Sky Sports suffer IPL blow as 2019 competition to be screened on digital platform Hotstar and TV channel Star Gold in the UK Sky Sports will not show this year’s Indian Premier League this year Host broadcasters Star India have exercised their option to retain the rights It will be screened on digital platform Hotstar and TV channel Star Gold in the UKBy Bob Treasure for the Daily Mail Published: 22:17 GMT, 20 March 2019 | Updated: 22:17 GMT, 20 March 2019 Viewcomments Sky Sports will not show this year’s Indian Premier League despite trumpeting a ‘multi-year deal’ only 12 months ago. Host broadcasters Star India have exercised their option to retain the rights for the 2019 competition, which starts on Saturday. The IPL will therefore be screened on digital platform Hotstar and TV channel Star Gold in the UK. England wicketkeeper Jonny Bairstow will play for the Sunrisers Hyderabad in the IPL Access to Hotstar, which is available on PC, tablet and mobile via an app, costs £11.99 a month. Star Gold is free with a basic Sky TV bundle on channel 729, or via channel 801 on Virgin Media. But some cricket fans have been left disappointed given only last March Sky Sports announced they would 'broadcast 60 live IPL matches each year in the UK and Ireland starting with the 2018 tournament'. Sky responded on Twitter: 'We negotiated 60 matches last year, in what was to be a multi-year deal, although nowhere did it say multiple consecutive years. This year, Star India have chosen to retain full coverage.' Share or comment on this article: All rights reserved for this news site dailymail and under his responsibility