Star Sports responds to Rohit Sharma’s accusations; denies breach of privacy

Rohit Sharma recently criticized the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 broadcaster, Star Sports, publicly for what he terms as a breach of privacy. The issue, which has sparked a debate over the extent of media intrusion in sports, was highlighted by Sharma on Sunday through a post on X, formerly known as Twitter.

Sharma expressed his concerns over the increasing intrusiveness of cameras, which he claims are now recording every conversation and interaction, whether on or off the field. “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,” wrote Sharma.

He further detailed an incident where, despite his explicit request to Star Sports to not record a private conversation, the broadcaster went ahead and aired it. “Despite asking Star Sports to not record my conversation, it was and was also then played on air, which is a breach of privacy. The need to get exclusive content and focused only on views and engagement will one day break the trust between the fans, cricketers, and cricket,” he added. Sharma concluded his message with a call for better judgment, saying, “Let better sense prevail.”

The incident in question, according to Sharma, occurred during a training session. However, he did not provide specific details about the content of the conversation or the exact nature of the privacy breach. This public reprimand has brought attention to the fine line between media coverage and personal privacy in the sports industry.

This isn’t the first time Star Sports has faced criticism this season. Earlier, cricket legend and commentator Sunil Gavaskar lambasted the network for repeatedly airing an interview of Virat Kohli. In the interview, Kohli criticized those commenting on his strike rate. 

Gavaskar remarked, “Star Sports needs to understand they’ve shown it enough times. Everybody got the message.” He added, “I’ll be very disappointed if Star Sports shows it once more. That’ll be questioning all of us commentators, not just these two (Matthew Hayden and I), those in the box, those earlier on. You’re questioning their knowledge, their expertise.”

In response to Sharma’s accusations, Star Sports issued a statement denying any breach of privacy. The broadcaster clarified that no audio from the mentioned conversation was recorded or aired. 

“The clip, taken during a training session on May 16 at Wankhede stadium, for which Star Sports had authorised access, momentarily showed the senior player in conversation with his friends on the sidelines. No audio from this conversation was either recorded or broadcast,” the statement read. 

They further added, “The clip, which only showed the senior player requesting for the audio of his conversation to not be recorded, got featured in Star Sports’ live coverage of pre-match preparations and lacked editorial relevance beyond this.”

The controversy highlights the growing tension between cricketers and media entities over privacy concerns. As the boundaries of media coverage expand, athletes are increasingly finding their personal and professional lives under constant scrutiny. Sharma’s strong stance is a reminder of the importance of respecting privacy, even in the high-stakes world of professional sports.

This incident is likely to spark further discussions about the ethical responsibilities of sports broadcasters and the rights of athletes to maintain some degree of privacy amidst the growing demand for exclusive content and constant media engagement. As the cricketing community and its stakeholders navigate these challenges, it remains crucial to find a balance that honours both the spirit of the sport and the personal boundaries of its players.