The digital streaming landscape for cricket in India has witnessed a monumental shift, with JioHotstar announcing record-breaking viewership for the opening Test match of the India-England series. A staggering 89.1 million viewers tuned in to watch the highly anticipated clash at Headingley, which also marked the beginning of India’s five-match Test series under the new captaincy of Shubman Gill. This historic achievement underscores the growing dominance of digital platforms in sports broadcasting and the enduring appeal of Test cricket in India.
The match, which also served as the curtain-raiser for India’s campaign in the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) 2025-27 cycle, amassed an unprecedented 13.7 billion minutes of watch time on JioHotstar. This remarkable engagement highlights the platform’s ability to draw and retain a massive audience, further cementing its position as a go-to destination for live sports.
A New Era for Indian Test Cricket and Digital Consumption
The record viewership numbers are a strong indicator of the excitement surrounding the new era of Indian Test cricket, following the departures of stalwarts like Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma from the longest format. Shubman Gill’s leadership has seemingly resonated with fans, who are eager to witness the team’s revitalized approach to red-ball cricket.
JioHotstar facilitated this widespread engagement by offering the match in five languages: English, Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, and Kannada, catering to a diverse linguistic audience across the nation. The platform also enhanced the viewer experience with supplementary content, including “Follow The Blues,” a behind-the-scenes series providing daily access to team training and preparations, and “When India Challenged the Crown,” a special segment revisiting historical Test moments in England. Even former captain Rohit Sharma featured in promotional content, further building anticipation for the series.
Broader Trends in Digital Sports Viewership
This record-breaking performance for a Test match on digital platforms follows a trend of increasing digital sports consumption in India. The ICC World Test Championship Final 2025 between South Africa and Australia also recorded impressive numbers on JioHotstar, reaching 41.4 million viewers – a new high for a non-India Test match on the platform, surpassing the 2023 WTC Final.
The success of the India-England Test series opener on JioHotstar sends a clear signal about the future of sports broadcasting. With digital platforms offering enhanced accessibility, multi-language commentary, and engaging supplementary content, they are rapidly becoming the preferred choice for millions of Indian sports enthusiasts. The remaining matches in the five-match series are poised to potentially set even more streaming records, further solidifying JioHotstar’s leadership in the digital sports entertainment market.
Key Highlights:
- JioHotstar recorded a new milestone with 89.1 million viewers for the opening Test match of the India-England series, setting a new record for a Test match on digital platforms.
- The match, which also initiated India’s WTC 2025-27 cycle under new captain Shubman Gill, generated an unprecedented 13.7 billion minutes of watch time on the platform.
- JioHotstar enhanced viewer engagement by streaming the match in five languages and providing exclusive behind-the-scenes content and historical retrospectives.
- This achievement underscores the growing prominence of digital platforms in Indian sports broadcasting and the sustained popularity of Test cricket.