Cricket

IPL Broadcaster Denies Breaching Rohit Sharma's Privacy, Accuses KKR of Leaking AudioIndian Premier League (IPL) broadcaster Star Sports has vehemently denied allegations made by Indian cricket captain Rohit Sharma that the channel breached his privacy by airing a private conversation. The incident occurred during a training session at the Wankhede Stadium on May 16, where Star Sports had authorized access.According to Star Sports, the clip in question only showed Rohit requesting that the audio of his conversation not be recorded. The channel claims that no audio from this conversation was either recorded or broadcast. The clip was featured in Star Sports' live coverage of pre-match preparations and lacked editorial relevance beyond this.Rohit Sharma, however, has accused the channel of airing a private conversation and has expressed concern about the erosion of trust between fans, cricketers, and the sport. He has urged for better sense to prevail.The controversy arose after Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) posted the audio of the chat on their social media handle, leading to speculation about Rohit's future with Mumbai Indians. Following the backlash, KKR removed the video.Star Sports has emphasized its commitment to protecting players' privacy and stated that respect for players' privacy is at the core of its ethos. The channel remains committed to bringing fans moments of intense action and preparations while upholding the privacy of its players.

Rohit Sharma Accuses Star Sports of Privacy Breach, Slams Intrusive Camera CoverageFormer Mumbai Indians captain Rohit Sharma has raised concerns over the excessive camera coverage by Indian Premier League (IPL) broadcaster Star Sports, alleging a breach of privacy. Sharma expressed his discomfort with the broadcaster's practice of recording and airing personal conversations between players and colleagues.In a social media post, Sharma criticized Star Sports for capturing and broadcasting his private chats, despite his explicit requests to refrain from doing so. He emphasized that the constant surveillance has become intrusive and undermines the trust between cricketers, fans, and the sport itself."The lives of cricketers have become so intrusive that cameras are now recording every step and conversation we are having in privacy with our friends and colleagues, at training or on match days," Sharma wrote. "Despite asking Star Sports to not record my conversation, it was and was also then played on air, which is a breach of privacy."Sharma's outburst stems from an incident where his conversation with Kolkata Knight Riders assistant coach Abhishek Nayar was recorded and shared on social media. Additionally, he had previously requested the broadcaster's cameraman to disable the audio while recording his chat with former MI and India teammate Dhawal Kulkarni.The Mumbai Indians endured a disappointing season in the IPL, finishing at the bottom of the points table. Sharma lost his captaincy ahead of the season, with Hardik Pandya taking over the reins.Sharma's concerns highlight the growing tension between cricketers and broadcasters over the extent of camera coverage. While broadcasters seek exclusive content to boost viewership and engagement, players are increasingly concerned about their privacy and the potential consequences of their private conversations being made public.