Domestic cricket in India is set to symbolize an electric spark Virat Kohli And Rohit Sharma return to the Vijay Hazare Trophy this Wednesday. For Kohli, it marks a homecoming in the 50-over domestic format after a long gap of 15 years, while Rohit returns to represent Mumbai for the first time since 2018. His involvement, like with the stars Rishabh Pant, Shubman Gill And KL Rahulhas turned this edition into a high-stakes dress rehearsal for the upcoming ODI series new zealandHowever, despite the huge star power, millions of fans across the country are facing a significant blackout Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) Navigates a complex logistics and transmission landscape.
The real reason behind the non-telecast of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma’s Vijay Hazare Trophy 2025-26 matches
As per NDTV Sports report, the main reason why fans are not seeing Kohli and Rohit on their screens is a simple matter of infrastructure. On the opening day of the tournament, all 38 teams are playing together in 19 different matches. The BCCI traditionally provides full broadcast and streaming setups only for a select few games due to the prohibitive cost and technical requirements of multi-camera coverage. For the 2025–26 season, high-definition broadcast facilities have been set up only at two primary centres: the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad and the Niranjan Shah Stadium in Rajkot.
Since Rohit Sharma’s Mumbai is playing in Jaipur and Kohli’s Delhi has been shifted to a facility in Bengaluru, which lacks broadcasting infrastructure, neither match falls under the current television window. While some reports initially suggested that Star Sports and JioHotstar would organize the tournament, they would only show the matches held on two designated broadcast venues.
🚨 No live telecast of Rohit and Virat in VHT 🚨
– No telecast of Rohit Sharma’s match (Jaipur)
– No telecast of Virat Kohli’s match (COE)
– Only two Vijay Hazare Trophy games will be streamed
– Broadcast available on Hotstar and Star Sports
– Venues covered: NMS Ground and… pic.twitter.com/6IfTyvkCYM-Vipin Tiwari (@Vipintivari952) 23 December 2025
VHT 2025-26 matches behind closed doors for Kohli
While Rohit Sharma fans in Jaipur still have a chance to watch their captain from the stands, the situation in Bengaluru has taken a far more restrictive turn for Virat Kohli. Just 24 hours before the opening match, the Karnataka government and the local police refused permission M.Chinnaswamy Stadium To host Delhi’s fixtures. The match has been moved BCCI Center of Excellence (CoE) On the outskirts of the city, and a blow to local fans, it will be played behind closed doors.
According to The Times of India, the decision stemmed from a combination of factors:
- Security Concerns: Local police have to work hard to manage Christmas and year-end celebrations in the central business district.
- Security Legacy: Authorities are on alert after the tragic stampede outside the Chinnaswamy Stadium during RCB’s IPL celebrations in early June, in which 11 people were killed.
- Infrastructure Issues: The stadium has not yet fully implemented the safety recommendations of the Justice Cunha Commission report, which recently described the venue as “unsafe for large gatherings”.
However, there is still a ray of hope for digital broadcasting. Earlier this year, a Ranji Trophy match involving Delhi was not originally scheduled for streaming, but the BCCI reversed its decision at the eleventh hour after overwhelming public demand to watch Kohli in action. However, as it stands, there is a lack of fixed broadcast equipment. COE in Bengaluru and this Sawai Mansingh Stadium of Jaipur A definite hurdle remains. For now, Kohli and Rohit will fulfill their domestic responsibilities by staying away from the public eye.
