Willow by Cricbuzz announces major updates for 2026 cricket season

Willow by Cricbuzz has announced a series of updates for the 2026 cricket season, beginning with the ICC Men's T20 World Cup from February 7 to March 8.

A key development is a partnership with YouTube to stream all four Team USA matches in the ICC T20 World Cup for free on YouTube. This marks the first time ICC World Cup matches will be freely available in the US and Canada on the platform. These matches will also be free on Willow and Cricbuzz platforms.

Additionally, Willow has partnered with Jomboy Media to launch a creator-led alternate telecast for the tournament. This broadcast will be available on the Jomboy Media YouTube channel and aims to provide a more personality-driven viewing experience for major matches.

Beyond the four USA matches, the entire ICC T20 World Cup will be available on Willow's linear channel within the YouTube TV "NFL RedZone with Sports Plus" package and via Willow's Primetime Channels service on YouTube.

Willow is also launching a new product experience across its website, mobile apps, and connected TV apps, designed to be faster, offer higher-quality video, and simplify access to live matches, replays, and highlights.

Todd Myers, Chief Operating Officer of Willow by Cricbuzz, stated: "The ICC Men's T20 World Cup gives fans a chance to experience cricket at a true breakout moment in the U.S. We are taking the next step by offering free access to some of the most anticipated matches of the year, alongside new creator-led programming."

Marc Hatfield, Partnerships Manager at YouTube, added: "We're thrilled to partner with Willow by Cricbuzz to bring T20 World Cup USA cricket matches to YouTube for free, enabling our audience to engage with both the main livestream and an alternative creator-led livestream."

Creator-Led Alternate Telecast

For the first time, a creator-led alternate telecast will be available for two of the tournament's biggest matches: USA vs. India and USA vs. Pakistan. Produced with Jomboy Media, it will feature a conversational style with live reaction and expert perspective alongside the traditional broadcast.

The commentary team will include Jimmy "Jomboy" O'Brien (founder of Jomboy Media), former England international Liam Plunkett, and analyst Adam Bannon.

Jimmy O'Brien said: "I discovered cricket during COVID and instantly fell in love. We're excited to create new fans in the US for baseball's older cousin."

Jomboy Media, founded in 2017, is a leading U.S. baseball media brand. O'Brien's recent passion for cricket has led the company to expand into the sport with content like the That's Cricket podcast.

The alternate telecast will be available on Jomboy Media's YouTube channel (over 2 million subscribers), Willow's YouTube channel, and across Willow by Cricbuzz's digital platforms.

Broad Access to USA Matches

The four USA matches in the tournament are:

• USA vs. India: February 7, 8:30 a.m. ET
• USA vs. Pakistan: February 10, 8:30 a.m. ET
• USA vs. Netherlands: February 13, 8:30 a.m. ET
• USA vs. Namibia: February 15, 4:30 a.m. ET

These matches will be distributed across:

• Willow TV (English)
• Willow 2 (Hindi)
• Willow Sports (free ad-supported streaming channel)
• Willow by Cricbuzz website & app
• Cricbuzz website & app
• Willow by Cricbuzz YouTube channel
• Willow's direct-to-consumer streaming service (subscription)

For the full tournament, all 55 matches will be available in English on Willow TV and digital platforms, with Hindi coverage on Willow 2.

Fans can subscribe to Willow by Cricbuzz directly or through partners like Amazon, YouTube Primetime Channels, Triller TV, and FloSports.

Willow by Cricbuzz is available on major TV providers including DISH, Sling, Fios, Spectrum, Xfinity, DIRECTV, and Fubo, and its streaming app is on devices like Apple TV, Roku, Amazon Fire TV, and Samsung Smart TVs.