Rohit Sharma launches scathing attack on broadcaster for privacy breach, calls for ‘better sense to prevail’

India captain Rohit Sharma launched a scathing attack on the IPL broadcaster – Star Sports for breaching players’ privacy during the 17th edition of the Indian Premier League. Rohit took to social media to question broadcasters’ role in deciding what to put out and what not, addingwith cameras reaching everywhere, the players’ lives have become so intrusive.

In his ‘X’ post, Rohit asked the broadcasters to draw the line somewhere. He further said that despite repeatedly requesting Star Sports not to record the conversation between players during the training session ahead of MI’s last group game, they did and later aired it on television, with clips surfacing all over the internet.

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“The lives of cricketers have become so intrusive that camerasare now recordingevery step and conversation we are having in privacy with our friends and colleagues, at training or on match days.”

“Despite asking Star Sportsto notrecord my conversation, it was and was alsothenplayed on air, which is a breach of privacy.The need to get exclusive contentandfocused only on views and engagement will one day break the trust between the fans, cricketers and cricket,” the former MI captain wrote in a social media post.

With this, he sent a clear message to all stakeholders involved that by breaching the players’ privacy, the trust factor among all concerned will go for a toss.

Not a happier space to be in

Following last year’s home World Cup loss at the hands of Australia, Rohit Sharma hasn’t been in the happiest space. Although he led India to an emphatic Test series win over England at home, getting replaced by Hardik Pandya as the new MI captain ahead of IPL 2024 led to his downfall as a batter.

While he started in most matches, even scoring a hundred against Chennai Super Kings (CSK) at the Wankhede Stadium, Rohit was used as an ‘Impact Player’ during the fag end of the tournament.

Besides his poor form this season, which has been continuing for a few years now, Rohit is feeling out of place following Pandya’s appointment as MI skipper has been worrying.

However, he will still lead the Men in Blue in the upcoming T20 World Cup in the Americas starting June 2, with Pandya playing his deputy. Indiais placedin Group A alongside arch-rivals Pakistan, co-hosts USA, Canada and Ireland.

India will open their campaign against Ireland on June 5 and will next face Pakistan in the marquee clash on Sunday (June 9) in New York.