Cricket fans slam BCCI for not live-streaming Duleep Trophy 2025 matches

Duleep Trophy blackout has left followers frustrated, especially as several international players are in action, including Mohammed Shami, Kuldeep Yadav, Arshdeep Singh, and Harshit Rana.

The Duleep Trophy 2025, India’s traditional curtain-raiser for the domestic cricket season, has sparked a wave of criticism after fans discovered that matches are not being broadcast or live-streamed on any platform.

 

The tournament, named after K.S. Duleepsinhji, began on August 28 and will run until September 15, but unlike last year, there is no live coverage. In 2024, fans could follow the action on Sports18 Network and the JioCinema app (which later merged with Hotstar under the JioHotstar banner).

 

This year’s blackout has left followers frustrated, especially as several international players are in action, including Mohammed Shami, Kuldeep Yadav, Arshdeep Singh, and Harshit Rana. 

 

Fans point to contrast with state leagues

 

The lack of coverage has been widely questioned, particularly since several state T20 leagues are being televised or streamed. Competitions such as the Delhi Premier League, Karnataka’s Maharaja T20 Trophy, Kerala Cricket League, and UPT20 League enjoy broadcast slots on Star Sports, FanCode, and Sony Sports.

 

Fans argue that a premier BCCI event like the Duleep Trophy, with its rich history and the participation of India’s top talent, deserves at least the same visibility as these regional tournaments.       

 

Return to zonal format adds to significance

 

The 2025–26 edition has reverted to the traditional zonal knockout format, featuring six teams — North Zone, East Zone, Central Zone, North East Zone, South Zone, and West Zone. This is a shift from last year’s format, where India A, B, C, and D competed in a round-robin.

 

Historically, West Zone and North Zone have dominated the competition with 19 titles each. The current edition has already seen North Zone face East Zone and Central Zone take on North East Zone in the quarterfinals at the BCCI Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru. 

Duleep Trophy Day 1 scorecards

   

North Zone 1st Innings
Batting		R	B	4s	6s	SR
Shubham Khajuria	lbw b Manishi	26	53	4	0	49.05
Ankit Kumar (c)	lbw b Manishi	30	42	4	0	71.42
Yash Dhull	lbw b Manishi	39	67	4	2	58.2
Ayush Badoni	c †Kushagra b Mukhtar Hussain	63	60	7	0	105
Nishant Sindhu	not out	36	57	4	1	63.15
Kanhaiya Wadhawan †	not out	4	23	0	0	17.39
Extras	(b 6, lb 1, nb 2)	9
Total	50 Ov (RR: 4.14)	207/4
Yet to bat: Sahil Lotra, Auqib Nabi, Mayank Dagar, Arshdeep Singh, Harshit Rana
Bowling	O	M	R	W	ECON	WD
Mohammed Shami	12	4	29	0	2.41	0
Mukesh Kumar	7.5	0	26	0	3.31	0
Suraj Sindhu Jaiswal	9	3	31	0	3.44	0
Mukhtar Hussain	11	1	52	1	4.72	0
Manishi	9	0	60	3	6.66	0
Utkarsh Singh	1.1	0	2	0	1.71	0

   

 

Central Zone 1st Innings
Batting		R	B	4s	6s	SR
Aayush Pandey	c Chetri b Chowdhary	3	10	0	0	30
Aryan Juyal †	retired hurt	60	100	8	0	60
Danish Malewar	not out	109	148	22	0	73.64
Rajat Patidar (c)	not out	61	60	11	1	101.66
Extras	(b 2, lb 1, pen 5)	8
Total	53 Ov (RR: 4.54)	241/1
Yet to bat: Aditya Thakare, Harsh Dubey, Kuldeep Yadav, Deepak Chahar, Khaleel Ahmed, Shubham Sharma, Yash Rathod.
Bowling	O	M	R	W	ECON	WD
Akash Choudhary	11	2	33	1	3	0
Pheiroijam Jotin	10	1	29	0	2.9	0
Palzor Tamang	9	1	31	0	3.44	0
Bishworjit Konthoujam	11	1	48	0	4.36	0
Rongsen Jonathan	8	0	57	0	7.12	0
Ankur Malik	0.4	0	9	0	13.5	0
Hem Chetri	3.2	0	26	0	7.8	0