For weeks, it felt like the India–Pakistan T20 World Cup 2026 game might not even happen. There were boycott threats from Pakistan, boardroom ultimatums, and emergency ICC meetings in Lahore. And yet, when the first ball was finally bowled in Colombo, the spectacle was bigger than ever. In trying to shake the tournament, the drama may well have amplified it, resulting in a new viewership record at JioHotstar.
New India-Pakistan record
What began as a standoff over Bangladesh’s withdrawal and Pakistan’s initial threat to boycott the fixture ended in a U-turn. Sanctions were discussed. Financial penalties were floated. The PCB reportedly pushed for concessions. Eventually, Islamabad directed the team to play. The cricket survived and the numbers exploded.
According to JioStar, the official broadcast and digital partner in India, the India vs Pakistan clash on JioHotstar recorded an unprecedented digital reach of 163 million (16.30 crore), which is the highest match reach for any ICC T20 event. It even surpassed the digital viewership of the 2024 T20 World Cup final between India and South Africa.
The growth was sharp. The game registered a 56% jump in reach compared to the India–Pakistan clash in the 2024 edition. On mobile alone, it became the highest league-stage reach for any ICC T20 event, clocking 1.2 times the numbers of the previous India–Pakistan encounter. On connected TV (CTV), the reach was 2.4 times higher than the 2024 fixture.
If there was any doubt about the pull of this rivalry, the watch-time figures erased it. The match generated a staggering 20 billion minutes of total watch time across screens, a 42% increase over the previous edition’s fixture. India’s commanding 61-run win stretched their T20 World Cup head-to-head record over Pakistan to 8-1.
The contest delivered a 71% TVR growth, becoming the highest-rated India–Pakistan T20 clash on TV since 2021. Even in the streaming era, appointment viewing remains very real.
“The build-up to the India vs Pakistan game at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 and the match itself had all the ingredients of a spectacle. The record-breaking reach and consumption reflect the scale at which fans all over engage with this tournament across platforms,” said Anup Govindan, Head – Sales, Sports, JioStar.
“The unprecedented viewership and engagement numbers for India vs Pakistan is further proof of the nation’s obsession with the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup,” added Siddharth Sharma, Head of Content, Sports – JioStar.
Cricket
Boycott drama plays in ICC's hands as India vs Pakistan T20 World Cup match sets new records
