Tuesday, October 13, 2026

Cricket Continues To Surge In Popularity

  • Tournament posts record-level attendance, streaming totals.
  • Event success extends a run of historic growth this year for the sport.
ICC

Want more from Front Office Sports
in your search results?

Add Front Office Sports on Google

This year has been perhaps the most impactful ever in cricket’s long history, and the recently concluded ICC Cricket World Cup provided another major victory.

The international championship tournament, held in India, drew a record attendance of 1.25 million, surpassing the prior mark of 1.02 million set for the 2015 event in Australia/New Zealand and smashing the 752,000 who attended the England/Wales tournament in 2019.

“The staggering attendance demonstrates the enduring appeal of cricket and excitement the [one-day international] format continues to offer,” said Chris Tetley, head of events for the International Cricket Council, the sport’s governing body.

Disney’s Hotstar topped 59 million concurrent viewers for the tournament final in which Australia upset the host nation India. The figure set a new record for global on-demand video streaming for the tournament final match and added a whopping 24 million concurrent viewers to a prior streaming record set just last month.

The new records follow months of meteoric growth for cricket, a run that includes inclusion in the 2028 Summer Olympics, the U.S. hosting the 2024 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, the debut of Major League Cricket in America, heightened investor interest in team deals, and the completion of lucrative media rights contracts.

Download the FOS App

The business of sports, in your pocket.

QR code to download the app

Scan the QR code to get the app now.

Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

How Real American Freestyle Thinks It Could Change Wrestling

RAF has renegotiated its media-rights deal with Fox Nation eight times.
FILE PHOTO: Cricket - Indian Premier League - IPL - Mumbai Indians v Chennai Super Kings - Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai, India - April 23, 2026 Mumbai Indians' Suryakumar Yadav in action

India Is Stealing Cricket’s Throne From England and Australia

India’s insatiable appetite for cricket has shifted the traditional locus of power.
Exclusive

NFL Flag Championship Sees Highest Rating Yet

In its third year, the NFL Flag Championships delivered record viewership.
Cricket - Indian Premier League - IPL - Final - Royal Challengers Bengaluru v Punjab Kings - Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad, India - June 4, 2025 Royal Challengers Bengaluru's Rajat Patidar lifts the trophy as he celebrates with teammates after winning the Indian Premier League

How Private Equity Fell in Love With Indian Cricket

India’s U.S.-style cricket league has become a private-equity playground.
podcast thumbnail mobile
Front Office Sports Today

10/13/26 – Quinn On Hot Seat, Dream’s Arena Crunch, FOS “Tuned In” Preview

0:00

Featured Today

Oct 5, 2026; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Penguins general manager Kyle Dubas arrives at the arena before the Penguins host the Winnipeg Jets at PPG Paints Arena

NHL’s New Wave of GMs Is Built Different

“I am in the prediction business,” Devils GM Sunny Mehta tells FOS.
Action Images/Peter Cziborra
October 9, 2026

Is Leicester City’s $264 Million Price Tag Too Rich for Hungry Investors?

After falling from grace, how much is a former top club worth?
Oct 3, 2026; Starkville, Mississippi, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide head coach Kalen DeBoer waits to run onto the field prior to the game against the Mississippi State Bulldogs at Davis Wade Stadium at Scott Field. Mandatory Credit: Petre Thomas-Imagn Images
October 7, 2026

Who Is Alabama Football in Year 3 Under Kalen DeBoer?

The No. 6 Crimson Tide host No. 2 Georgia on Saturday.
Cubs behind the scenes
October 6, 2026

Hollywood and TikTok: Sports Media’s New ‘Blueprint’

Teams and leagues are pouring money into the quest for fans.
October 2, 2026

How the Baseball Cap Became a ‘Behemoth’

The hat has become essential for athletes, fans, and the sports-agnostic.
Jul 30, 2022; Irvine, CA, USA; A general view of the official NFL balls on the field during Los Angeles Rams training camp at University of California Irvine.

Saudi Arabia Wants to Bring American Football to the Middle East

The Middle Eastern nation wants to host major football events.
Noah Lyles (USA) wins the men’s 100m final during the Paris 2024 Olympic Summer Games at Stade de France in Saint-Denis, France, Monday, Sunday, Aug. 4, 2024.
September 22, 2025

Summer Olympics Face a Climate-Induced Heat Check

The World Athletics president says the status quo is not sustainable.
Oct 6, 2024; London, United Kingdom; British and United States flags on the field at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
September 29, 2025

From Dublin to London: Vikings on NFL’s First Multi-Country Road Trip

The Jaguars have previously played consecutive games in the U.K.
Sponsored

Beyond the Scorecard: How Dow Is Putting Purpose at the Center of Women’s Golf

Discover how Dow and the LPGA are building a partnership with lasting impact.
January 13, 2025

Newsom Adamant About L.A. Hosting 2028 Olympics

Gavin Newsom says there’s a “Marshall Plan” to rebuild Los Angeles.
Paralympics Tiktok
August 25, 2024

The Paralympics TikTok Account Isn’t What You Think

A cheeky TikTok account is opening the world of Paralympic sports.
August 11, 2024

Passing of the Torch: Los Angeles Set for Olympic Firsts in 2028

The city last hosted the Summer Olympics in 1984.
August 1, 2024

Saudi Arabia Submits Bold World Cup Bid That Includes a Cliffside Arena

The Saudis are proposing a new stadium in a futuristic city called Neom.