentum across platforms. Linear TV ratings rose by 41%, while digital reach surged by 98% compared to India’s first match of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 against Ireland.
Ishan Chatterjee, CEO – Sports, JioStar, said, “The record-breaking viewership for the opening day of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 in India and Sri Lanka demonstrates India’s appetite for innovative broadcast and high-octane on-field action.
“JioStar’s expansive presentation in nine languages coupled with exciting matches have kept fans engaged right since the first match. Such massive engagement creates a powerful ecosystem that ensures our partners and stakeholders derive the maximum value, reaching a diverse, engaged audience at an unmatched scale.”
Anurag Dahiya, ICC Chief Commercial Officer, said, “We are delighted to see the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 begin with such unprecedented momentum. The surge in viewership across linear and digital platforms is a testament to the strength and scale of our partnership with JioStar in delivering a truly world-class broadcast experience, alongside the valued contribution of our broader broadcast and commercial partners.
“Reaching 14.7 billion minutes of consumption on day one alone reflects the extraordinary passion for the tournament and the quality of cricket on display. We look forward to building on this momentum as the event progresses.”
JioStar’s build-up to the tournament had already generated strong buzz, led by the widely appreciated “Champions Backing Champions” film featuring India’s World Cup-winning women’s team supporting the Men in Blue, followed by Rohit Sharma’s call to Team India to “Repeat History and Defeat History.”
With 130+ experts delivering coverage in nine languages, JioHotstar is enhancing the viewing experience through innovations such as MaxView in English and Hindi on mobile and Indian Sign Language coverage for India matches and knockouts, bringing fans closer to the action.
JioStar’s presentation of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka is partnered by Thums Up, OpenAI, Emirates, Sting, Birla Opus, Mahindra & Mahindra Auto, Apollo Tyres, Rapido, Amul, Vanesa, Axis Max Life Insurance, Hyundai, MoneyView, Britannia, Google Pixel, General Insurance Council, Haier and Life Insurance Council.
