'Not Even 1 Lakh In Hockey': India Player On 13 Cr Views On T20 WC Match Vs PAK

Last Updated:February 15, 2026, 20:52 IST

Rani Rampal highlights hockey's low audience compared to cricket's 13 crore views for India-Pakistan T20 World Cup.

India hockey legend Rani Rampal questioned the difference in audience engagement for her sport and cricket. Taking to social media, she pointed to the 13 crore views accumulated on JioStar for the India-Pakistan match in the 2026 T20 World Cup match on Sunday (February 15).

“13+ CRORE views 🔥 and the match just started! People are ready to buy subscriptions for cricket… But hockey? Not even 1 LAKH views. What’s the fault? 🏏 vs 🏑 ?" she wrote.

Rampal is a celebrated field hockey player from Haryana, who debuted internationally in 2008 at age 14. She became one of India’s most iconic forwards, scoring over 200 goals in more than 250 appearances.

Rani captained the Indian women’s team to historic achievements, including qualifying for the 2016 Rio Olympics after 36 years and leading them to a fourth-place finish at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, India’s best ever. She won key medals at the Asian Games and World Cup events and received the prestigious Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna in 2020, becoming the first female hockey player in the country to receive it.

India were put in to bat first against Pakistan in their T20 World Cup clash, in a contest that had already simmered for weeks amid sporting and political drama, probably bringing extra viewers. Pakistan captain Salman Agha made an early impact, bringing himself on for off-spin and dismissing Abhishek Sharma in the very first over. Attempting to loft him, Abhishek found Shaheen Shah Afridi at the edge of the circle.

Off-spin continued through Saim Ayub, and India were briefly under pressure. Then Ishan Kishan seized control. He began with a fierce pull off Afridi and, over the next several overs, dismantled the spinners. Agha and Ayub were struck for boundaries, Abrar Ahmed was hit for six and four, and Shadab Khan was also taken apart as Kishan raced to a 27-ball fifty. Tilak Varma played second fiddle in their 87-run stand.

Kishan’s charge ended when he missed Ayub while trying to carve him over mid-wicket. Ayub then removed Tilak and Hardik Pandya in successive deliveries to spark a collapse. Suryakumar Yadav and Shivam Dube rebuilt cautiously before Afridi conceded 15 in the final over, lifting India to 175 for seven.

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