Mumbai: The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is set to expand live coverage of domestic tournaments following growing public demand to watch India’s international cricketers in action. The move comes after the BCCI mandated a few years ago that centrally contracted players must participate in domestic competitions when not engaged with the national team. The policy aimed to strengthen domestic cricket, provide young players exposure to top stars, and boost fan engagement.

Stars drawing massive crowds

The impact of the policy has been evident in domestic stadiums across the country. When Virat Kohli played a Ranji Trophy match for Delhi last year at Arun Jaitley Stadium, fans flocked in large numbers, proving the commercial and sporting value of having national team players in domestic cricket.

Similarly, during the recent Vijay Hazare Trophy matches in Jaipur, Rohit Sharma’s presence in the Mumbai squad attracted a significant turnout. Kohli’s appearances in Bengaluru for Delhi further emphasised the appeal of India stars competing in domestic tournaments.

“Earlier, domestic cricket didn’t generate such attention. Now, fans want to watch these matches live, especially when international players are in the playing XI,” a BCCI official said.

Broadcast challenges and fan complaints

Despite the surge in interest, the current broadcast arrangements left many fans disappointed. Matches featuring stars were not always televised, and in some cases, such as Delhi’s VHT matches in Bengaluru, games were played behind closed doors. Social media buzz and public complaints highlighted the growing demand for live telecasts.

BCCI Secretary Devajit Saikia acknowledged the gap in broadcasting and confirmed that the board is planning to revise its policy. “International cricketers playing domestic cricket has created a new demand. Earlier, people never asked why matches weren’t televised. Now, we are flooded with queries not just from the media, but also the public,” Saikia told Sportstar.

Plans to increase televised matches

Currently, the BCCI has a contract to broadcast 100 domestic matches live each season. Saikia confirmed that this number would be increased to accommodate fan demand and the higher profile of domestic tournaments featuring India’s top players.

“Our system was based on televising 100 domestic matches. But now, when the best players are playing domestic cricket, cricket lovers want to watch every opportunity they get. We are working with telecasting partners to significantly increase the number of matches for the upcoming seasons,” he said.

Benefits for domestic cricket

The decision is expected to boost domestic cricket in multiple ways:

  • Fan engagement: Fans can watch stars live, both at stadiums and on television.
  • Player exposure: Young domestic players will gain experience competing alongside and against international stars.
  • Commercial potential: Higher viewership can attract more sponsorships and advertising revenue for domestic tournaments.
  • Grassroots growth: Increased visibility can inspire more youngsters to take up cricket professionally.

Conclusion

The BCCI’s move to televise more domestic matches signals a new era for Indian cricket, where domestic tournaments are no longer second-tier competitions but key platforms for fans to watch stars in action and for young players to shine alongside them. As stars like Kohli and Rohit continue to participate in domestic cricket, the expansion of live coverage is expected to enhance the sport’s popularity across the country.