A new era for Indian cricket commenced with the eagerly awaited five-Test series against England – not only on the pitch with new captain Shubman Gill, but also off the pitch, with JioHotstar at the centre as the digital home for the action.
The Headingley series opener, which also heralded the start of the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) 2025–27 cycle, witnessed record-breaking digital viewership. JioHotstar logged its biggest-ever reach for a Test match with an astonishing 89.1 million viewers and a record 13.7 billion minutes of watch-time, a new high in Indian sports streaming.
A Multilingual, Multidimensional Experience
The Test was streamed in five languages – English, Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, and Kannada – giving fans around the world a truly authentic experience. JioHotstar’s digital-first storytelling and innovative programming added another dimension to the thrill.
The ‘Follow The Blues’ docu-series, providing behind-the-scenes peeks into training camp and team stories, was greeted with avid fan interaction. Providing a touch of levity, ex-India captain Rohit Sharma made a cameo in a tongue-in-cheek promo movie, presenting his own take and “advice” for the series – a nostalgic but comedic chord that struck fans.
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Honouring the Past, Embracing the Future
In the course of the broadcast, a special edition called ‘When India Challenged the Crown’ honored India’s heritage in England, showcasing great Test moments from past tours. With four Tests remaining, the series guarantees even more historical moments and, potentially, more record-breaking digital achievements.
The second Test will commence on July 2 in Birmingham, and expectations are high as India hopes to make a comeback in the series.
WTC Final 2025 Shatters World Records
At the same time, the WTC Final 2025 between Australia and South Africa provided its own historic figures. The electrifying encounter, which witnessed South Africa break their ICC title famine, is now the most-watched non-India Test match in history on linear TV and digital platforms.
The game earned 2.95 billion minutes of TV viewing with a viewership of 47 million, whereas JioHotstar alone attracted 41.4 million digital viewers – a new record breaking the one set in the India vs Australia WTC Final 2023.
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