The ICC T20 World Cup 2026 is a huge moment in India, often marked by heightened emotions, increased viewership, and a sharp rise in mobile usage. In fact, mobile viewership of the T20 World Cup has surged significantly, with the last edition accounting for 60–65% of the total digital audience, a figure expected to rise further this year. As fans increasingly consume live matches within mobile apps, in-app ads emerge as a critical growth lever for q-commerce brands competing for real-time attention.
For q-commerce brands, this creates an opportunity to target users inside apps when they are most likely to place an order such as during innings breaks, chase moments, or high-pressure overs. Programmatic delivery ensures ads are served within premium, brand-safe environments where user attention is sustained and distraction is minimal.
During the most recent T20 World Cup final in 2024, there was a 40% jump in quick-commerce spending, primarily between 8:00 p.m. and 11:00 p.m. IST. Orders under ₹100 across apps like Blinkit and Instamart also increased by around 35% compared to earlier periods. This underscores the importance of delivering the right message at the right live-match moment. With Xerxes, q-commerce brands can activate real-time audience signals to identify users most likely to order while a T20 match is in progress. Rather than relying on one-size-fits-all campaigns, programmatic in-app advertising allows brands to serve hyper-relevant messages to micro-audiences precisely when purchase intent peaks.
The Best Way to Catch Audience Attention
Leverage In-Depth Audience Segmentation
Advanced audience segmentation within in-app ecosystems goes beyond understanding viewing habits or shopping frequency. It incorporates order value, match-time app engagement windows, and device-level behavioral signals to identify habitual snack buyers, late-evening shoppers, and users with a history of impulse purchases during live events.
This enables quick-commerce brands to reach high-intent users through in-app placements during critical overs, retarget cart abandoners in real time within apps, and deliver hyper-relevant offers to users most likely to convert during peak match moments.
Drive Relevance with SKU-Level Targeting
Cricket-driven shopping behavior is often immediate and need-based, especially during live matches. Instead of promoting the entire app, Xerxes enables SKU-level targeting within in-app ad inventory, allowing brands to highlight specific product categories or bundles such as snacks, beverages, or match-night essentials.
By leveraging ML-driven audience clusters such as deal hunters, repeat buyers, and cart abandoners, q-commerce brands can deliver highly contextual ads aligned to live-match consumption patterns. This precision improves click-through rates and reduces wasted spend during peak tournament days.
Reduce Drop-Offs and Boost Checkout Conversions
High traffic alone does not guarantee revenue. Conversion is key. Xerxes supports checkout conversion through high-impact in-app placements designed to reduce drop-offs and shorten the path from ad exposure to purchase. These placements guide users seamlessly from an ad to app open, product selection, and checkout.
During the T20 World Cup, when purchase decisions are impulsive and time-sensitive, minimizing friction within the in-app journey can significantly increase completed orders and incremental revenue.
Turning Match Moments into Revenue Moments
For q-commerce brands, the T20 World Cup represents a series of high-intent micro-moments unfolding inside mobile apps. With programmatic in-app advertising precision, brands can capture these moments with speed and relevance. The outcome is not just higher installs or traffic, but measurable growth across the entire commerce funnel.
Get started with Xerxes today.
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