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The ICC World Test Championship (WTC) Final 2025 between South Africa and Australia at Lord’s has broken all previous viewership records on television and digital platforms, especially in India.
Held from June 11 to 14, the high-stakes clash marked the end of the third WTC cycle and became the most-watched non-India Test match ever on the Star Sports network. According to official data, the final recorded 2.94 billion minutes of TV watch time and reached 47 million viewers across India.
Digital viewership was equally impressive, with the WTC Final generating 225 million views — matching the figures from the 2023 final between India and Australia at The Oval.
A total of 109,227 fans attended the Test match at the historic Lord’s Cricket Ground, where South Africa defeated Australia by five wickets to win the title. The victory was powered by Aiden Markram’s brilliant fourth-innings century of 136 runs, which earned him the Aramco Player of the Match award. Kagiso Rabada also made a big impact with a nine-wicket haul over the match.
Reacting to the huge viewership, ICC Chairman Jay Shah called it a reflection of Test cricket’s lasting popularity.
“The remarkable viewership numbers for the ICC World Test Championship Final, across both broadcast and digital platforms, are a powerful testament to the appeal of high-quality Test cricket and the elevated context of the WTC Final,” said Shah.
He also appreciated the role of Indian broadcaster JioStar for their outstanding coverage of the match.
“A special mention to JioStar, whose innovative and immersive coverage, captured the drama, emotion, and atmosphere of the ‘Ultimate Test’ in a way that deeply resonated with audiences around the world,” he added.
The ICC WTC 2023–25 cycle featured many top performances. England’s Joe Root finished as the top scorer with 1,968 runs in 40 innings at an average of 54.66. Meanwhile, Australia’s captain Pat Cummins ended as the leading wicket-taker with 80 wickets in 35 innings at an average of 23.48.
The final not only ended with a thrilling win for South Africa but also proved that Test cricket still holds a special place in the hearts of fans around the globe.
