BCCI Secretary Devajit Saikia said the non-telecast of the Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma Vijay Hazare Trophy matches was a result of logistical and infrastructural constraints, despite massive public interest in their return to domestic cricket.
Kohli’s matches for Delhi and Rohit’s matches against Mumbai were not part of the limited broadcast schedule, as live telecasts were arranged for only a handful of matches during the opening round of the tournament, where multiple matches were played simultaneously.
The absence of a live picture has caused frustration among fans, with social media flooded with complaints about missing rare home performances of the two older stars.
WILL BCCI CHANGE POLICY?
Saikia explained that previously only about 100 domestic matches were televised, but the participation of national players has greatly increased the demand. He added that the BCCI is now working with broadcast partners to expand domestic coverage in the coming seasons.
“That’s the biggest change we’re seeing now that all the national players are participating in domestic cricket. Earlier, I never got a phone call asking why a particular home match wasn’t telecast or which matches would be telecast live. These questions never came before but now we get them regularly,” Saikia said in an interview with Sportstar.
“Our earlier system was to telecast around 100 home matches and that is the model we followed. But after the change in policy and with the top players in domestic cricket, there has been a significant increase in interest – not only from the media but also from the general public. Cricket lovers want to watch home matches.
“For this reason, we are revising this policy. We are already working with our broadcast partners and will increase the number of home games in the coming seasons,” Saikia said.
A WIN-WIN SITUATION
Saikia said the presence of senior international players in domestic cricket has greatly enhanced the quality and competitiveness of the tournament. He explained that young cricketers benefit immensely from sharing dressing rooms and playing alongside top national stars, which boosts their confidence and accelerates their learning.
“The biggest advantage of top players in domestic cricket is the value it adds to the competition. Young players get the opportunity to play alongside the best in the country and at international level and share the same dressing room.”
“This boosts their confidence and helps them learn the game in a more challenging environment. At the same time, the national players also stay in touch with the game during their free periods. It’s a win-win situation for both young and experienced players,” Saikia added.
HOW TO GUESS WHO DID IT?
Kohli and Rohit had a big impact in the Vijay Hazare Trophy. Kohli, who is returning to domestic over-50 cricket after 15 years, scored 131 runs and became the fastest batsman to reach 16,000 ListA runs.
Rohit, playing in his first season for Vijay Hazare since 2018, smashed 155 off 94 balls in Mumbai, posting one of his highest scores in ListA and joining an elite group with nine 150-plus innings. Their performances highlighted their constant class and brought considerable attention to this year’s domestic competition.
– The end
Issued by:
sabyasachi chowdhury
Published on:
January 28, 2026
