Dubai, UAE – As the ICC Champions Trophy India-Pakistan clash takes place today, do you have any idea how huge this rivalry is—both in the context of cricket and as a money-making opportunity? Whenever these two cricket titans meet, billions are involved, ranging from record ad revenue to astronomical sponsorship contracts and mind-boggling ticket prices. This is not a match—it’s one of the world’s most profitable sporting events, attracting brands, broadcasters, and millions of fans into a commercial spectacular for which there are high stakes.
2019: The ₹100 Crore Match
The 2019 ICC World Cup encounter between India and Pakistan set new benchmarks in advertising revenue. Star Sports, the official broadcaster, charged ₹25 lakh for a 10-second ad slot—significantly higher than the ₹16-18 lakh charged for other India matches. With around 5,500 seconds of ad inventory, Star raked in approximately ₹100 crore from a single game. The numbers cemented India vs Pakistan as cricket’s ultimate commercial jackpot.
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2023: Record-Breaking Viewership Fuels Brand Frenzy
By 2023, the advertising potential of an India-Pakistan game had skyrocketed alongside record-breaking viewership figures. The match, aired on Disney-Star and Doordarshan, was watched by 173 million viewers on TV, while 225 million tuned in digitally via Disney+ Hotstar. Peak TV concurrency hit 76 million, and digital streaming peaked at 35 million.
With such a record-breaking audience, advertisers rushed to book ad spaces, guaranteeing maximum exposure. The match’s popularity in bringing audiences to the screens of both traditional and digital platforms made it rank among the most-watched sporting events worldwide, even against the FIFA World Cup finals.
2024: ₹4 Lakh Per Second – The Highest Ad Rates Yet
As India and Pakistan faced off in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup on June 9, 2024, advertisement prices reached unprecedented levels. According to reports, a single second of advertising space during the match was sold for an astonishing ₹4 lakh ($4,800), marking the highest ad rate in cricket history and highlighting the sport’s unparalleled commercial value.
With thousands of advertisement seconds available on television, the total revenue generated through commercial advertising during the match broke all-time records, providing broadcasters with a significant financial windfall.
2025 Champions Trophy: Even Bigger Stakes
Looking ahead, the upcoming India-Pakistan clash in the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy in Dubai is set to push commercial records even further. Sponsors lining up for the event include Dream11, Vodafone-Idea, ICICI Bank, Eicher Motors (launching its new electric motorbike), Birla Pus Opus (cement brand), and Pernod Ricard.
Industry expert Dr Sandeep Goyal, Chairman of Rediffusion, explains why brands continue to invest heavily in the rivalry: “An India-Pakistan match is always a landmark event. Despite Pakistan’s decline as a cricketing powerhouse, the rivalry remains unmatched. Advertisers know they will get record eyeballs; every brand wants to be a part of it.”
TV vs Digital Viewership: Highlights the shift towards digital platforms, with digital viewership surpassing TV in recent years.
Sold-Out Tickets and Sky-High Prices
The advertising frenzy is not the only one. Ticket demand for these matches is unprecedented. All tickets for the 2025 Champions Trophy were sold out within minutes of their release. More tickets released on February 16 were also grabbed in a flash, even though they were priced between ₹11,800 and ₹3 lakh.
However, ticket prices have gone through the roof on the secondary markets. Some listings feature tickets for more than ₹18 lakh, with top offers going for an eye-popping ₹56 lakh. The huge Indian and Pakistani expat population in the UAE, combined with the match’s historical importance, is fueling this record demand.
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The Billion-Dollar Rivalry
The India-Pakistan cricket rivalry is more than just a game—it’s a billion-dollar industry. With record-breaking ad revenues, skyrocketing sponsorship deals, and ticket prices hitting new highs, each encounter cements its status as the most valuable match in world cricket.
As today’s Champions Trophy clash unfolds, one thing is certain—when India and Pakistan take the field, the cricket world stops, and the money keeps pouring in.
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