Top 5 Most-Watched Cricket Matches of All Time
Indian team celebrates after winning ICC World Cup 2011
Cricket has been revered as a religion by its followers and the sport evokes emotions and fervor that transcends beyond the boundaries of nations. The intensity and excitement of cricket matches have always reached a crescendo during popular rivalries, such as the Ashes and India versus Pakistan encounters, where fanatics witness their teams compete with unparalleled passion.
However, the magnanimity of such cricketing events has always been a subject of curiosity, with people often wondering how the buzz generated during these insane rivalries is measured.
One such measure that estimates the magnitude of such matches is the number of people who tune in to watch. These numbers offer valuable insights into the reach and popularity of the game and provide a tangible metric to gauge the success of these matches, similar to box office collections for movie releases or TRP ratings for television shows.
In this listicle, we delve into the top five most-watched cricket matches in the history of the sport, a feat that has etched its mark in the annals of cricketing history:
5. India vs South Africa - ICC World Cup 2015
300 Million Viewers
The 2015 ICC World Cup Group B match between India and South Africa was a showdown of epic proportions. While India were the defending champions, the Proteas were being touted as the favourites to clinch the victory. However, the Indian cricket team, led by the enigmatic MS Dhoni, defied the odds and emerged victorious.
With Shikhar Dhawan leading the charge with an explosive 137 runs, the Indian team posted a mammoth total of 307 runs in their allotted 50 overs, leaving the opposition reeling.
Ajinkya Rahane's quickfire 79 runs provided the necessary support to Dhawan's spectacular innings, further cementing the Indian team's dominance.
India vs South Africa at ICC World Cup 2015 (icc-cricket.com)
In response, the South African team's batting line-up crumbled under the pressure of the Indian bowlers, with Ravichandran Ashwin leading the charge and bagging three wickets for a mere 41 runs whereas Mohammed Shami and Mohit Sharma bagged two wickets apiece. The Proteas could only muster a measly 177 runs in their innings, leading to a resounding 130 run victory for the Indian team.
4. India vs Pakistan – ICC World Cup 2015
313 Million Viewers
The stage was set for the ultimate showdown in cricket as the two bitter rivals, India and Pakistan, clashed in the pinnacle of ODI cricket – the 2015 World Cup.
Indian skipper, MS Dhoni, won the toss and elected to bat first. Opener Shikhar Dhawan provided a solid foundation with a fine knock of 73, setting the stage for Virat Kohli to unleash his brilliance on the pitch.
Kohli cracked a brilliant century vs PAK in 2015 (Twitter)
Kohli's magnificent ton laid the foundation for the Indian team to amass a daunting total of 300 runs. Suresh Raina added to the mayhem with a blistering 74, providing the ideal finish to the innings.
In the run chase, Pakistan's batting line-up crumbled under the pressure of the Indian bowling attack. Skipper Misbah-ul-Haq waged a lone battle with a gritty knock of 76, but it was not enough to keep the team in the hunt as he ran out of partners.
The team was bundled out for a paltry 224 runs in 47 overs, leaving the Indian team with a resounding victory. Shami was the pick of the bowlers with impressive figures of 4/35.
3. India vs Pakistan – Champions Trophy 2017
324 Million Viewers
As the Champions Trophy 2017 rolled into Edgbaston, fans around the world geared up for the ultimate showdown between two cricketing giants. The Indian team displayed their dominance, leaving the opposition in disarray from the word go as the top four batters, Shikhar Dhawan, Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Yuvraj Singh, were in sublime form, each scoring a magnificent fifty to propel the team to a total in excess of 300 runs.
The Pakistani bowlers were helpless in the face of the Indian onslaught, as the men in blue set a daunting target for the opposition.
In the run chase, the Pakistani team appeared to be completely clueless, unable to mount any meaningful resistance against the Indian bowlers. They were eventually bundled out for a meager score of under 170 runs, suffering a crushing defeat by a margin of 124 runs by the DLS method.
2. India vs Pakistan – World Cup 2011 Semi-Final
495 Million Viewers
The cricketing world came to a standstill as the most hyped game of the tournament unfolded at Mohali, pitting two fierce rivals – India and Pakistan – against each other in the semi-final of the ICC World Cup 2011.
The Indian team relied on the batting prowess of the batting maestro, Sachin Tendulkar, to lead the charge, and he did not disappoint. Tendulkar's brilliant knock of 85 runs off 115 balls provided the backbone of the Indian innings, helping them reach a total of 260 runs despite other batsmen failing to convert their starts into big scores.
India vs Pakistan at ICC World Cup 2011 Semi-Final
In a game where every run mattered, it was the Indian bowlers who stepped up to the occasion and defended the below-par total. Pakistan's batting lineup, in contrast, struggled to keep up with the required run rate, eventually being bundled out for a meager total of 231 runs.
1. India vs Sri Lanka – World Cup 2011 Final
558 Million
Back in 2011, the world's cricketing eyes were set on the biggest event of the year – the ICC World Cup finals. The Indian team had powered their way into the finals, set to face off against the co-hosts Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka had set a formidable target of 274 runs on the board, courtesy of a valiant century by Mahela Jayawardene. To end their country's 28-year wait for the trophy, the Indian team needed to pull off a record-breaking run chase.
India vs Sri Lanka ICC World Cup 2011 Final
Led by the stalwart MS Dhoni, the Indian team etched their name in the annals of cricketing history with a thrilling and unforgettable performance. The Indian captain himself played a captain's knock with an unbeaten 91*. Gautam Gambhir's steady innings of 97 runs provided the necessary anchor to Dhoni's pyrotechnics as India went on to win the World Cup.
It was a historic game, watched by millions around the world, and it cemented its place in the record books as the most viewed cricket game ever played.
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