The ICC Men’s Champions Trophy 2025 has etched its name in cricket history—not just for the on-field action, but for smashing global broadcast viewership records, the International Cricket Council (ICC) revealed on Wednesday.
Jointly hosted by Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates, the tournament amassed an astounding 368 billion global viewing minutes, making it the most-watched edition of the Champions Trophy ever. This marks a 19% increase in viewership compared to the previous tournament held in England and Wales in 2017.
A standout statistic from the event: it generated a record-breaking 308 million global viewing minutes per over—more than any previous ICC event.
The final, held in Dubai on March 9, saw India defeat New Zealand in a thrilling showdown. That match alone attracted 65.3 billion live viewing minutes worldwide, breaking the previous Champions Trophy final record by a staggering 52.1%. It now ranks as the third most-watched ICC match globally in terms of live watch time, and the third most-watched in India, behind only the 2023 World Cup semi-final and final.
India’s coverage, spread across 29 channels and nine languages, featured a range of inclusive broadcasting enhancements—such as Indian Sign Language interpretation and Audio Descriptive Commentary. The event also saw the return of the vertical “MaxView” mobile feed, developed with the ICC to offer a more engaging digital experience. These efforts helped make the Champions Trophy 2025 the most-watched edition in India to date.
Australia also recorded its highest-ever viewership for a Champions Trophy, with a 65% increase in watch time compared to 2017. Amazon Prime Video, which exclusively streamed the tournament, delivered the strongest viewership figures of any ICC event on the platform, boosted by the introduction of a Hindi language commentary option.
In the United States, despite time zone challenges, viewership rose by 38% compared to the previous edition, showing increasing interest in the sport across American audiences.
Back home in Pakistan, even though the national team couldn’t defend their 2017 title, the tournament still enjoyed a 24% boost in viewing hours compared to their last championship-winning campaign.
Reflecting on the tournament’s resounding success, ICC Chairman Jay Shah remarked:
“We are thrilled to announce that the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 has achieved record-breaking viewership, making it the most-watched edition in history. The incredible numbers underscore the global growth of cricket and the value of our broadcasting partnerships.”
He further added:
“It’s especially encouraging to see significant growth in emerging cricket markets like Australia and the U.S. These milestones highlight the game’s expanding global reach and the unwavering passion of fans worldwide.”
The Champions Trophy 2025 didn’t just crown a champion—it cemented cricket’s status as a truly global spectacle.
