India Clinches T-20 Cricket World Cup after 13 Years, Boosting Disney Star’s Revenue Prospects

India secured a thrilling victory in the T-20 Cricket World Cup, marking their return to glory after a 13-year hiatus. The win is poised to significantly enhance revenue streams for Disney Star, the current rights holder of this high-octane format, projecting potential advertising earnings of Rs 18,000 crore ($2.2 billion), as per details shared by Mint newspaper.

The T-20 format, blending fast-paced action with vibrant marketing, has gained immense popularity since its inception a decade ago. Each game, lasting around three hours, encapsulates a fusion of American-style promotion and Bollywood’s flamboyance, captivating audiences worldwide.

Comparatively, commercial slots during the India-Pakistan clash were valued at an average of Rs 20 lakh for a mere 10 seconds—a testament to the event’s massive commercial appeal. To put this in perspective, a 30-second Super Bowl advertisement commands a price tag of $6.5 million, while charges for ads during the UK‘s 2022 World Cup topped £400,000 ($511,000) for the same duration, as reported by Bloomberg.

The culmination of this year’s four-week, 20-team tournament, which featured matches in the United States for the first time, witnessed India’s triumphant return to the pinnacle of T-20 cricket. Prime Minister Narendra Modi hailed the historic final clash between India and South Africa, spotlighting gripping moments that unfolded till the very end, including game-changing catches that defined the outcome.

The victory, albeit jubilant for Indian cricket enthusiasts, ushered in an era of bittersweet farewells for two stalwarts—captain Rohit Sharma and maestro batsman Virat Kohli—who announced their retirement from the T-20 format. Kohli, at 35, bid adieu after clinching the Player of The Match award, expressing gratitude for a career-defining finale in his final T-20 World Cup outing. ‘This is an incredible chapter in my sporting journey,’ Kohli reaffirmed in a heartfelt message aired on Star Sports, cited by the Press Trust of India.