The ICC Men’s Champions Trophy 2025, co-hosted by Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates, has set a new benchmark in global sports broadcasting, becoming the most-watched edition in the tournament’s history. The event not only broke past records but also underscored cricket’s rapidly expanding global footprint.
Records broken 👀
— ICC (@ICC) May 21, 2025
ICC Men's #ChampionsTrophy 2025 hit viewership highs like never before 📈https://t.co/sR6MSnrGrT pic.twitter.com/pC6dQIGzFb
Unprecedented Global Viewership: 368 Billion Minutes
According to the International Cricket Council (ICC), the tournament amassed an astounding 368 billion global viewing minutes, a 19% increase over the previous Champions Trophy held in England and Wales in 2017.
Even more striking was the average of 308 million global viewing minutes per over, the highest ever recorded for any ICC event.
India Crowned Champions After Unbeaten Run
Led by captain Rohit Sharma, India emerged as the undisputed champions of the 2025 edition. The team maintained an unbeaten streak, defeating Australia in a thrilling semi-final and New Zealand in the final held on March 9.
The final match alone drew 65.3 billion live viewing minutes worldwide, surpassing the 2017 final’s viewership by 52.1%. It became the third most-watched ICC match in history by live watch time, ranking just behind the 2023 Cricket World Cup semi-final and final—both of which featured India.
Pakistan and UAE Successfully Co-Host the Event
Despite initial controversy, the hybrid hosting model agreed upon by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) proved effective. The agreement saw India play all their matches in the UAE, including their much-anticipated fixture against host nation Pakistan. Political tensions had prevented India from playing in Pakistan directly.
While Pakistan didn’t replicate their 2017 title-winning performance on the field, the nation saw a 24% rise in viewership during the 2025 tournament—a testament to the local passion and interest in cricket.
Key Nations Set New Records
India
India witnessed record-breaking domestic viewership, thanks in part to inclusive features such as:
- Indian Sign Language commentary
- Audio Descriptive Commentary
These innovations made the event more accessible, significantly boosting domestic engagement.
Australia
In Australia, the Champions Trophy 2025 became the most viewed edition ever, with a 65% increase in viewing hours compared to the 2017 tournament. The availability of a Hindi language feed on Amazon Prime Video also contributed to record viewership for the platform.
United States
Despite less favourable match timings, the United States reported a notable increase in live viewership compared to previous editions, further indicating cricket’s growing appeal beyond traditional markets.
ICC Chairman Praises Record-Breaking Tournament
Jay Shah, Chairman of the ICC, lauded the 2025 Champions Trophy as a groundbreaking moment in cricket broadcasting:
“We are delighted to share that the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 has achieved record-breaking global viewership, making it the most-watched edition to date. These remarkable numbers reflect the growing global appeal of the game and the strength of our partnerships.”
A Testament to Cricket’s Expanding Reach
The 2025 edition of the ICC Men’s Champions Trophy has clearly demonstrated the growing popularity of cricket worldwide, not just in traditional strongholds but also in emerging markets. The combination of competitive cricket, innovative broadcasting, and effective co-hosting between Pakistan and the UAE has set a new gold standard for international cricket events.