Indian legend raises concern over restricted telecast of Vijay Hazare Trophy group stage
Limited live coverage of Vijay Hazare Trophy 2025–26 group matches has sparked debate after an Indian legend questioned the decision, echoing fans’ frustration over missing domestic cricket action.
Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli are the No.1 and No.2 ODI batters in the world respectively. Image | BCCI on X
Last Updated: 01.20 PM, Dec 25, 2025
India's star players, Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Ishan Kishan, and many others slammed centuries in the first match of the Vijay Hazare Trophy 2025 for their respective states on December 24. There were many historic moments that happened during the first games as well but hardly anything was witnessed by the fans due to limited broadcast.
Hence, former Indian cricketer Ravichandran Ashwin took to his YouTube channel to call out the Board of Control for Cricket in India for not broadcasting the Vijay Hazare Trophy matches on any platform. The fans have waited for long to watch the domestic matches featuring the star players.
"Fans are asking what the hell? Only Elon Musk can telecast these matches on X. Everyone wants to follow Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli no doubt. They had a great series and will be facing New Zealand next. They both have turned up, and turned up how! One scores 150 and the other 130, both with incredible strike rates. When players like these come and play, the matches become more exciting," he said on his YouTube channel.
Telecast concerns highlight bigger domestic cricket questions
The restricted broadcast setup has also reopened a broader conversation around how domestic cricket is presented to the public. While marquee international fixtures receive extensive coverage, domestic tournaments often rely on selective broadcasting, leaving fans dependent on score updates rather than live visuals.
The Indian legend’s comments highlighted this imbalance, stressing that consistent exposure is crucial for the long-term health of the game. From a fan’s perspective, the frustration is amplified when matches featuring popular players are unavailable.
Many had hoped the presence of established names would lead to improved visibility for the tournament. Instead, the lack of live coverage has made it difficult for supporters to follow performances beyond brief highlights or post-match summaries.
Where to watch the India vs New Zealand match?
Cricket fans in India can watch the India vs New Zealand 1st ODI match on January 11 online on JioHotstar, via OTTplay Premium.