India vs. New Zealand ODI World Cup 2023 clash draws 4.3 crore viewers, breaks all previous records

The 21st match of the ODI World Cup 2023 which was played between India and New Zealand at the HPCA Stadium in Dharamsala on Sunday, captured the attention of a staggering 4.3 crore viewers, smashing all previous records. A lot of cricket fans tuned in to witness the epic clash, setting a new benchmark for viewership in the world of cricket.

The match showcased a stellar performance by Virat Kohli, a modern-day cricket legend, which significantly contributed to the record-breaking viewership. Kohli delivered a brilliant innings, scoring 95 runs, ultimately securing victory for the Indian Cricket team over a rival they hadn’t defeated in a major world tournament since 2003. While he fell just five runs short of a century, he departed the field after ensuring India’s triumph.

Coming back to the viewership record, the 2022 FIFA World Cup final, showcasing Lionel Messi’s Argentina against France, attracted 3.2 crore viewers in India through the JioCinema app. Nonetheless, Kohli’s remarkable performance played a pivotal role in Disney+ Hotstar breaking that record. As a result, many fans have been drawing comparisons, with some even suggesting that Kohli has beaten Messi on the basis of fan following in India.

We want to thank our users: Head of Disney + Hotstar India

Sajith Sivanandan, Head of Disney+ Hotstar India, expressed his gratitude to users for their overwhelming response to India vs. New Zealand match at the ODI World Cup 2023. He thanked the audience and said, that as the tournament progresses, Disney+ Hotstar remains committed to delivering unforgettable moments to its users.

“We want to thank our users who flocked to Disney+ Hotstar for the thrilling game between India vs New Zealand and helped us reset the world record for concurrent viewers for a live-streaming event. We served 4.3 crore concurrent viewers (43 Million) at its peak during the match – a historical high and easily surpassed the 3.5 crore number (35 Million) previously set for the India vs Pakistan match in the same tournament. As the ODI World Cup 2023 enters its business end and as it grabs the attention of India increasingly, we will continue to strive towards bringing these memorable moments to our users’ screens,” Sivanandan was quoted as saying by Business Today.