The International Cricket Council (ICC) has secured a significant partnership with Google ahead of the to , 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, hosted jointly in India and Sri Lanka. The deal, finalized recently, will see Google Gemini designated as the Official AI Fan Companion and Google Pixel as the Official Smartphone for the tournament.
The collaboration extends beyond branding, promising to integrate Google’s artificial intelligence capabilities directly into the fan experience. Gemini will power a dedicated “Explore Cricket” tab within the Gemini app, offering interactive tools designed to enhance engagement. These features include quizzes, challenges, and simplified explanations of complex cricket rules, such as the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern (DLS) system. Google’s AI assistant will also generate shareable player and personality snapshots, synthesizing information from across the web to highlight career milestones and trivia.
On the hardware side, Google Pixel’s advanced camera technology will be utilized to capture unique content from within the stadiums, providing fans with high-quality visuals for digital channels. This builds on a growing relationship between the ICC and Google, which already serves as a global partner for the ICC’s women’s competitions. Both Gemini and Pixel were instrumental in enhancing the fan experience during last year’s Women’s World Cup, also held in India and Sri Lanka, and will continue to be developed for the upcoming Women’s T20 World Cup in England and Wales.
The partnership was formally announced as the ICC seeks to leverage technology to broaden cricket’s appeal and deepen fan engagement. ICC Chief Executive, Sanjog Gupta, emphasized the alignment between the two organizations. “This partnership brings together two global organisations united by consumer focus, scale, purpose and innovation,” Gupta stated. “Google’s leadership in connection, search and discovery and AI, aligns strongly with the ICC’s ambition to serve fans better, delivering phygital experiences across touchpoints. Together, we will use technology to deepen engagement, enhance experiences and make cricket more accessible and meaningful for fans worldwide.”
The move represents a significant investment by Google in the cricket ecosystem. The company recently secured a three-year sponsorship deal with the Indian Premier League (IPL), valued at I₹270 crore (approximately US$29.8 million), further demonstrating its commitment to the sport in a key market. This strategic focus on cricket appears to be driven, in part, by the high level of awareness and adoption of generative AI within India. A recent study by the Boston Consulting Group revealed that 94 percent of Indian respondents are aware of generative AI, with 64 percent actively using gen AI tools.
Shekar Khosla, VP Marketing at Google India, highlighted the potential of AI to transform the fan experience. “We were thrilled to witness firsthand during the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025 how AI can enhance and delight the fan experience,” Khosla said. “Now, as we strengthen our partnership with the ICC for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, we are bringing together Gemini’s generative capabilities and Pixel’s advanced imaging to deliver features that empower fans with new avenues for creativity and celebration. We are excited to see how these innovations help a new generation of digital-first fans celebrate the spirit of cricket.”
The initial rollout of the partnership includes the “Craziest Fan Kaun” contest, an interactive experience that invites fans to utilize Gemini’s image generation capabilities – powered by Nano Banana – to create and share unique ‘Crazy Fan’ avatars. Winners of the contest will have the opportunity to attend an ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 match and showcase their AI-designed looks in the stadium.
This collaboration signifies a broader trend of technology companies seeking to integrate themselves into the world of sports, recognizing the potential to reach vast and engaged audiences. The ICC’s partnership with Google is a clear indication of the growing importance of AI and digital innovation in enhancing the fan experience and driving growth within the sport. The integration of AI-powered tools promises to offer fans a more immersive and interactive way to engage with the game, potentially attracting a new generation of cricket enthusiasts.
The ICC and Google have indicated that further features will be rolled out throughout the tournament, aiming to provide a seamless and engaging experience for fans both in the stadium and online. The focus on “phygital” experiences – blending the physical and digital worlds – underscores the ICC’s commitment to adapting to the evolving needs and preferences of modern sports fans.
