Champions Trophy 2025 Becomes Most-Watched Multi-Nation Cricket Tournament in India

The ICC Men’s Champions Trophy 2025 has etched its name in the record books, becoming the highest-rated multi-nation cricket tournament ever broadcast in India, according to official data released after the tournament’s dramatic conclusion.

Held in Dubai, the eight-team event culminated with a blockbuster final between India and New Zealand on March 9, which saw a staggering peak TV concurrency of 122 million viewers and 61 million digital viewers on JioHotstar—the highest ever recorded for any cricket event outside an ICC World Cup.

The total watch time across the event was a colossal 250 billion minutes137 billion on Star Sports and 110 billion on JioHotstar surpassing the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 viewership by 23 percent, making the Champions Trophy 2025 an undisputed triumph both on and off the field.

A Final That Delivered on All Fronts

The India vs New Zealand final delivered more than just a thrilling contest; it cemented its place in broadcast history. With 230 million viewers tuning in on television alone and 53 billion minutes of combined viewership across platforms, the final became the second-highest rated ODI in history (excluding World Cup matches).

For Indian fans, it was a dream tournament  capped off by an unbeaten campaign and a championship that came with memorable wins, most notably against rivals Pakistan and in the final against a resilient New Zealand.

India vs Pakistan Match Breaks ODI Records

As expected, the India vs Pakistan group stage clash on February 23 in Dubai was one of the tournament’s most watched spectacles. Drawing over 206 million linear TV viewers, the match clocked 26.5 billion viewing minutes, a 10.8% increase over the same clash from the 2023 World Cup in Ahmedabad.

The surge in viewership was a testament to the drama and quality of cricket that India-Pakistan fixtures continue to deliver, as Virat Kohli’s match-winning knock ensured India extended its ICC dominance over Pakistan.

Massive Multi-Language and Multi-Platform Reach

A key factor in the tournament’s success was JioStar’s expansive and inclusive broadcast strategy. The tournament was aired on Star Sports and Sports18, covering English, Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, and Kannada, while JioHotstar streamed it in nine languages including Marathi, Haryanvi, Bengali, Bhojpuri, and Indian Sign Language.

In total, the digital coverage spanned 16 feeds, featuring unique offerings like multi-cam angles and Max View mode, further enriching the experience for fans.

What Drove the Numbers

According to ICC Chair Jay Shah, the record-breaking numbers are a result of smart strategy and fan-first broadcasting:

“The Champions Trophy made an amazing return after eight years and the viewership numbers from India have been overwhelming. The tournament’s appeal, backed by regional language content and engaging cricket, has clearly struck a chord with fans.”

JioStar CEO Sanjog Gupta credited the network’s data-backed storytelling approach and content customization for the tournament’s explosive growth:

“The mega-casts, wide regional outreach, and cohort-based marketing were key. India’s unbeaten run added to the momentum and drove unprecedented engagement.”

India’s Continued Cricketing Supremacy

India’s consistent performance on the field and the cultural weight of cricket in the country remain central to this record. Beyond the numbers, it reflects a growing trend in language-inclusive, multi-platform sports viewing, with broadcasters investing in technology, regional penetration, and fan-centric storytelling.

As the dust settles on Champions Trophy 2025, two things are clear: India remains the heartbeat of global cricket, and fans are consuming the game in more ways, languages, and platforms than ever before.

With T20 World Cup 2026 on the horizon, the ICC will now look to replicate this success across future global events. But for now, the Champions Trophy 2025 stands tall as a landmark tournament in every sense, on the pitch and on the screen.