Cricket is having a major moment in terms of broadcast popularity and audience growth.
Amazon has become the major player in broadcasting cricket in Australia and the 2023 ICC Cricket World Cup smashed attendance records.
In addition, the U.S. hosted the 2024 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup for the first time and a New York-based investment firm is investing millions into one of the biggest cricket clubs in India.
Cricket looks to be in good shape for a glorious return to the Olympic global stage in 2028.
India sits unopposed as the country that attracts the most cricket viewers.
The most watched cricket matches all involve India, including the most watched match that drew 558 million global viewers. India faced Sri Lanka in Mumbai for the final of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup in 2011.
The matchup was the first time two Asian teams had met in the final. Winning by only six wickets on their home soil, India became the first host country to win the Cricket World Cup.
Bitter rivals India and Pakistan drew 495 million global viewers for the second-most watched cricket match.
Meeting in the semi-finals of the 2011 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, millions worldwide watched two of the most successful cricket nations battle. Despite losing early wickets, India would end up winning by 29 runs on their way to capturing their first Cricket World Cup since 1983.
Matchups between India and Pakistan among the most watched cricket matches have averaged 328.6 million global viewers. To compare, the most watched Super Bowl ever attracted 123.7 million total viewers.
Although Pakistan has hit a rough patch of defeats recently, anytime they play their rivals India, it’s sure to be a match that draws plenty of attention.
Ranking The Most Watched Cricket Matches Ever
Here is the list of the top 10 most watched cricket matches based on total reported global viewership. The list was compiled using historical data from ESPNCricInfo and ICC-Cricket.
- Updated: July 20, 2024
| Ranking | Event | Matchup | Date | Total Reported Global Viewers |
| 1 | ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2011 | India vs Sri Lanka | April 2, 2011 | 558 million |
| 2 | ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2011 | India vs Pakistan (Semi-Final) | March 30, 2011 | 495 million |
| 3 | ICC Champions Trophy 2017 | India vs Pakistan (Final) | June 18, 2017 | 400 million |
| 4 | ICC Champions Trophy 2017 | India vs Pakistan (Group Stage) | June 4, 2017 | 324 million |
| 5 | ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2015 | India vs Pakistan (Group Stage) | February 4, 2015 | 313 million |
| T-6 | ICC ODI World Cup 2023 | India vs Australia | November 19, 2023 | 300 million |
| T-6 | ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2011 | India vs South Africa | March 11, 2011 | 300 million |
| 8 | ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2019 | India vs Pakistan (Final) | June 15, 2019 | 273 million |
| 9 | ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2021 | India vs Pakistan (Super 12) | October 24, 2021 | 167 million |
| 10 | ICC World Test Championship 2021 | India vs New Zealand | June 18, 2021 | 130.6 million |
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