NEW DELHI, FEB 24: The highly anticipated India-Pakistan clash in the ongoing ICC Champions Trophy on Sunday shattered viewership records, drawing an unprecedented 60.2 crore viewers on JioHotstar, the newly formed streaming giant created through the merger of JioCinema and Disney+ Hotstar.
The peak concurrency — the highest number of viewers watching the live stream simultaneously — reached its zenith when Indian skipper Virat Kohli struck the winning runs while also completing his 51st century. India successfully chased down Pakistan’s target of 241 runs, sealing the victory in a thrilling finish that kept fans glued to their screens.
The excitement was palpable from the outset. When Mohammed Shami bowled the first over, the platform registered 6.8 crore viewers, a number that steadily climbed as the match progressed. By the final over of Pakistan’s innings, viewership had reached 32.1 crore and rose slightly to 32.2 crore during the innings break.
India’s run chase sparked even greater enthusiasm, with 33.8 crore viewers tuning in as the first ball was bowled. Viewership stabilized at 36.2 crore during the middle overs but surged dramatically in the closing moments as India inched closer to victory, eventually peaking at the record-breaking 60.2 crore.
This milestone marks a significant leap from the previous record of 3.5 crore peak concurrency, achieved during the 2023 ICC Cricket World Cup match between India and Pakistan on Disney+ Hotstar. The Asia Cup also saw high numbers, with 2.8 crore viewers during an India-Pakistan fixture, but Sunday’s clash has set a new benchmark for cricket viewership.
The match was also broadcast live on JioStar, a terrestrial network formed through the merger of Viacom18 and Star India. Official television viewership figures are expected next week from the Broadcast Audience Research Council (BARC).
