India vs Pakistan Shatters Digital Records: 163 Million Reach for T20 World Cup Clash

India delivered a commanding performance against Pakistan in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, securing a 61-run victory at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on February 15. Beyond the result, the fixture established a new benchmark for digital consumption in cricket history, with official broadcaster JioStar reporting a digital reach of 163 million.

Unprecedented Viewership Numbers

The high-stakes Group A encounter surpassed the digital reach of all previous ICC T20 World Cup matches, including the 2024 final between India and South Africa. JioStar confirmed the fixture generated 20 billion minutes of total watch time across platforms. This represents a 56% increase in reach compared to the India-Pakistan group stage match during the 2024 edition.

This surge in engagement underscores the growing dominance of digital streaming in sports media, driven by high smartphone penetration and accessible data plans across the subcontinent. The International Cricket Council (ICC) has continued to prioritize digital expansion for global tournaments.

Match Report: Kishan Leads Aggressive Batting Display

After being sent in to bat, India posted a competitive total of 175 for 7. The innings began with early drama when Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha introduced spin in the first over, resulting in the dismissal of Abhishek Sharma. However, Ishan Kishan countered immediately, pulling Shaheen Shah Afridi for a six on his first delivery.

Kishan anchored the innings with a strike rate of 192.50, scoring 77 runs off 40 balls. His partnership with Tilak Varma helped India reach 52 for 1 after the powerplay. Kishan brought up his half-century in 27 balls before falling to Saim Ayub. The middle order provided stability, with Suryakumar Yadav contributing 32 and Shivam Dube adding 27. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) selection of power-hitters proved effective on the Ahmedabad surface.

Pakistan’s Tactical Gamble

Pakistan employed a spin-heavy strategy, utilizing six different spin bowlers during the innings. This set a new record for the most spinners used by a team in a T20 World Cup match and equaled the record for a Full Member nation in T20 Internationals. Saim Ayub was the pick of the bowlers, taking 3 for 25, including the wickets of Tilak Varma and Hardik Pandya.

The Chase: India Bowlers Dismantle Pakistan

Pakistan’s pursuit of 176 never gained momentum. The Indian bowling attack, led by Jasprit Bumrah, applied consistent pressure. Hardik Pandya dismissed opener Shahibzada Farhan for a duck, triggering a top-order collapse. Despite a resilient 44 off 34 balls from Usman Khan, the required run rate climbed steadily.

Indian spinners Axar Patel (2/29) and Varun Chakravarthy (2/16) controlled the middle overs, while Bumrah (2/17) effectively closed out the innings. Pakistan was bowled out for 114 in 17.5 overs, confirming India’s unbeaten progression to the Super Eight stage.

Match Summary Statistics

Key Records Broken

• Highest Digital Reach: 163 million unique viewers (JioStar).
• Watch Time: 20 billion minutes cumulative.
• Bowling Record: Pakistan used 6 spinners, a T20 World Cup record.