iWorld
Women’s World Cup hits record viewership highs
MUMBAI: Cricket fever has turned into a full-blown phenomenon as the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup India 2025 smashes viewership records faster than a boundary off a power hitter’s bat.
Over 60 million viewers have already tuned in to the first 13 matches across Jiohotstar and Star Sports Network, a staggering five times more than the previous edition. Watch-time has also soared 12-fold to a jaw-dropping 7 billion minutes, proving that women’s cricket isn’t just winning hearts, it’s ruling screens.
The India vs Pakistan showdown on 5 October bowled the world over, becoming the most-watched women’s international cricket match in history with a reach of 28.4 million and 1.87 billion minutes watched. The India vs Australia clash wasn’t far behind, hitting a record 4.8 million peak concurrent viewers on Jiohotstar, the highest ever for women’s cricket.
Television audiences have been equally captivated. The India–Pakistan league game has become the highest-rated in Women’s ODI World Cup history, while the first 11 matches together reached 72 million viewers, marking a 166 per cent leap from the last tournament. Viewing minutes jumped 327 per cent to 6.3 billion, underscoring the growing passion for the women’s game.
“The incredible viewership for the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup India 2025 is a true testament to the growing interest in women’s sports in India,” said Jiostar head of viewership and monetisation initiatives – sports Siddharth Sharma. “Fans are embracing women’s sports like never before, and at Jiostar, we’re proud to be the platform powering this movement.”
Much of the success stems from a unified marketing push by the ICC and Jiostar, supported by the BCCI. The ICC’s global ‘Will to Win’ campaign and Jiostar’s emotionally charged ‘Jersey wahi toh jazbaa wahi’ have together sparked a national conversation and brought fans closer to the women in blue.
The matches are being broadcast in five languages: English, Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, and Kannada, across Jiohotstar and Star Sports channels, with an Indian sign language feed introduced for the first time to make the game more inclusive.
iWorld
Kabaddi gets a digital raid on Sportvot streaming
National Senior Men’s Championship live from Vadodara 24–27 February 2026.
MUMBAI: Kabaddi’s national showdown just got a streaming tackle and Sportvot is the raider ready to score big. India’s leading sports streaming platform has bagged exclusive live-streaming rights for the National Senior Men’s Kabaddi Championship, organised by the Gujarat State Kabaddi Association and Vadodara Kabaddi Association under the Amateur Kabaddi Federation of India (AKFI).
For the first time, the prestigious tournament will beam nationwide from the Indoor Sports Complex in Vadodara between 24 and 27 February 2026. Thirty-five states plus Indian Railways and Services teams are expected to battle it out, making it one of India’s biggest kabaddi spectacles and a crucial proving ground for talent eyeing the Pro Kabaddi League. Defending champions Haryana return to guard their crown after a dominant run last time.
Every raid, tackle and do-or-die moment will be available live on the Sportvot app, letting fans, players, coaches and stakeholders follow the action from anywhere.
Sportvot founder & CEO Siddhant Agarwal said, “Kabaddi is deeply rooted in India’s sporting culture, and national championships like this are where the future of the sport is shaped. By digitising and live-streaming the National Senior Men’s Kabaddi Championship, we aim to give athletes the visibility they deserve and fans an experience that matches the intensity of the game.”
Gujarat Kabaddi Association organising secretary Tushar Arothe added, “As hosts of this year’s National Senior Men’s Kabaddi Championship, the Gujarat Kabaddi Association is honoured to welcome the best teams from across the country to Vadodara. We are delighted that Sportvot will be live streaming the tournament, giving supporters everywhere an opportunity to experience the passion and skill of our players in real time.”
With seasoned pros, rising stars and high-voltage clashes over four days, the championship promises edge-of-the-mat drama. SportVot’s coverage turns it from a regional rumble into a national spectacle, one tap away for fans who can’t make it to Vadodara. Get ready to cheer from the couch; the mat is set.
