'Shameful', 'Outrageous': Fans frustrated as Duleep Trophy gets no live coverage

Fans of Indian cricket have been eagerly waiting for action since the international break began on August 4. The Duleep Trophy promised a perfect opportunity to track the performances of some players who impressed during the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy in England. However, excitement quickly turned to disappointment when the BCCI announced that the tournament would not be live-streamed. The Duleep Trophy is one of India’s premier domestic first-class competitions, ranking just below the Ranji Trophy and above the Irani Cup. This season, the first two quarterfinals saw North Zone face East Zone, and Central Zone take on North-East Zone. The matches featured several big names from Indian cricket. East Zone welcomed back Mohammed Shami, returning from injury, with Mukesh Kumar as his fast-bowling partner and Riyan Parag among the key batters. North Zone included Yash Dhull and Arshdeep Singh, while the other quarterfinal showcased players such as Kuldeep Yadav, Rajat Patidar and Deepak Chahar. Despite these star-studded lineups, the lack of live coverage on any streaming platforms left fans frustrated, with many sharing their disappointment on X.This edition of the Duleep Trophy marks the return to the traditional zonal format after last year’s temporary switch to India A, B, C and D teams. The tournament will also serve as the first trial for the BCCI’s ‘serious injury replacement substitute’ rule. Several established Indian players, including KL Rahul, Washington Sundar and Ravindra Jadeja, are missing from this season. That has put the spotlight on players like Shreyas Iyer and Sarfaraz Khan, who appear to have fallen out of favour. Iyer’s exclusion from the Asia Cup squad, despite strong performances in the Champions Trophy and IPL, sparked debate among fans and experts. Sarfaraz, meanwhile, was overlooked during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy and dropped from the Test squad for the England tour. The 27-year-old has responded in style, scoring two centuries for Mumbai in the Buchi Babu Invitational in Chennai, giving fans a glimpse of his potential return to the national reckoning.