Key Highlights
- Digital Explosion: Video views on ICC platforms have jumped 53 percent compared to the 2024 edition.
- App Growth: The official ICC app saw a massive 83 percent spike in users, while website traffic grew by 16 percent.
- The “Nepal Factor”: Following a thrilling clash with England, digital engagement from Nepal skyrocketed by 442 percent.
- Global Expansion: UAE and USA recorded user growth of 196 percent and 49 percent, respectively.
- Language Innovation: For the first time, non,English commentary feeds in Nepali and Hindi became the top,streamed offerings on ICC.tv.
- Stadium Attendance: Over 116,000 fans packed venues across India and Sri Lanka for the opening group stage fixtures.
The International Cricket Council (ICC) officially confirmed on Tuesday, February 10, 2026, that the current T20 World Cup has entered uncharted territory regarding fan engagement. With 647 million video views across all digital channels, the tournament is rapidly becoming the most digitally consumed cricket event in history. This 53 percent increase from the previous edition highlights a fundamental shift in how fans, especially those in emerging markets, are interacting with the sport.
The surge is not merely a reflection of traditional cricket strongholds, but a direct result of the ICC’s expansion strategy. Markets such as Japan, Germany, South Korea, and Italy now account for over a quarter of the total views on ICC.tv. This diversification is largely credited to the “most accessible tournament” initiative, which prioritized digital streaming in regions where traditional broadcast rights were previously limited.
Non,English Commentary Drives Regional Peaks
A pivotal factor in this digital revolution has been the introduction of multi,language feeds on ICC.tv. The decision to launch a dedicated Nepali commentary feed for the England vs. Nepal match on Sunday resulted in a staggering 442 percent increase in platform users from Nepal. Similarly, the Hindi language feed for the India vs. USA clash at Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium drew unprecedented traffic, cementing these two matches as the highest,streamed events of the opening week.
The UAE also demonstrated its status as a growing cricket hub, with a 196 percent rise in users, while the United States saw a 49 percent jump as local interest peaks during its debut on the global stage.
Beyond the Screen: Sold-Out Stadiums
While digital numbers are shattering records, the physical atmosphere in the host nations of India and Sri Lanka remains equally electric. The ICC reported that 116,595 spectators attended the first six matches, with the India vs. USA game leading the tally at 28,726 fans.
Even neutral fixtures, such as New Zealand vs. Afghanistan in Chennai and the Scotland vs. West Indies game in Kolkata, saw significant turnouts exceeding 15,000 spectators. This trend suggests that the pricing strategy and early schedule release have successfully incentivized fans to attend matches that do not involve the home teams. As the tournament progresses toward the highly anticipated India vs. Pakistan clash on February 15, officials expect these record-breaking figures to climb even higher.
