How to Watch Cricket on Your Phone: A Practical Guide

Want to follow cricket on your phone without getting lost among so many apps and platforms? These days, it’s much easier than you think. With the right app, you can watch live matches, highlights, real-time scores, and get a better understanding of the game, even if you’re a beginner.

Best of all, you get convenience, mobility, and greater control over your experience. Instead of relying on TV or searching for random streams, you can use official or reputable apps with schedules, alerts, and on-demand content.

In this guide, you’ll see three apps that are truly worth considering, learn how to use each one in practice, and discover which ones are free, paid, or depend on your region. By the end, you’ll know exactly where to start.

Before choosing an app, keep the following in mind

The first thing to know is simple: the best app for watching cricket on your phone depends on your country and the broadcasting rights for each tournament. The ICC itself makes it clear that ICC.tv’s live content varies by region, and Willow states that its service is exclusive to the United States and Canada. Access to sports through Disney+ and ESPN also varies depending on the market and the available plan.

Therefore, instead of searching for “the best app,” the smartest approach is to understand which app best suits your region and the type of use you want: live streams, replays, highlights, scores, or official coverage.

1) ICC Official / ICC.tv

If you want to start with a more official option, the combination of ICC Official + ICC.tv is one of the most interesting. The ICC describes the app as your official destination for cricket, with live matches in selected territories, highlights, on-demand archives, and official content. In the App Store, the ICC also indicates that there is access to live international cricket matches in selected regions through the Video Hub.

Is it a paid service?

Registration on ICC.tv is free, and the App Store itself indicates that creating an account and watching live and on-demand content, when available, is also free. In some regions, there are paid options, such as individual passes or pay-per-view, depending on the event.

How to use it in practice:

• Download the official ICC app or ICC.tv to your mobile phone.
• Create your free account and log in.
• Go to the video, live stream, or match section.
• Check if the tournament is available in your region. The ICC indicates that live availability varies by territory.
• If there is no full broadcast, use the app to watch highlights, interviews, and replays.

When is this app most useful?

It is ideal for those who want official content, to follow the main ICC tournaments, and to watch highlights, videos, and supplementary material without relying solely on the live stream.

2) Willow by Cricbuzz

If you’re in the United States or Canada, Willow is one of the best options for watching cricket on your mobile phone. The Willow app itself offers live streaming in Full HD, highlights, full replays, and a dedicated tab for watching matches. The official FAQs also state that the platform is available exclusively in the US and Canada.

Is it a paid service?

Yes. Willow officially offers two plans: $9.99 USD per month in the US and CAD $8.99 per month in Canada, as well as annual plans for $79.99 USD and CAD $79.99. The FAQs also indicate that there is currently no free trial.

How to use it

• Install the Willow app by Cricbuzz on your Android or iPhone device.
• Log in with your email address. Willow uses OTP code authentication, so you’ll receive a code in your email instead of a traditional password.
• Subscribe to a monthly or annual plan, or restore your purchase if you already paid through the App Store.
• Open the “Watch” tab or the live schedule to find matches, replays, and highlights.
• If the stream doesn’t open, check your region and disable your VPN. Willow recommends this in their FAQs.

When is this app most worthwhile?

Willow is most useful for those living in North America who want a more comprehensive experience, focusing on watching stable live cricket, replays, and premium coverage.

3) Disney+ / ESPN

This option works very well in some markets, but not equally well worldwide. The ICC reported, for example, that Disney+ broadcast the 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup in Latin America, while ESPN broadcast it in other specific areas. Disney+’s official help also indicates that access to ESPN sports depends on an eligible plan, and the ESPN app itself notes that some content requires a paid subscription and that availability varies by region.

Is it a paid service?

Yes. In the Disney+/ESPN ecosystem, live cricket generally requires a paid subscription, but the exact format varies by country. In some markets, access is through Disney+ with ESPN; in others, ESPN uses its own plans and services. ESPN states that certain content requires a subscription and that the offering varies by region.

How to use it in practice

• Open the Disney+ app
• Open Disney+ or the ESPN app, depending on availability in your country.
• Sign in with an account that has access to the sports package available in your region.
• Look for the sports section or the ESPN icon in the main menu. Disney+ Help will guide you to access ESPN content within the app.
• Search for “cricket,” the tournament name, or the teams.
• Turn on alerts and save events so you don’t miss live matches or highlights. The ESPN app highlights notifications, scores, and customization options.

When is this app most useful?

This option is ideal for those who already use Disney+ or ESPN, want to combine cricket with other sports in one place, and prefer a larger, more familiar platform with easy mobile navigation. The main thing is to check if the tournament is available in your country.

Which of the 3 apps is best for you?

To start without paying, it’s usually best to try ICC.tv / ICC Official, as registration is free and the app already offers videos, highlights, and, in some regions, live streams.

For those living in the United States or Canada and looking to watch live cricket frequently, Willow by Cricbuzz is the most straightforward option — though it’s a paid service.

If you already use Disney+ or ESPN and want to centralize everything in a single app, it’s worth checking if the tournament is available in your region and if your plan includes live sports.

A simple step-by-step guide to avoid mistakes:

1. Check which country you’re in.

This largely determines what will work on your phone. ICC.tv, Willow, and Disney+/ESPN operate with different regional rules and broadcasting rights.

2. Decide whether you prefer free or paid content.

If you just want to explore the sport, start with the official service. If you want to follow the entire championship live, be prepared to use a paid service in many regions.

3. Choose between full coverage or add-ons.

Not all apps are created equal. Some are better for watching matches, others for highlights, schedules, and context.

4. Turn on notifications.

This helps a lot, especially if you’re still getting used to the schedules, tournaments, and teams. ESPN and the ICC offer customization features and alerts for highlights.

5. Test the app before the main match.

Open the platform in advance, log in, and check if the broadcast is available in your region. This will save you from last-minute rushes and frustration.

More helpful tips to make your text stand out.

A great way to enjoy cricket more is to watch a match focusing on a single player, such as Virat Kohli, Babar Azam, Pat Cummins, or Jasprit Bumrah. This helps you better understand the rhythm of the game and connect with the sport without it feeling like a lecture.

Another tip that makes things easier is to start with highlights and short replays before watching a full match. This way, you familiarize yourself with the game, learn the key moments, and are better prepared for the full broadcast. Apps like ICC.tv and Willow already offer this type of content.

It’s also worth using a simple strategy: use the main app to watch the matches and a companion app to check schedules, context, and results. This combination often significantly accelerates the learning process.

Conclusion

Now the path is clearer. To watch cricket on your mobile, you don’t need to try dozens of apps. In practice, ICC.tv/ICC Official, Willow by Cricbuzz, and Disney+/ESPN already cover three very useful scenarios: the official option, the premium option focused on cricket, and a general option with sports integration.

The key is to choose according to your country, your goal, and how much you want to invest. If you want to start simply, try the official option first. If you want to follow the tournament in more detail, opt for a paid service that has the broadcasting rights in your region.

Start today with one of the three, set up notifications, and enjoy your first match with peace of mind. In no time, cricket will no longer seem complicated and will become just another sport you can enjoy directly from your phone.