Star Sports, the official broadcaster for the IPL 2024, issued a thorough statement on Monday defending its handling of the audio-record incident involving Indian men’s captain Rohit Sharma. The presenter did not use Rohit Sharma’s name, but instead addressed him as “a senior Indian player” in the comment.
The problem developed when Star Sports utilized a video of Rohit Sharma folding his hands and asking the cameraman not to record the audio of his private discussion during its pre-match show. Rohit Sharma was heard claiming that “another audio” had landed him in trouble before, presumably alluding to a now-deleted video from the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) social media handle, which had sparked huge controversy.
“A clip involving a senior Indian player and his post on social media have gained prominence since yesterday,” Star Sports said. “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 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 statement added:
“Star Sports has always adhered to the highest standards of professional conduct while broadcasting cricket all over the world. Respect for players’ privacy while bringing fans, moments of intense action and preparations, sits at the core of this ethos, which the broadcaster remains committed to.”
While Star Sports owns the broadcast rights, Viacom18 (owner of JioCinema) is funded by the Reliance Group, which also owns Rohit Sharma’s Mumbai Indians team.
What did Rohit Sharma say that led to Star Sports’ response?
After the video began to circulate on social media, Rohit Sharma issued an unusual remark, claiming that “the need to get exclusive content” from broadcasters will eventually erode confidence between players and spectators.
He said:
“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. 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. Let better sense prevail.”
Rohit Sharma
The Mumbai Indians finished last in the IPL 2024. The skipper will now be seen in action in the 2024 T20 World Cup, which starts next month in the West Indies and the USA.