ICC Taps Google Gemini to Power AI Fan Experiences at T20 World Cup
The partnership names Gemini as the official AI companion and Pixel as the official smartphone for the 2026 tournament.
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The International Cricket Council has partnered with Google to roll out AI-driven fan experiences for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, naming Google Gemini the Official AI Fan Companion and Google Pixel the Official Smartphone for the tournament, which begins tomorrow.
The tie-up aims to deepen fan engagement across stadiums and digital platforms. Gemini is positioned as a creative co-pilot to help fans interpret moments on and off the pitch, while Pixel will capture behind-the-scenes and on-field content from inside venues.
ICC Chief Executive Sanjog Gupta said the partnership aligns with the council’s push to deliver more immersive and technology-enabled fan experiences.
“This partnership brings together two global organizations united by consumer focus, scale, purpose, and innovation. 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,” Gupta said. “Together, we will use technology to deepen engagement, enhance experiences and make cricket more accessible and meaningful for fans worldwide.”
Google said the collaboration builds on its work during the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025, where AI tools were tested to enhance fan interaction.
“We were thrilled to witness firsthand during the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025 how AI can enhance and delight fans,” said Shekar Khosla, V-P, Marketing, Google India. “Now, 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.”
The partnership has kicked off with what Google and the ICC call a first-of-its-kind fan engagement initiative, the Gemini ‘Craziest Fan Kaun’ contest. Using Gemini’s image generation capabilities, powered by Nano Banana, fans can create and share personalized ‘Crazy Fan’ avatars. Winners will not only attend a T20 World Cup match in person but will also wear their custom AI-designed looks inside the stadium.
Beyond contests, the collaboration is rolling out a suite of AI-powered fan features embedded directly into the Gemini app. A new “Explore Cricket” tab offers weekly refreshed content, from simplified explanations of complex rules like the DLS system to quizzes, “Guess the Player” games, and even challenges that invite fans to design entirely new cricket formats.
Gemini is also introducing AI-generated Insight Cards, turning player trivia, career milestones, and lesser-known facts into vibrant, shareable digital snapshots, designed for instant posting across social platforms.
On the hardware side, Google Pixel will play a central role in storytelling. Leveraging its advanced camera system, including a 48MP 5x telephoto lens and enhanced video capabilities, Pixel will capture unique angles and moments from the heart of the action, bringing fans closer to the game both inside the stadium and online.
The ICC and Google said the initiatives mark the first phase of the partnership, with more AI-led features expected as the tournament progresses.
