MUMBAI: There are rivalries, and then there’s this-India vs Pakistan, a battle that grips the subcontinent tighter than a Virat Kohli cover drive. The latest chapter of this age-old sporting saga was played out in the ICC Men’s Champions Trophy 2025, and, surprise, surprise-it shattered television records! JioStar, the broadcaster with a flair for the dramatic, powered the showdown to an eye-watering 20.6 crore TV viewers, making it the second most-watched cricket match in BARC history outside of World Cup games.
For a match hyped as The Greatest Rivalry by Star Sports since 2021, it sure lived up to its billing. The 23 February contest in Dubai even outperformed the high-stakes India-Pakistan face-off during the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 in Ahmedabad, registering an 11 per cent higher TV rating (TVR). With a staggering 2609 crore minutes of TV watch-time logged, it was clear that cricket lovers weren’t just watching-they were glued to their screens as if their remotes had vanished into the couch abyss.
A JioStar – sports spokesperson, basking in the afterglow of this mammoth success, summed it up, “JioStar is scaling new heights as far as India’s experience of marquee sporting events is concerned. Combining the power of deep consumer focus, immersive storytelling, universalised access and incisive marketing, Star Sports has galvanised the interest in this age-old rivalry. We remain committed to serving fans, deepening fandom and recruiting new cohorts.”
And if the cricket wasn’t drama enough, the internet exploded when cameras panned to an iconic duo in the stands—former Indian captain MS Dhoni and Indian cinema’s very own Sunny Deol, casually enjoying the match. Because, honestly, what’s an Indo-Pak clash without some cinematic flair? Memes were minted, tweets were fired, and even those who had no idea about the match were suddenly very invested.
But JioStar didn’t just rely on the match to pull in viewers—it went full throttle with a pre-game content blitz. Star Sports rolled out an engaging line-up of shows, including Thank You Pakistan…Jeetega Hindustan, featuring cricketing legends Navjot Singh Sidhu, Yuvraj Singh, Shahid Afridi, and Inzamam-Ul-Haq. Meanwhile, Follow the Blues documented India’s meticulous preparations, ensuring fans were as hyped as an IPL auctioneer on caffeine. The build-up reached fever pitch on match day, kicking off with Dil Se India at 8:00 am, setting the stage for the epic clash.
Not to be left out, Oaksmith Cricket Live, Star Sports’ live pre, mid, and post-match show, also enjoyed its moment in the spotlight, drawing in 2.2 crore viewers who tuned in for expert analysis, insights, and, presumably, the occasional hyperbolic cricket metaphor.
And just when you thought the drama was over, the action is far from done. With Team India still undefeated, the Men in Blue are now set to take on New Zealand in the ICC Men’s Champions Trophy 2025 final on 9 March. With another shot at glory on the line, will India lift another ICC trophy, following their T20 World Cup 2024 triumph? Fans will find out soon enough when coverage kicks off at 8:00 am across the JioStar network.
Cancel those morning meetings, fake a cough, and restock on beers-cricket fever is about to hit like a Jasprit Bumrah yorker at 150 km/h.
