Rohit Sharma Criticizes Media Over Private Chat Leak

Former Mumbai Indians captain Rohit Sharma voiced his frustration with IPL broadcasters Star Sports after a private on-field conversation between him and KKR assistant coach Abhishek Nayar was leaked. The incident, which occurred before a match between Mumbai Indians (MI) and Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), led to widespread speculation about Sharma’s future with MI.

In the leaked video, Rohit hinted that the current season might be his last with MI, saying phrases like “mera toh ye last hai” (this is my last), suggesting his departure from the team that has won five IPL titles under his leadership.

Read more: Rohit Sharma Voices Wish For Increased India-Pakistan Cricket Fixtures

In another instance, during a conversation with a teammate, Sharma requested Star Sports to mute the audio, but his conversation was again leaked, disregarding his privacy.

Sharma addressed his concerns on X, saying, “The lives of cricketers have become so intrusive that cameras are now recording every step and conversation we have in private with friends and colleagues, at training or on match days.” He added, “Despite asking Star Sports not to record my conversation, it was still played on air, breaching my privacy. The focus on exclusive content and engagement will one day break the trust between fans, cricketers, and cricket. Let better sense prevail.”

Mumbai Indians, who recently appointed Hardik Pandya as captain, finished at the bottom of the table in IPL 2024. Amidst the controversy, Sharma will lead India in the T20 World Cup next month, starting their campaign against Ireland on June 5 in New York.