The International Cricket Council (ICC) and Google have announced a strategic partnership for the upcoming ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026. The collaboration designates Google Gemini as the event’s “Official AI Fan Companion” and Google Pixel as the “Official Smartphone.”
The initiative aims to integrate advanced artificial intelligence and mobile technology into the tournament to alter how fans interact with the sport. While Gemini is positioned to function as a creative tool for fan engagement, Google Pixel will be utilized to capture content from within the stadiums.
“Craziest Fan Kaun” Contest Launches Partnership
The collaboration has commenced with the launch of an interactive campaign titled “Craziest Fan Kaun.” This contest utilizes generative AI to encourage fan creativity.
Participants are invited to use Gemini’s image generation capabilities—specifically powered by the Nano Banana model—to design custom “Crazy Fan” avatars. Selected winners will receive an in-person stadium experience at a World Cup match, where they will attend wearing the custom designs they generated via the AI platform.
New Features in the Gemini App
Google and the ICC are rolling out specific updates to the Gemini application designed to coincide with the tournament.
The “Explore Cricket” Tab: The Gemini home screen now includes specialized intent chips leading to a dedicated “Explore Cricket” tab. This section is designed to offer a suite of interactive tools that will be refreshed weekly. Key functions include:
- Rule Explanations: Generating instant simplifications of complex cricketing regulations, such as the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern (DLS) method.
- Interactive Games: Hosting ICC T20 World Cup quizzes, “Guess the Player” segments, and challenges to “Design a new cricket format.”
Insight Cards by Gemini To move beyond basic statistics, Gemini has introduced “Insight Cards.” By synthesizing information from the web, the AI generates digital snapshots focused on player personalities, career milestones, and trivia. These cards are formatted specifically for social media sharing, allowing fans to circulate information in a visual format.
Content Capture via Google Pixel
As the official smartphone of the tournament, Google Pixel is being utilized to provide visual coverage of the matches. The ICC notes that the device’s hardware—specifically the 48MP 5x telephoto lens and its video capabilities—will be used to capture high-quality perspectives from the heart of the stadium.
This content is intended for distribution across social media channels and in-stadium displays to provide fans with unique vantage points of the action.
Future Developments
The organizations have stated that the current suite of features represents only the initial phase of the rollout. As the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 progresses, Google and the ICC intend to introduce further AI-driven tools and experiences to expand fan engagement with the sport.
ICC Chief Executive, Sanjog Gupta, said:
This partnership brings together two global organisations united by consumer focus, scale, purpose and innovation. Google’s leadership in connection, search & discovery and AI, aligns strongly with the ICC’s ambition to serve fans better, delivering phygital experiences across touchpoints. Together, we will use technology to deepen engagement, enhance experiences and make cricket more accessible and meaningful for fans worldwide.
Shekar Khosla, VP Marketing at Google India, said:
We were thrilled to witness firsthand during the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025 how AI can enhance and delight the fan experience. Now, as we strengthen our partnership with the ICC for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, 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. We are excited to see how these innovations help a new generation of digital-first fans celebrate the spirit of cricket.