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Indian women’s T20 world cup matches dominate TV screens with 72% viewing minutes
MUMBAI: The Indian women's cricket team may have failed to lift the T20 world cup at Melbourne, but definitely have turned the eyeballs of the audience, by putting up a tough fight during all the league matches.
In the first 12 knock-out matches, Broadcast Audience Research Council (BARC) India reports: “Out of the 2548 million viewing minutes, Indian women’s matches dominated the television screen with a staggering 72 per cent to 1842 million viewing minutes.”
According to BARC India, “The ongoing ICC Women’s T20 world cup garnered a total of 2548 million viewing minutes for the first 12 league matches played between 21-28 February. Of which 61 per cent of the male audience watched these matches.”
“The 12 matches played during the tournament, achieved a cumulative reach of 46 million viewers, of which 27 million viewers were in the male category and 19 million were in the female,” reports BARC.
For the first time in history, the International Cricket Council had organised the women’s T20 world cup as a standalone event unlike last season in 2016. The last edition of women’s T20 world cup was bundled with the men’s T20 world cup, which is scheduled later this year in October.
According to the ICC, the first 12 matches of T20 world cup saw a growth of 213 per cent and attracted 2.46 billion viewing minutes in India versus 787 million viewing minutes for the same matches in the previous event in the same format.
ICC also said that the opening match between India and Australia saw a reach of 20 million and an average audience of 3.55 million, which is 39 per cent higher than the most-watched match in the previous edition. Star Sports is the official global broadcast partner of ICC. In India, all the matches were shown in five languages: English, Hindi, Tamil, Kannada, and Telugu.
Similarly, across ICC’s digital and social media platforms, fans have engaged in greater numbers than ever before with an unprecedented 701 million video views to date compared to previous best in 2017 for the women’s ODI cricket world cup, which netted a total of 100 million views from the whole event.
NEW DELHI: Hamdard Laboratories gathered a cross-section of India’s achievers in New Delhi on Friday, handing out the Hakeem Abdul Hameed Excellence Awards to figures who have left their mark across healthcare, education, sport, public service and the arts.
The ceremony, attended by minister of state for defence Sanjay Seth and senior officials from the ministry of Ayush, celebrated individuals whose work blends professional success with a sense of public purpose. It was as much a roll call of achievement as it was a reminder that influence is not measured only in profits or podiums, but in people reached and lives improved.
Among the headline awardees was Alakh Pandey, founder and chief executive of PhysicsWallah, recognised for turning affordable digital learning into a mass movement. On the sporting front, Arjuna Awardee and kabaddi player Sakshi Puniya was honoured for her contribution to the game and for pushing women’s participation onto bigger stages.
The cultural spotlight fell on veteran lyricist and poet Santosh Anand, whose songs have echoed across generations of Hindi cinema. At 97, Anand accepted the honour with characteristic humility, reflecting on a life shaped by perseverance and hope.
Healthcare honours spanned both modern and traditional systems. Manoj N. Nesari was recognised for strengthening Ayurveda’s place in national and global health frameworks. Padma shri Mohammed Abdul Waheed was honoured for his research-backed work in Unani medicine, while padma shri Mohsin Wali received recognition for his long-standing contribution to patient-centred care.
Education and social development also featured prominently. Padma shri Zahir Ishaq Kazi was honoured for decades of work in education, while former Meghalaya superintendent of Police T. C. Chacko was recognised for public service. Goonj founder Anshu Gupta received an award for his dignity-centred rural development initiatives, and the Hunar Shakti Foundation was honoured for empowering women and young girls through skill development.
The Lifetime Achievement Award went to former IAS officer Shailaja Chandra for her long career in public healthcare and governance, particularly in the traditional systems under Ayush.
Speaking at the event, Hamdard chairman Abdul Majeed said the awards were a tribute to those who combine excellence with empathy. “These awardees reflect Hakeem Sahib’s belief that healthcare, education and public service must ultimately serve humanity,” he said.
Minister Seth struck a forward-looking note, saying India’s young population gives the country a unique opportunity to become a global destination for learning, health and wellness by 2047.
The ceremony also featured the trailer launch of Unani Ki Kahaani, an upcoming documentary starring actor Jim Sarbh, set to premiere on Discovery on 11 February.
Instituted in memory of Unani scholar and educationist Hakeem Abdul Hameed, the awards have grown into a national platform that celebrates those building a more inclusive and resilient India. For one evening at least, the spotlight was not just on success, but on service with substance.
