India-England Test Series Ignites Streaming Frenzy: JioHotstar Hits Record 89.1 Million Viewers

England's Joe Root (R) and Jamie Smith celebrate after their win against India at Headingley in Leeds. (AP)

The first Test match between India and England in July 2025 at Headingley has shattered streaming records on JioHotstar. The match attracted a staggering 89.1 million viewers, accumulating an impressive 13.7 billion minutes of watch time.

This inaugural match of India's five-Test series, under the leadership of new captain Shubman Gill, also marks the commencement of the WTC 2025-27 cycle for both competing nations.

The second Test is scheduled to begin on July 2nd in Birmingham. Anticipation is high that the remaining four matches will set new benchmarks for digital sports consumption.

The ICC World Test Championship Final 2025, which saw South Africa triumph over Australia to secure their first ICC title, also achieved remarkable viewership figures. The match became the most-watched Non-India Test match on linear TV, garnering 2.95 billion minutes of watch time and reaching 47 million viewers.

On JioHotstar alone, the WTC Final 2025 drew 41.4 million viewers, setting a new record for a Non-India Test match on the platform. This figure surpasses the previous record held by the India vs. Australia WTC Final in 2023.

The dawn of a new era in Indian cricket, helmed by Shubman Gill, and a reinvigorated approach to Test cricket have demonstrably driven strong viewer engagement on digital platforms. It is anticipated that the remaining matches in the series against England have the potential to establish further streaming records.

Source: BARC (TVR: M15+ AB Urban and Rest: 2 + U + R All India demographics)