Sundar Pichai, the Madurai-born Google chief, turned heads at the T20 World Cup 2026 Super-8 match in Ahmedabad’s Narendra Modi Stadium, joining India vs South Africa festivities with ICC Chairman Jay Shah.
Pre-game pomp saw Pichai and Sunil Gavaskar escort the coveted trophy onto the outfield, a nod to Google’s key sponsorship role and the sport’s magnetic pull on global influencers.
During the break, in a candid chat with Ravi Shastri, Pichai delved into his cricket obsession. He credited Gavaskar as a childhood hero—poster on the wall and all—and recounted family radio sessions tuning into West Indies thrillers with his dada ji. ‘Cricket’s been integral to my journey,’ he affirmed.
Match action delivered: South Africa 187/7, with Brevis 45, Miller 63 (35 balls), Stubbs 44* (24 balls). Bumrah’s 3-fer kept India in hunt. Aiming to launch their Super-8 run triumphantly, Team India drew inspiration from such high-profile support, as Pichai’s story weaves personal passion into the tournament’s narrative.