It took only hours for Indian cricket fans to be dealt a huge blow of sadness when they learnt the broadcasting schedule for the Vijay Hazare Trophy 2025–26. Despite the historic return of icons Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli to domestic cricket, their highly anticipated matches will not be available for live viewing on any major streaming (JioHotstar) or television platform (Star Sports).
The 2025–26 season was supposed to be a landmark moment for Indian domestic cricket. Under a BCCI mandate requiring national stars to participate in at least two games, Virat Kohli (representing Delhi) and Rohit Sharma (representing Mumbai) are set to take the field starting tomorrow, 24 December.
However, a tweet from the Star Sports Network confirmed the worst fears of the RO-KO fandoms. Only select matches will be broadcast.
While games such as Puducherry vs Tamil Nadu and Hyderabad vs Uttar Pradesh have secured slots on JioHotstar and Star Sports Khel, the fixtures featuring India’s biggest superstars, Mumbai vs Sikkim (Rohit) and Delhi vs Andhra (Kohli), are absent from the schedule.
Hi! You can watch Vijay Hazare Trophy 2025–26 starting tomorrow at 9 AM LIVE, Pondicherry vs Tamil Nadu LIVE on JioHotstar & Star Sports Khel, and Hyderabad vs Uttar Pradesh LIVE on JioHotstar.
— Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) December 23, 2025
The reaction on social media has been nothing short of explosive. For a nation where cricket is a religion, and its stars are deities, the inability to watch the “Hitman” and “King Kohli” in action is being viewed as a massive institutional and infrastructural failure.
Hashtags like #ShameOnJioHotstar and #VHT2025 began trending almost immediately, with fans expressing disbelief that the two highest-ranked ODI batters in the world are playing a professional match that will go unrecorded by cameras.
From a business perspective, the decision is baffling to many. The presence of Kohli and Rohit alone could have driven record-breaking viewership for a domestic tournament. By failing to secure the rights or the logistical set-up for these specific high-profile matches, fans strongly believe that JioHotstar and Star Sports have missed out on a golden opportunity for engagement and ad revenue.
The logistical challenge reportedly stems from the tournament being spread across multiple venues, with broadcasting equipment stationed only at primary grounds such as Ahmedabad and Rajkot. Delhi and Mumbai are scheduled to play their opening fixtures in Bengaluru and Jaipur, respectively, venues that, for this round, unfortunately do not have the required broadcasting infrastructure.
Moreover, it is important to take into consideration the ongoing administrative issues and power struggles within the Rajasthan Cricket Association (RCA), which have already forced the BCCI to issue an ultimatum for elections. Without an elected body, the RCA cannot host the IPL, with Pune emerging as a potential backup venue.
This has impacted even domestic matches, with uncertainty stemming from disputes between rival factions and government-appointed ad hoc committees, affecting venue clearance and player logistics.
On the other hand, Delhi’s matches, especially those featuring Virat Kohli, are reportedly being held at the BCCI’s Centre of Excellence to manage crowd control. We all remember what happened after Royal Challengers Bangalore won this year’s IPL and the stampede that followed in the city in June. Stay tuned for more updates.
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