In the thrilling closing stages of the India-New Zealand match, a record-breaking 43 million viewers tuned in, surpassing the previous peak of 35 million during the India-Pakistan clash. As India closed in on a well-deserved victory, led by Virat Kohli’s masterful innings, the excitement reached a fever pitch.
In India, a young boy would excitedly inform his family, “Mahi maar raha hai” about the free-spirited MS Dhoni, prompting people to gather around their screens. However, the narrative shifted during this modern age of cricket. The peak concurrent viewership numbers on Hotstar, the live streaming platform of the ODI World Cup, began to soar as Kohli worked his magic. Starting at 37 million, the numbers swelled to 38 when Kohli effortlessly dispatched the ball for a boundary. With victory within grasp, the focal point shifted to whether Kohli could secure his 49th ODI century and join the ranks of his idol, Sachin Tendulkar. A mere five runs were needed, and a six would seal the deal, while a four would inch him closer. Kohli’s century wasn’t meant to be.
Nevertheless, those captivating 15 minutes led to a staggering peak viewership of 43 million on Hotstar, a number that significantly exceeded New Zealand’s entire population, which is a little over 5 million. This new viewership record comfortably surpassed the previous peak of 35 million, set during the India-Pakistan encounter earlier in the tournament.
Peak concurrent viewership offers a glimpse into the story, emphasizing that when the Indian cricket team embarks on a winning streak towards a world title, whether in T20 or ODI, fans across the nation and beyond tune in. The International Cricket Council (ICC) rightly recognizes India as not just a key market but “The Key Market.” Approximately 85% of the ICC’s broadcast revenue for 2024-2027 comes from India.
What is happening in other countries?
England, another key market for the ICC, lacks free-to-air coverage for the World Cup. Despite Australia’s impressive five-time championship history, only their home games are freely accessible, as cricket doesn’t hold the top spot in the sports hierarchy there.
In the modern era, star power exerts a more significant influence on viewership. The example of IPL 2023, where high viewership coincided with the rumors of Dhoni’s farewell, illustrates this point. “In sports worldwide, viewership and consumption are now driven by superstars like Ronaldo and Messi in football, Lebron James in basketball, and recently Travis Kelce in the NFL,” observes Yannick Colaco, Co-founder of Fancode.
Notably, closely contested matches attract more viewers than those purely fueled by hype and rivalry (India-Pakistan fixtures are heading in that direction). The third-highest peak digital viewership in cricket history, at 32 million, was for the rain-affected IPL 2023 final featuring CSK and Gujarat Titans, which concluded with a thrilling last-ball finish.
It’s unsurprising that the top five ranked peak viewership moments all hail from cricket and were recorded in the current year. This trend reflects not only India’s growing passion for live streaming content but also the game’s increasing digital footprint.
This surge in digital viewership has notably affected India matches. The 2019 ODI World Cup had a previous peak in digital viewership, set during India’s heartbreaking semi-final loss to New Zealand (25.2 million), which still ranks sixth all-time. In comparison, non-India matches have seen peak viewership in the range of 5-10 million.
Cricket at the LA28 Olympics
The surge in cricket’s popularity among India’s fans has played a crucial role in the sport’s inclusion in the LA28 Olympics. If you’re looking to place your bets online, make sure to use your Pin Up bet login for easy access to exciting sports events and games, including the Olympics.. The LA Games’ representatives highlighted T20 cricket’s fast and captivating format, catering to an estimated 2.5 billion fans worldwide, with Virat Kohli holding the title of the “third most followed athlete in the world” on Instagram, with the majority of his followers hailing from India or having Indian connections.
With internet penetration and digital adoption on the rise, cricket’s viewership records may reach new heights. If Rohit Sharma’s India continues its impressive journey in the World Cup’s knockout rounds, it’s quite likely that more headline-making numbers are on the horizon.
