Cricket

Sunil Gavaskar, the legendary Indian cricketer, has expressed his displeasure with broadcaster Star Sports for displaying a graphic highlighting Rohit Sharma's weakness against left-arm seamers during India's Super 8 match against Australia in the 2024 T20 World Cup.Despite Rohit's well-known vulnerability against left-arm pacers, he showcased his prowess by smashing 29 runs off Mitchell Starc's over, contributing to his impressive 41-ball 92. However, after Starc dismissed Rohit, Star Sports displayed a graphic showcasing Rohit's dismissals against left-arm pacers, which irked Gavaskar."Thinking about Rohit Sharma once again, he got out to a left-hander (left-arm seamer). So before the next match, are we going to do another segment about his weakness to left-handers?" questioned a perplexed Gavaskar.Aaron Finch, who shared the commentary box with Gavaskar, attempted to justify the graphic by pointing out the increasing number of left-arm pacers in the game, including Starc, Trent Boult (New Zealand), and Shaheen Shah Afridi (Pakistan)."There are more left-armers playing now, and they are genuine swing bowlers. So that poses a challenge to the opening batter," said Finch.Gavaskar countered Finch's argument, stating that it was not a significant issue to highlight. "I don't think you should be looking much into that. If you're playing attacking shots when the ball is swinging in, you will be out LBW, you will be out bowled," said Gavaskar.While Rohit Sharma played one of the most remarkable innings of the 2024 T20 World Cup, his opening partner Virat Kohli suffered his second duck of the tournament. Gavaskar has recently faced criticism on social media for his perceived biased analysis towards the dismissals of the two batters."Commentators create divide between players and the fans," one user tweeted, after Gavaskar criticized Kohli's shot selection against Bangladesh while praising Rohit's approach as selfless.

The highly anticipated T20 World Cup is set to commence on June 2nd, with experts predicting a thrilling final between India and Australia. This would be a rematch of the 2019 ODI World Cup final, where Australia emerged victorious.According to cricket experts from Star Sports, India and Australia are the frontrunners to reach the summit clash on June 29th. Former India pacer Sreesanth expressed his belief that India will avenge their ODI World Cup defeat and claim their second T20 crown. Sreesanth was a crucial member of the 2007 T20 World Cup-winning team under MS Dhoni.The tournament will be co-hosted by the USA and West Indies from June 2nd to 29th. India has been placed in Group B alongside Pakistan, Ireland, USA, and Canada. Their campaign begins on June 5th against Ireland in New York, followed by the highly anticipated clash with Pakistan on June 9th at the same venue.Other experts who shared their predictions include Brian Lara, Sunil Gavaskar, Paul Collingwood, Chris Morris, and Matthew Hayden. They all agreed that India and Australia possess the strongest squads and are the favorites to reach the final.India will be eager to prove their dominance in the shortest format of the game, while Australia will be looking to defend their title and extend their reign as T20 World Champions. The tournament promises to deliver high-octane action and intense rivalry, with the best teams in the world vying for the coveted trophy.

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.