The billion humans who watched India and Pakistan play cricket

IMAGE: HIMANSU VYAS/HINDUSTAN TIMES VIA GETTY IMAGES

Super Bowl XLIX drew 114 million viewers in the U.S. earlier this month, making it the most-watched American TV program of all time.

Well, guess what, America? That ain't squat. When India and Pakistan faced off in the Cricket World Cup on Sunday, nine times as many people tuned in to watch a fierce rivalry that extends well beyond sports. The match, which drew nary a peep Stateside, was estimated to draw at least a billion — a billion! — viewers worldwide.

The India vs. Pakistan match was held in Adelaide, Australia, and India won by 76 runs — which probably makes little sense to average American ears, mine included.

More fascinating, however, is the mind-bogglingly huge audience that was absorbed by a match most in the United States enjoying the long Presidents Day weekend had little idea even happened.

Here's how those billion humans watched.

1. India vs. Pakistan, baby!
IMAGE: JAMES ELSBY/ASSOCIATED PRESS
2. They watched at a veggie stall in Allahabad, India.
IMAGE: SANJAY KANOJIA/AFP/GETTY IMAGES
3. They watched via laptop in New Delhi.
IMAGE: TSERING TOPGYAL/ASSOCIATED PRESS
4. They watched in Jaipur, India.
IMAGE: HIMANSU VYAS/HINDUSTAN TIMES VIA GETTY IMAGES
5. Fans at this New Delhi tea shop were transfixed.
IMAGE: TSERING TOPGYAL/ASSOCIATED PRESS
6. This Bollywood film shop in New Delhi had a TV set up, too.
IMAGE: TSERING TOPGYAL/ASSOCIATED PRESS
7. More rapt audience members in New Delhi.
IMAGE: TSERING TOPGYAL/ASSOCIATED PRESS
8. In Karachi, Pakistan, fans gathered to watch en masse.
IMAGE: SHAKIL ADIL/ASSOCIATED PRESS
9. Folks got together in Lahore, Pakistan, too.
IMAGE: K.M. CHAUDARY/ASSOCIATED PRESS
10. In Allahabad, mechanics who couldn't find a TV had to settle for radio.
IMAGE: SANJAY KANOJIA/AFP/GETTY IMAGES
11. In Ahmadabad, India, victory was cause for celebration.
IMAGE: AJIT SOLANKI/ASSOCIATED PRESS
12. Some fans even watched in-person in Australia!
IMAGE: JAMES ELSBY/ASSOCIATED PRESS
13. And they were treated to a beautiful bonus sunset.