First, IPL fans were asked to pay. The tournament which millions used to watch for free, suddenly went behind a paywall.
If you wanted to watch IPL matches on JioHotstar, you had to take a subscription. No free access even on mobile.
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Now things have flipped. The ongoing India vs England Test series is being aired for free on DD Sports through DD Free Dish.
No subscription, no charges—just open viewing. This has left fans across the country confused. Why this big difference in approach? Is this just business or is there a bigger power play?
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IPL was streamed on JioHotstar, a platform owned by Mukesh Ambani’s Reliance.
Ambani has been buying up major sports rights in India and this was one of the biggest deals—charging fans to watch the country’s most popular cricket league.
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On the other hand, the Test series is being shown on Doordarshan which is run by the Indian government.
There’s a law that says any match involving the Indian national team must be shared with DD Sports. That’s why these matches are available for free on DD Free Dish.
So while Ambani’s platform charges you, the government’s channel shows it for free. It’s not about generosity—each side is playing their own game.
At the surface it looks like a normal business decision. But when you look closer it feels like a silent battle between private control and public reach.
Mukesh Ambani has been slowly and steadily expanding his control over Indian cricket broadcasting—he now has digital rights to IPL, India’s matches and even merged with Disney Star for TV rights.
On the other side the government ensures free access through DD Sports because cricket is still seen as a matter of national interest.
So one side wants profit and the other wants reach. The result? Fans are stuck in between.
For the average cricket fan this is all very confusing. One day they’re paying to watch IPL. The next they’re watching India’s Test series for free. Same sport, same players—different rules.
Fans are constantly switching apps, adjusting to subscriptions and figuring out where to watch. What was once simple is now split between platforms, policies and power.
This Isn’t Just About Cricket AnymoreIt’s not just about free vs paid. It’s about control.
Ambani’s media empire is pushing fans to subscribe and the government is trying to hold on to free public access.
And in this silent tug of war, fans are being pulled in two different directions—without anyone asking them what they want.
