On Sunday, during the IND vs NZ World Cup match of the ongoing ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023, the live streaming viewership on Disney+ Hotstar exceeded 4 crore, establishing a new viewership record, insidesport.in reported. Viewership reached its zenith at 4.3 crore when Virat Kohli was poised to match Sachin Tendulkar's record for the most centuries in ODIs. This viewership milestone marked the highest ever in digital streaming history.
Previously, the record for India's international matches stood at 3.5 crore viewers for the IND vs PAK match in the 2023 World Cup, also streamed on Disney+ Hotstar.
India beats New Zealand in Dharamshala
Nevertheless, fans were left disappointed as Kohli was dismissed for 95 runs, narrowly missing his 49th ODI century. Despite missing out on his century, Kohli played a crucial role in securing India's fifth consecutive victory in the 2023 World Cup. He received strong support from Ravindra Jadeja, who remained unbeaten on 39.
While Virat Kohli was the standout performer with the bat, Mohammad Shami excelled with the ball. Playing his first match of the 2023 World Cup, Shami claimed his second five-wicket haul in tournament history, contributing significantly to India's comeback.
Earlier in the game, Daryl Mitchell (130) and Rachin Ravindra (75) proved to be worrisome for the Indian bowlers. The duo formed a formidable 159-run partnership before Shami dismantled the New Zealand lineup, restricting them to a total of 273.
Following the match, Indian skipper praised Shami's performance, stating that the pacer possesses "class."
"Shami took the opportunity with both hands. He’s got class and so much experience and he used the conditions really well. At one stage NZ put up a big partnership there. Dew came in as well. But we have to give credits to the bowlers in the back end,” Rohit said in the post-match presentation.
After securing their fifth consecutive victory in the ICC Men's World Cup 2023, Team India remain the only undefeated team in the tournament and currently lead the points table, with New Zealand in the second position.
Team India's next match is scheduled against England in Lucknow on Sunday, October 29, with Hardik Pandya set to join the team before the clash against England.