The International Cricket Council (ICC) has made a last-minute agreement with Google for the Pixel and Gemini brands to sponsor the 2026 ICC Men's T20 World Cup. This partnership will bring Google's Gemini AI service and Pixel smartphone to the forefront of the tournament, offering an immersive experience for fans worldwide.
Google's Gemini AI will serve as the official fan companion, providing an engaging and interactive experience. The app will feature an 'Explore Cricket' tab, offering games and AI-generated statistical insights, enhancing fan engagement and understanding of the sport. Meanwhile, Google Pixel will be the official smartphone, leveraging its camera technology to capture and share content from the tournament on various digital and social media platforms, as well as within the stadium.
Sanjog Gupta, ICC chief executive, emphasized the partnership's potential: "This collaboration unites two global organizations with a shared focus on consumer engagement, scale, purpose, and innovation. Google's expertise in connection, search, discovery, and AI aligns perfectly with the ICC's goal of enhancing fan experiences through phygital (physical and digital) interactions across various touchpoints. Together, we aim to deepen engagement, enrich experiences, and make cricket more accessible and meaningful for fans worldwide."
This partnership builds upon Google's previous collaboration with the ICC for the Women's Cricket World Cup, showcasing the tech giant's commitment to fan engagement and AI capabilities. Additionally, Google's partnership with the BCCI for the IPL in India further solidifies the country's position as a key sponsorship battleground for tech industry players.
India's early adoption of generative AI technology, as indicated by a 2024 Deloitte survey, positions it as a prime market for the IPL and WPL. The 2026 ICC T20 Men's World Cup, co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka, will feature a range of global media rights partners, including JioStar in India, Dialog TV in Sri Lanka, MyCo in Pakistan, Sky Sports in the UK, Prime Video in Australia, and SuperSport in South Africa and Namibia. Various platforms across the UAE and Middle East, such as StarzPlay and VOX, will also broadcast the tournament. In the US and Canada, Willow TV will showcase games live for free on YouTube, while Disney+ will broadcast games in the Caribbean.
Other rights holders include Total Sport Management in Bangladesh, PNG Digicel in the Pacific Islands, Hub Sports 4 in Singapore, Lemar TV in Afghanistan, Kantipur TV in Nepal, and the CricBuzz streaming channel in Malaysia and Hong Kong. The tournament will also be accessible via the Sport24 service for in-flight and at-sea viewers.
