New Delhi, 6th March 2026: Digital engagement during the ICC Men’s World Cup 2026 recorded a sharp increase compared to the previous edition. According to data from CREX, a cricket-focused digital platform, total time spent on the platform during the IND vs USA match, which marked India’s first match of the 2026 tournament reached 186.3 million minutes.
In comparison, India’s opening match in the 2024 edition IND vs IRE recorded 68.3 million minutes of total time spent. The comparison reflects a substantial increase in user engagement during the opening fixture window between the two tournaments.
Feature-level activity also saw measurable growth. Within the platform’s “Matches” section, the head-to-head comparison feature recorded an 11% rise in visitors, while total time spent in this segment reached 53.73 million minutes, reflecting nearly 90% growth over the comparable 2024 opening-match period.
The data indicates stronger second-screen behaviour during marquee fixtures, with users spending more time analyzing comparative statistics and structured match insights alongside live coverage.
Commenting on the consumption trends, Purushotam Rawat, CEO of CREX, said,
Global tournaments like the ICC Men’s World Cup significantly change how fans interact with the game. What we are seeing is not just higher traffic, but deeper engagement particularly around comparative analysis and contextual match data. Fans today want more than live scores; they want insights that enhance their understanding of the game in real time.
The platform data indicates that large-format tournaments such as the ICC Men’s World Cup tend to amplify second-screen behaviour, with fans seeking deeper analytical engagement and contextual match data. The growth in time spent and feature-level consumption indicates a broader trend toward data-driven fandom, where mobile platforms complement live viewing experiences.
The data highlights how major sporting events are reshaping digital sports consumption patterns, with mobile platforms playing a central role in providing analytics-driven fan experiences.
