India-England Semi-Final Shatters Global Streaming Records 

Hyderabad: The ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 has etched its name in the history books of digital media, with the high-octane semi-final between India and England on March 5 breaking all previous global streaming records.

India’s premier digital platform, JioHotstar, reported an unprecedented 65.2 million peak concurrent viewers during the knockout clash. This figure represents the highest concurrency ever achieved for any live event on a digital platform worldwide, surpassing the previous global benchmark of 65 million set in November 2024. Notably, JioHotstar’s record was driven almost entirely by a single market, showcasing the immense scale of Indian cricket fandom.

A Historic Night for Digital Cricket

• The match was not just a battle of boundaries but a massive digital wave. According to official data:
• Total Views: The game garnered 619 million views on JioHotstar, making it the most-streamed T20 International match in history.
• Watch-time: Across both television and digital screens, fans consumed an extraordinary 23 billion minutes of content.
• Combined Reach: The broadcast reached over 320 million viewers collectively.
• The match itself lived up to the hype, producing a staggering 499 runs across two innings, keeping fans glued to their mobile and TV screens until the final ball.

Leadership Perspectives
ICC Chairman Jay Shah expressed his pride in the milestone, stating, “The remarkable numbers recorded during the India vs England semi-final demonstrate not only the passion of cricket fans but also the tremendous progress being made in making the game more accessible and engaging for audiences everywhere.”

Uday Shankar, Vice-Chairman of JioStar, highlighted the technological feat required to manage such a massive influx of users. “One in every three Indians tuned in to watch the second semi-final. When hundreds of millions of people tune in, it takes the best of technology to deliver. This is what the future of entertainment looks like,” he remarked.

Eyes on the Grand Finale
By registering 619 million views, this semi-final comfortably eclipsed the previous record of 533 million views set during the 2024 T20 World Cup final.

The stage is now set for the ultimate showdown as India prepares to face New Zealand in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 Final. The match is scheduled for March 8 at the iconic Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. With the momentum of these record-breaking numbers, the final is expected to push the boundaries of global sports viewership even further.