The International Cricket Council (ICC) and JioStar have denied reports of any fallout between them. Some media reports had claimed that their four-year India media-rights deal could end early. These reports said that JioStar, run by Reliance Industries, had informed the ICC that it could not continue for the remaining two years. The news created confusion among fans and industry watchers.

If those reports were true, JioStar would have stopped as the official broadcaster for the ICC T20 World Cup 2026 in India and Sri Lanka. The reports also suggested that JioStar would walk away from other events under the same media-rights cycle. This raised concerns about how ICC tournaments would be shown in India. Many feared it could affect viewers and advertisers.

However, both the ICC and JioStar have clearly said that these reports are wrong. They confirmed that their agreement has not changed in any way. The partnership is still active and working as planned. The clarification was issued to stop the spread of false information.

ICC and JioStar Issue Joint Statement

“The International Cricket Council (ICC) and JioStar have noted recent media reports concerning the status of the ICC's media rights agreement in India. These reports do not reflect the position of either organization. The existing agreement between the ICC and JioStar remains fully in force, and JioStar continues as the ICC's official media rights partner in India. Any suggestion that JioStar has withdrawn from the agreement is incorrect,” the statement read, as quoted by NDTV Sports.

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In another joint statement, the ICC and JioStar said that their $3 billion media rights deal remains fully intact. Both sides said they are committed to providing smooth and high-quality coverage of ICC events for Indian fans. This came after reports claimed that JioStar was thinking of leaving the deal due to financial losses. “JioStar is fully committed to honour its contractual obligations in letter and spirit. Both organizations remain focused on delivering uninterrupted, world-class coverage of upcoming ICC events to fans across India, including the ICC Men's T20 World Cup, one of the sport's most anticipated global tournaments. Preparations for these events are progressing exactly as planned, and there is no impact on viewers, advertisers, or industry partners. ICC and JioStar, as long-term commercial partners, maintain regular communication on operational, commercial and strategic matters focused on the role the partnership can play in growing the sport,” the report added.

The ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, hosted by India and Sri Lanka, will begin on February 7. Pakistan will play the Netherlands in the opening match in Colombo. The final of the tournament is scheduled for March 8.

In the backdrop of the uncertainty around the deal between ICC and JioStar ahead of the T20 World Cup 2026 in India and Sri Lanka, Prasar Bharati eyes to grab the media rights, as reports claimed. The development comes after the Reliance Industries-owned JioStar conveyed to the ICC that they won’t be able to service the remaining two years of the four-year media agreement.

A top official in the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting reckoned that Prasar Bharati had been assessing the situation and may look to bid for the rights depending on how the ICC restructures the package post the exit of JioStar’s deal. 

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“It is possible that the ICC may decide to further break up the rights. For example, matches played in India versus those played outside, or tournament-wise. Whatever format finally emerges, we would certainly like to participate.” The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting official expressed in a statement.

Prasar Bharati explores new channel to telecast upcoming T20 World Cup 2026

The official reckoned that the pubcaster was still in the early stage of evaluating the opportunity. The ICC’s current challenge from the disruption created by the decision of JioStar to withdraw from $3 billion India rights package for the 2024-27 season. The broadcaster indicated that it can’t continue with the remaining two years due to the significant financial losses.

“It is still too early to comment on this, as it has only been two days since the development, and we are waiting for further details. That said, cricket remains a highly sought-after property for every broadcaster. We are also trying to understand whether a single bidder is interested in the rights or whether there will be multiple contenders.” The official issued the statement.

“With Doordarshan, DD Freedish, and our OTT platforms, we have both the interest and a defined budget. Even if acquiring the entire rights package is not feasible, we will definitely consider bidding for one or two tournaments that fall within our reach, especially those with strong national appeal, such as India matches or major international fixtures.” It was revealed during the development.

Ahead of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 in India and Sri Lanka, JioStar has informed the International Cricket Council (ICC) that it wants to end the three-year media rights agreement because of financial losses, as the reports of the Economic Times have claimed. It has also been reported that the Reliance Industries-controlled JioStar has told ICC about the decision.

The JioStar informed that they can’t continue for the remaining two years for a price of $3-billion contract, which ends in 2027, which has left the International Cricket Council (ICC) to look for other media partners. The report has also shed light on how the ICC has approached other platforms, including the Sony Sports Network, Netflix, and Amazon Prime.

See Also: Will RCB host IPL 2026 games in M. Chinnaswamy Stadium? Karnataka deputy CM reveals future

The report also noted that the ICC has begun a fresh process for the 2026-2029 period for approximately INR 2.4 billion. The Reliance Industries latest annual report, JioStar, the Reliance-Disney joint venture, has also given its verdict on the contracts, leaping to a staggering INR 25760 crore in FY 2024-25, more than double the INR 12319 crore set aside just a year earlier.

ICC searches for new media partner as JioStar decides to exit ahead of new cycle

The jump is rooted in the company’s admission that the revenue from the long-duration rights deals may then fall short of covering their costs. Even with the hefty financial buffer, the broadcaster clocked a skinny profit of INR 18 crore, which has made a cautious rebound from the INR 12548 crore less reported in FY 2023-24.

The advertising, subscriptions, and syndication helped the revenues climb to INR 21044 crore from INR 20097 crore, and the operating costs remained steep at INR 17826 crore. As per the reports, the JioStar has commanded an estimated 34% share in television entertainment and over 85% in sports viewership.

Star made a renegotiation of its contract for the Men’s T20 World Cup 2024, held in the United States of America and the West Indies, to promote the game in the new regions, but that grasped a very few Indian viewers due to the match timings.

After a tough 2-2 series in England, India are back home to continue their ICC World Test Championship 2025-27 campaign. Shubman Gill will lead a young Indian side in a two-Test series against the West Indies, starting in Ahmedabad on Thursday (October 2).

This series is a big chance for the team to settle and grow after the retirements of legends like Ravichandran Ashwin, Virat Kohli, and former captain Rohit Sharma. It’s also India’s first home series since the disappointing 3-0 loss to New Zealand last November. Gill and his players will now look to start fresh and build their own strong record at home, just like the teams before them.

Pitch Report – Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad

The red-soil pitch in Ahmedabad is expected to have a healthy green cover. The curator has left grass that will likely be trimmed to about 4–5mm before the toss. Fast bowlers should find help early on with seam movement and bounce from the new ball. As the game progresses, the surface may wear down, giving spinners more of a role.

ALSO READ: Ravichandran Ashwin goes unsold in ILT20 auction despite $120,000 base price

India vs West Indies 1st Test – Match Details

How to Watch India vs West Indies 1st Test in India

Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) ended their 18-year wait and won their first-ever IPL trophy, while the historic RCB victory broke viewership records in IPL history. The IPL 2025 final between RCB and the Punjab Kings (PBKS) captured the imagination of cricket fans across the country, and viewership reached all-time highs. Since 2008, Virat Kohli has represented the franchise, and he was instrumental in creating the higher emotional value and engagement of the match, which benefited audiences throughout.

The grand final began with a considerable digital viewership of 4.3 crore, but this was just the start; viewership exploded from there. The explosive start by Phil Salt and his dismissal shortly thereafter by Shreyas Iyer had viewer numbers climb. By the 11th over, more than 11 crore viewers were switched on, and with Kohli's exhilarating dismissal for a mark of 43 runs, the viewership peaked at 26.5 crore. Jitesh Sharma's counterattack during the innings saw viewer numbers climb above the 30 crore mark, and when RCB crumbled during the last few overs of PBKS', viewership escalated to 34.7 crore by the end of the innings. By the time RCB posted a total of 190 runs, digital viewership measures were already above 35 crore.

Punjab Kings began their chase with intent but were brought back to earth with Krunal Pandya's early breakthrough of Prabhsimran Singh, which had everyone on the field and , especially in front of the tele, electrified. Moments following the wicket, viewership suddenly spiked to 50 crore with RCB fans chanting slogans from the stands inside Narendra Modi Stadium. As the game progressed into its climax, the viewing audience spiked further, reaching 55 crore by the end of the 14th over. Following the win, the total viewership reached a whopping 67.8 crore.

Digital and Television Viewership Break New Ground

While IPL 2025 will forever live on in history for RCB's victory, it will also be memorable for new benchmarks in how cricket is consumed digitally. On its opening weekend, there were an incredible 4,956 crore minutes of cumulative watch time. The first three matches were able to accrue 137 crore views and increase connected TV (CTV) usage by 54% and peak concurrent viewership to 3.4 crore. Year over year, digital viewing grew by 40%, demonstrating the growth of IPL's OTT audience is sharper than any other platform.

Also Read: Virat Kohli gets heartfelt congratulations from English footballer after RCB's IPL victory

Traditional television audiences followed suit. According to the BARC, IPL matches were viewed by over 25.3 crore people in the opening weekend alone, accruing a total watch time of 2,770 crore minutes - a 22% increase from IPL 2024. On the world stage, the IPL final's digital reach exceeded that of many of cricket's biggest occasions, including the India vs. Pakistan ICC Championship match that attracted 60 crore digital views and the Champions Trophy Final, which saw 6.1 crore simultaneous viewers. The IPL 2025 finale now stands as the biggest live sports event in Indian streaming history.

How to Watch IPL 2025 for Free on Mobile: Jio, Updated Plans

Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 is one of the most anticipated cricket competitions, and there are numerous users who wish to view it live on their smartphones In jio Hotstar. A few telecom companies like Jio, Airtel, and Vodafone Idea (Vi) have prepaid plans with free Disney+ Hotstar subscription, enabling the users to stream IPL 2025 matches for free. Below is a step-by-step guide of how you can view IPL 2025 on mobile for free with these updated plans.KKR VS RCB

FIRST MATCH:KKR VS RCB 

How to Watch IPL 2025 for Free

If you wish to watch KKR VS RCB IPL 2025 for free, here are the possibilities:

• JioCinema App (Chance) - Previously, Jio would live stream IPL matches for free on the JioCinema app. Check if Jio once again offers this free streaming feature for IPL 2025.
  
• Free Trial of Disney+ Hotstar - Disney+ Hotstar also offers occasional free trials to new users. Sign up through a new mobile number and mail to check whether there is any free trial being provided.
  
• Airtel and Vi Rewards Programs - Certain telecom service providers offer rewards or cashback that can be utilized to attain a free subscription of Disney+ Hotstar
  
• Third-Party Offers and Promotions - Track deals from banks or wallets that provide free subscriptions upon certain purchases.Third-Party

Jio Disney+ Hotstar Subscription Plans (Apart from Prepaid Recharge)

• ₹149 per month - Disney+ Hotstar Mobile Plan (1 device, mobile only).
  
• ₹499 annually - Disney+ Hotstar Mobile Plan (1 device, mobile only).
  
• ₹899 annually - Disney+ Hotstar Super Plan (2 devices, full HD quality).
  
• ₹1499 annually - Disney+ Hotstar Premium Plan (4 devices, 4K quality, ad-free).

ALSO READ:IPL 2025 full schedule date time venues and Full Details

Jio Prepaid Plans with Disney+ Hotstar Subscription (Updated 2025

1. ₹349 Plan-

• Validity: 28 days.
• Extras: 3-month Disney+ Hotstar Mobile subscription.

2. ₹629 Plan-

• Validity: 56 days.
• Extras: 3-month Disney+ Hotstar Mobile subscription.

2. ₹859 Plan-

• Validity: 84 days.
• Extras: 3-month Disney+ Hotstar Mobile subscription.

3. ₹3599Plan-

• Validity: 365 days.
• Extras: 1-year Disney+ Hotstar Mobile subscription.

ADD ON PLANS:

The ICC Champions Trophy 2025 was a watershed moment in India's cricket viewing, setting a new record in television and online platforms. At an all-time high viewership, the series ranked among the highest-watched sports events of all time.

According to official records, JioStar boasted a record 250 billion overall views, the highest among cricket fans. Even the live television broadcast, Star Sports, witnessed history-shattering action with 137 billion views. JioHotstar, another household streaming service, received 110+ billion views, pointing towards the shift towards digital viewing.

The final match in the tournament witnessed a record-breaking real-time viewership. TV viewership peaked at 122 million concurrent viewers, one of the all-time highest TV audiences for a cricket match in India. Digitally, 61 million concurrent viewers viewed the final live, which only serves to underscore the increasing dominance of online media in sports broadcasting.

ALSO READ: IPL 2025 Fan Parks: Cities, Dates, Timings, Ticket Info & Everything You Need to Know

The record-breaking ratings reflect India's unprecedented passion for cricket and increased availability of live sporting action on old and new media. Success of Champions Trophy 2025 also indicates the role played by streaming media in transforming sport viewing, with more viewers abandoning traditional cable television to watch games on smart TVs and mobiles.

Industry experts believe that the combined coverage of television and digital media has set a new standard for cricket watching. Increased adoption of high-speed internet, along with low-cost mobile data, has contributed significantly to this increase.

With the ICC T20 World Cup and certain other major events lined up for the coming years, such statistics indicate that Indian cricket viewership will continue to increase. The 2025 Champions Trophy has certainly reached new heights and been an unforgettful moment for world cricket fans.

The much-awaited India-Pakistan match in the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy has created a new digital viewership record. JioHotstar, the official streaming partner, clocked a whopping 602 million cumulative views during the live streaming, breaking all earlier streaming records.

Unprecedented Digital Engagement :

JioHotstar, the combined streaming service of JioCinema and Disney+ Hotstar, announced that the India-Pakistan encounter drew a record-breaking 602 million total views. This figure reflects the number of times the live stream was viewed during the match, demonstrating the event's extensive reach and increasing popularity of digital viewing among cricket fans

Shattering Previous Records :

This record-breaking feat beat a number of earlier viewership records in cricket :

India vs Pakistan – 2023 ICC World Cup : This intense World Cup game drew 225 million online viewers on Disney+ Hotstar.

India vs Pakistan – 2019 ICC World Cup : This match is still the most viewed TV cricket match, with around 1 billion TV viewers worldwide.

India vs Pakistan – 2011 ICC World Cup Semi-Final : This nail-biting game was viewed by 495 million on TV, breaking records then.

Having reached 602 million online views, the 2025 Champions Trophy encounter has raised the bar for live sports streaming, indicating a move away from conventional television and towards online platforms.

Major Factors Behind the Record Viewership:

There were a number of factors that led to the record digital involvement experienced during the India-Pakistan confrontation:

1. The Fierce Rivalry :

The India-Pakistan cricket rivalry is not only a sporting rivalry—it is a national pride issue for both countries. With a history of decades of cricketing, each match between the two teams attracts intensified emotions and involvement from supporters.

2. Notable Players and Standout Performances :
 Superstars of cricket, such as Shaheen Afridi, Babar Azam, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli, were present, which increased the excitement.  Throughout the match, viewers were captivated by Pakistan's explosive pace attack and Kohli's game-winning knock.

 3. Social Media Hype and Promotions :

Social networks such as Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube were full of chatter, live streams, and game analysis before and during the match. The hype  and conversation surrounding the match before and after the match boosted the overall interaction.

India-Pakistan Champions Trophy match in 2025 has officially broken digital viewing records affirming the unprecedented popularity of cricket and the rise in online streaming. With JioHotstar garnering 602 million views, this match is a reflection of the strength of digital sports broadcasting.

The ICC Champions Trophy 2025 will take place from February 19 to March 9, 2025. Because of security fears, all India matches have been shifted to Dubai, United Arab Emirates. India will be in Group A along with Pakistan, Bangladesh, and New Zealand.

• Group A: Pakistan, India, New Zealand, Bangladesh
• Group B: South Africa, Australia, Afghanistan, England

India's Group Stage Matches:

If India progresses to the semi-finals, their match is set for March 4, 2025, at the same venue. Should they reach the final, it will also be held in Dubai on March 9, 2025.

ALSO READ:Champions Trophy 2025: Where and How to Watch Every Match Live

Cricket enthusiasts have a reason to smile as the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 is to be provided with live commentaries in nine languages on Jio Hotstar. This step will increase the visibility of the event for a large audience in India.

Available Languages

• English
• Hindi
• Marathi
• Haryanvi
• Bengali
• Bhojpuri
• Tamil
• Telugu
• Kannada

Cricket is the religion for millions in India, and broadcasting commentary in multiple languages will ensure that people are able to watch the sport of their choice in their mother language. This will also ensure that people of other regions have an enhanced level of identification with action on the pitch.

How to Watch the Live Matches
The matches will telecast on Star Sports and stream live on JioHotstar. To view online, fans might require a subscription for the streaming services. Mobile users might also have free-to-stream options based on their network carrier.

CHAMPIONS TROPHY COMMENTARY WILL BE IN 9 LANGUAGES IN JIOHOTSTAR:

- English, Hindi, Marathi, Haryanvi, Bengali, Bhojpuri, Tamil, Telugu & Kannada. pic.twitter.com/azyw4FNhkG

— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) February 15, 2025

ALSO READ:ICC Men's Champions Trophy 2025: Prize Money, Format & Host Cities

Champions Trophy 2025 Schedule
The competition will kick off on February 19, 2025, between Pakistan and New Zealand at the Karachi National Stadium. The final match will be held on March 9, 2025.