NZC puts India-NZ T20I powerplay on TikTok in a vertical-format first
The first T20I between New Zealand and India in Christchurch was played on Thursday night local time. Before the result, the talking point was where fans could watch it. New Zealand Cricket, working with Sky and the sports-technology firm WSC Sports, streamed the opening six overs live on its official TikTok account, in a vertical format built for phone screens.
The board describes the move as thought to be a world-first for international cricket. The idea is to reach younger fans where they already spend their time. The board's marketing chief has called the powerplay the most explosive stretch of a T20 and a bite-sized way into the sport for the TikTok generation.
The TikTok feed started as the two sides took the field, so viewers saw the traditional Māori call and both national anthems. It then ran through the first powerplay, when only two fielders can stand outside the 30-yard circle. It stopped there. Anyone wanting the full match in New Zealand had to switch to Sky's free-to-air platforms, Three and ThreeNow. The board has confirmed this is a limited trial across a few home T20Is this summer, not a permanent change.
Indian fans need not worry about missing out. TikTok has been banned in India since 2021, and the board has not said the stream will be available worldwide. The whole series is on Sony Sports Network and SonyLIV in India, with the same 12:30 PM IST start for the first match.
The cricket was worth the attention. India won the toss and chose to bowl. New Zealand made 225/4, with 65/1 on the board after the first six overs, so the TikTok viewers saw a brisk start. India needed 226 and went even harder in their own powerplay, reaching 94/1 after six overs. They finished on 230/6 in 19.4 overs, which gave them a four-wicket win with two balls to spare. Naman Dhir was named Player of the Match for taking over the chase when India still needed 59 off 33 balls. Sanju Samson's powerplay blitz was also credited with setting the platform.
That result gives India a 1-0 lead in the five-match series, with Shreyas Iyer captaining the side against Mitchell Santner's hosts. The second T20I is at the same ground, Hagley Oval, on Saturday 24 October. The third is on Tuesday 27 October at Wellington's HNRY Stadium. The series ends on 1 November.
The result also has some context for India. The two sides met in the T20 World Cup final earlier this year, and India scored heavily in that tournament. A 226-run chase in New Zealand shows how deep the batting is. The powerplay is where India have often built their big totals and chases, and the stream put that phase in front of a new audience.
The experiment will be judged on audience numbers, which the board has not released. Other boards will probably watch how a six-over, phone-first feed performs against the full broadcast. For now, Indian fans can follow the rest of the series on the usual Sony platforms.