2026 T20 World Cup: Fans to Experience Cricket in a New Way with AI and Google

To make the 2026 ICC T20 World Cup more engaging and fan-friendly, the International Cricket Council (ICC) has partnered with Google. Google’s Gemini AI will serve as the ‘Official AI Fan Companion,’ while Google Pixel will be the ‘Official Smartphone.’ Through this collaboration, fans will not only watch the matches but also celebrate and experience the game in more creative and interactive ways.

Sanjog Gupta, CEO of the ICC, said, “This partnership will allow fans to connect more closely with the game. Our goal is to make cricket more accessible and enjoyable through technology.”

Shekar Khosla, VP of Marketing at Google India, added, “During the Women’s World Cup, we saw how AI can enrich the fan experience. Now, with Gemini and Pixel, we are offering fans new ways to engage with the game creatively and celebrate cricket in exciting ways.”

The first initiative under this partnership is the “Craziest Fan Kaun” contest. Fans can use Gemini AI to create their own ‘Crazy Fan’ avatars. Selected winners will get the chance to watch a match live in the stadium, wearing their custom AI-designed costumes.

Additionally, Google and the ICC are introducing several new features:
    •    Explore Cricket Tab: Fans can participate in quizzes, understand game rules, and even design their own cricket formats.
    •    Insight Cards: Colorful, shareable digital cards highlighting players’ milestones and other key information.
    •    Google Pixel: Advanced cameras will capture unique moments from different angles inside the stadium, which will also be shared on social media.

Through these initiatives, the ICC and Google aim to bring fans closer to the action than ever before. Cricket enthusiasts in Bangladesh and around the world will now be able to experience the sport from exciting new perspectives, all from the comfort of their homes.