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Time of India
6 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
ICC WTC Final 2025 sees 75% ad volume drop despite record viewership: TAM adex
Despite setting new benchmarks in viewership, the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) Final 2025 between South Africa and Australia saw a sharp decline in advertising volumes, according to the latest data released by TAM AdEx. As per the report, ad volumes for the third edition of the ICC Test Championship Final plummeted by 74.77 percent compared to the 2023 showdown between India and Australia. The drop was nearly 73 percent when compared to the inaugural final held in 2021 between India and New Zealand. The difference is clear when you compare it to the 2023 final, where ad volumes jumped 7% over 2021. The Indian team being in those earlier finals really drove advertiser interest. But that won't happen in 2025 since India isn't playing in the big game. As per the report, the number of advertising categories, advertisers, and brands shrank over 70 percent in the 2025 final compared to the 2023 edition. The categories saw 70 percent decline in 2025 as compared to 2023 whereas the number of advertisers declined by 71 percent and brands declined by 80 percent. This sharp drop highlights the considerable sway the Indian team holds over commercial interest in major cricketing events. According to Anil Solanki, senior director, media lead, Dentsu X, Test cricket, while rich in legacy, continues to face challenges in attracting advertisers compared to the high-octane T20 formats. 'This year's drop in ad volumes can be attributed to a few key factors—India not being in the final match significantly impacted viewership sentiment, and brands are increasingly favoring moment-driven formats with sharper ROI.' He further added, 'Long-format cricket demands sustained attention, which is harder to justify in today's fragmented, attention-short consumer landscape.' Another senior media planner on the condition of anonymity shared a similar opinion that the absence of India in the ICC WTC 2025 final has impacted advertiser interest, with ad volumes seeing a notable decline. 'India's participation typically guarantees higher viewership, particularly from a cricket-obsessed market that drives premium ad rates,' he added. While Maruti Suzuki India led the advertising charts in ICC TC'23, Star India (JioHotstar) emerged as the top advertiser in 2025. Interestingly, the top five advertisers in ICC TC'25 accounted for more than 65 percent of the total ad volumes, a significant concentration compared to the 28 percent contribution by top advertisers in 2023. Glaxo Smithkline, Billion Brains Garage Ventures, Apple Computer India and Apetch were among the top five advertisers in 2025. The top five advertising categories collectively made up nearly 40 percent of total volumes in both editions. Perfumes/Deodorants and Ecom-Media/Entertainment/Social Media were consistent performers, featuring among the top five categories in both 2023 and 2025. However, while the 2023 final saw strong representation from the Auto sector, the 2025 edition saw a shift toward Services sector categories. We have reached out to JioStar for their comments and the story will be updated once we hear back from them. According to the ICC official release, the WTC Final 2025 shattered viewership records . The match became Star Sports Network's highest-rated and most-watched non-India Test match, garnering 2.94 billion viewing minutes and reaching 47 million viewers on television in India alone. Digital engagement also soared, with 225 million digital views, rivaling numbers from the 2023 final that featured India. The game at Lord's Cricket Ground attracted a total in-stadium attendance of 109,227 over four days from June 11 to 14, where South Africa defeated Australia by five wickets in a thrilling contest.
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Business Standard
28-06-2025
- Sport
- Business Standard
AUS thrash WI to go level with ENG in WTC 2025-27 points table; IND on 5th
The 2025–27 cycle of the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) is up and running in full steam, with the first four matches of the cycle all done and dusted. The 2023 WTC champions and 2025 runner-ups, Australia, in the early morning of Saturday, registered a huge comeback win over the West Indies in Barbados by 159 runs to go level with England at the top of the latest WTC points table. The two Ashes rivals are now tied with a 100 percent points percentage each at the top of the table with 12 points apiece after their first match. Meanwhile, Sri Lanka, who defeated Bangladesh in the second Test to win the two-match series 1–0, are in third spot with a 66.67 points percentage. Bangladesh, with one loss and one draw, are in fourth spot with a 16.67 points percentage, while 2021 and 2023 runner-ups India are fifth after losing to England in their only Test of the cycle so far at Headingley, Leeds. New Zealand, Pakistan, and South Africa are yet to start their journey in the ICC WTC 2025–27 cycle. The next match of this cycle will be played between India and England, starting Wednesday, 2 July, in Edgbaston. ICC WTC 2025–27 points table Position Team Played Won Lost Draw Points PCT 1 Australia 1 1 0 0 12 100 2 England 1 1 0 0 12 100 3 Sri Lanka 2 1 0 1 16 66.67 4 Bangladesh 2 0 1 1 4 16.67 5 India 1 0 1 0 0 0 6 West Indies 1 0 1 0 0 0 7 New Zealand 0 0 0 0 0 0 8 Pakistan 0 0 0 0 0 0 9 South Africa 0 0 0 0 0 0 Hazlewood shines in Australia's dramatic win over West Indies Australia secured a dominant 159-run victory over West Indies inside three days in the first Test at Kensington Oval. After starting the day at 92/4, Australia piled on 310 in their second innings, thanks to gritty half-centuries from Travis Head (61), Beau Webster (63), and Alex Carey (65), setting a daunting target of 301. The West Indies' chase unravelled quickly, crumbling to 86/8 before being bowled out for 141 in just 33.4 overs. Josh Hazlewood led the bowling attack with a superb 5/43, while Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins also chipped in. Despite a late counterattack from Justin Greaves (38*) and Shamar Joseph (44), their 55-run stand only delayed the inevitable. Shamar Joseph also impressed with the ball, claiming 5/87 and finishing with a match haul of nine wickets. Australia's bowlers capitalised on a tough pitch and West Indies' fragile batting to take a 1–0 lead in the series.


India Gazette
22-06-2025
- Sport
- India Gazette
"He's been consistent since moving to no 5 slot": Shastri lauds Rishabh Pant's ton against England
New Delhi [India], June 22 (ANI): Former India head coach Ravi Shastri heaped praise on the team's wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant following his exceptional batting performance on the second day of the Leeds Test against England at Headingley.. Pant slammed 134 runs off 178 balls, which was laced with 12 boundaries and six maximums, scoring at a run-rate of above 75. Speaking about Pant in a video posted by BCCI, Ravi Shastri said, 'He's outrageous. I saw that from the first day I saw him. He's different from the rest. He plays on his own terms. At times, he'll play the numbers game. At times, he'll just do what his mind says. There's a package there that can be extremely dangerous in test match cricket. I think ever since he's come into that number 5 slot, he's been extremely consistent.' Further, the former cricketer went on talk about the boundary which Rishabh Pant slammed on his second ball of his innings on the bowling of England captain Ben Stokes to open his account. 'If you're 30 for 3, for example, you might be tempted to send someone else. But with him, he's so aggressive, he can turn the course of the game. For the others to make the most of it. The other way to look at it is, if he has got a platform like he got today, in this innings. Comes in after lunch, with a score in excess of 100. He can really make you pay the price for it because of the range of shots and the audacity. I mean, the second ball, how many people will hit Stokes down the ground, second ball? So, it's a message to the opposition. I'm not here to just fool around. I'm here to take the attack to you,' the cricketer-turned-commentator added. In the end, the 63-year-old spoke about the 209-run partnership between team India's captain Shubman Gill and vice-captain Rishabh Pant for the fourth wicket in the ongoing first Test of the five-match series. 'I'm really happy for him because when you see where he was after that accident. And to come and get a 100 in the first test of the series. I know what one against Bangladesh is, but this is special. When needed, the first test of the series as vice-captain of the side, batting with his captain, they know each other very well. To get involved in that partnership, fabulous,' Shastri concluded. On Saturday, Pant overtook former skipper Rohit Sharma, becoming the team's leading six-hitter in the history of the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) history. Pant's six count in WTC has gone up to 62, overtaking Rohit's tally of 56 in 40 Tests. The 27-year-old has smashed these sixes in just 35 matches, scoring a total of 2,386 runs at an average of 41.85 with five centuries and 13 fifties in his WTC leading six-hitter in ICC WTC history is England skipper Ben Stokes, who has smashed 83 sixes in 54 on Saturday also surpassed MS Dhoni to register the most Test centuries by an Indian wicketkeeper-batter and continued his good show in what are regarded as tough wickets in countries outside Asia. Pant now has seven centuries, overtaking Dhoni, who has six Test centuries. This is also his fifth century in SENA (South Africa, England, New Zealand and Australia) conditions, the most by an Asian batter. Three of these centuries have come in England and one each have come in Australia and South Africa. Also, he has equalled Sri Lankan legend Kumar Sangakkara (seven centuries) for most centuries in Tests as a designated keeper among all Asian countries. Earlier on Friday, Pant also completed his 3,000 Test runs, becoming the second Indian wicketkeeper-batter to do so after Dhoni and overtook Dhoni to become Asia's most successful wicketkeeper-batter in SENA on the basis of run count. In 44 Tests for India, Pant has scored 3,082 runs at an average of 43.40, with seven centuries and 15 fifties in 76 innings. His runs have come at a stunning strike rate of 73.69. (ANI)


Mint
22-06-2025
- Sport
- Mint
'Hes been consistent since moving to no 5 slot': Shastri lauds Rishabh Pants ton against England
New Delhi [India], June 22 (ANI): Former India head coach Ravi Shastri heaped praise on the team's wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant following his exceptional batting performance on the second day of the Leeds Test against England at Headingley.. Pant slammed 134 runs off 178 balls, which was laced with 12 boundaries and six maximums, scoring at a run-rate of above 75. Speaking about Pant in a video posted by BCCI, Ravi Shastri said, "He's outrageous. I saw that from the first day I saw him. He's different from the rest. He plays on his own terms. At times, he'll play the numbers game. At times, he'll just do what his mind says. There's a package there that can be extremely dangerous in test match cricket. I think ever since he's come into that number 5 slot, he's been extremely consistent." Further, the former cricketer went on talk about the boundary which Rishabh Pant slammed on his second ball of his innings on the bowling of England captain Ben Stokes to open his account. "If you're 30 for 3, for example, you might be tempted to send someone else. But with him, he's so aggressive, he can turn the course of the game. For the others to make the most of it. The other way to look at it is, if he has got a platform like he got today, in this innings. Comes in after lunch, with a score in excess of 100. He can really make you pay the price for it because of the range of shots and the audacity. I mean, the second ball, how many people will hit Stokes down the ground, second ball? So, it's a message to the opposition. I'm not here to just fool around. I'm here to take the attack to you," the cricketer-turned-commentator added. In the end, the 63-year-old spoke about the 209-run partnership between team India's captain Shubman Gill and vice-captain Rishabh Pant for the fourth wicket in the ongoing first Test of the five-match series. "I'm really happy for him because when you see where he was after that accident. And to come and get a 100 in the first test of the series. I know what one against Bangladesh is, but this is special. When needed, the first test of the series as vice-captain of the side, batting with his captain, they know each other very well. To get involved in that partnership, fabulous," Shastri concluded. On Saturday, Pant overtook former skipper Rohit Sharma, becoming the team's leading six-hitter in the history of the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) history. Pant's six count in WTC has gone up to 62, overtaking Rohit's tally of 56 in 40 Tests. The 27-year-old has smashed these sixes in just 35 matches, scoring a total of 2,386 runs at an average of 41.85 with five centuries and 13 fifties in his WTC leading six-hitter in ICC WTC history is England skipper Ben Stokes, who has smashed 83 sixes in 54 on Saturday also surpassed MS Dhoni to register the most Test centuries by an Indian wicketkeeper-batter and continued his good show in what are regarded as tough wickets in countries outside Asia. Pant now has seven centuries, overtaking Dhoni, who has six Test centuries. This is also his fifth century in SENA (South Africa, England, New Zealand and Australia) conditions, the most by an Asian batter. Three of these centuries have come in England and one each have come in Australia and South Africa. Also, he has equalled Sri Lankan legend Kumar Sangakkara (seven centuries) for most centuries in Tests as a designated keeper among all Asian countries. Earlier on Friday, Pant also completed his 3,000 Test runs, becoming the second Indian wicketkeeper-batter to do so after Dhoni and overtook Dhoni to become Asia's most successful wicketkeeper-batter in SENA on the basis of run count. In 44 Tests for India, Pant has scored 3,082 runs at an average of 43.40, with seven centuries and 15 fifties in 76 innings. His runs have come at a stunning strike rate of 73.69. (ANI)


India Gazette
21-06-2025
- Sport
- India Gazette
Pant overtakes Rohit to become India's top six-hitter in WTC history
Leeds [UK], June 21 (ANI): Indian wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant overtook former skipper Rohit Sharma, becoming the team's leading six-hitter in the history of the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) history. Pant accomplished this feat during his side's first Test against England at Leeds on Friday. During his knock of 134 in 178 balls, Pant smashed 12 fours and six sixes, scoring at a run-rate of above 75. With this, Pant's six count in WTC has gone up to 62, overtaking Rohit's tally of 56 in 40 Tests. The 27-year-old has smashed these sixes in just 35 matches, scoring a total of 2,386 runs at an average of 41.85 with five centuries and 13 fifties in his WTC career. The leading six-hitter in ICC WTC history is England skipper Ben Stokes, who has smashed 83 sixes in 54 Tests. Pant on Saturday also surpassed MS Dhoni to register the most Test centuries by an Indian wicketkeeper-batter and continued his good show in what are regarded as tough wickets in countries outside Asia. Pant now has seven centuries, overtaking Dhoni, who has six Test centuries. This is also his fifth century in SENA (South Africa, England, New Zealand and Australia) conditions, the most by an Asian batter. Three of these centuries have come in England and one each have come in Australia and South Africa. Also, he has equalled Sri Lankan legend Kumar Sangakkara (seven centuries) for most centuries in Tests as a designated keeper among all Asian countries. Earlier on Friday, Pant also completed his 3,000 Test runs, becoming the second Indian wicketkeeper-batter to do so after Dhoni and overtook Dhoni to become Asia's most successful wicketkeeper-batter in SENA on the basis of run count. In 44 Tests for India, Pant has scored 3,082 runs at an average of 43.40, with seven centuries and 15 fifties in 76 innings. His runs have come at a stunning strike rate of 73.69. Coming to the match, England opted to bowl first. Centuries from Yashasvi Jaiswal (101 in 159 balls, with 16 fours), skipper Shubman Gill (147 in 227 balls, with 19 fours and a six) and Pant (134 in 178 balls, with 12 fours and six sixes) took India to 471 all out. Skipper Ben Stokes (4/66) and Josh Tongue (4/86) were the top bowlers for England. (ANI)