◆ Smartcric Guide
Licensed cricket broadcasters only — no unauthorised streams

Editorial

Privacy policy

·230 words ·2 min read

Smartcric Guide processes visitor data in line with the Indian Digital Personal Data Protection Act 2023 (DPDPA) and applicable cross-border privacy regulations for visitors from the UK, EU and other jurisdictions.

Data we collect

  • Anonymous analytics via Google Analytics 4 — page views, traffic source, time on page, approximate region.
  • Essential session cookies for basic site navigation.
  • Truncated IP addresses for abuse prevention.

The site does not collect names, email addresses or phone numbers unless you voluntarily send them through our contact email.

Data sharing

Smartcric Guide does not sell or share personal data. Analytics data is shared only with Google through the standard GA4 interface, governed by Google’s privacy policy.

Your rights under the DPDPA

You have the right to access, correct or delete personal data we hold about you. Requests go to [email protected] and are processed within 30 days. You also have the right to nominate a representative to exercise these rights, and the right to lodge a grievance with the Data Protection Board of India under section 13 of the Act.

Cookies

The site uses session cookies for navigation and GA4 analytics cookies (retained for 14 months). You can decline analytics cookies through your browser settings.

Cross-border transfers

GA4 data is stored in Google’s global infrastructure outside India and the UK. By visiting the site you consent to this cross-border processing under section 16 of the DPDPA.

Frequently asked questions

Where can I watch IPL 2026 legally in India?
Star Sports holds the IPL television rights through 2027 and JioHotstar carries the streaming rights — the merged service launched in 2025 after the Reliance–Disney merger consolidated Disney+ Hotstar and JioCinema. Every IPL 2026 match is available on Star Sports TV channels (Star Sports 1, Star Sports 1 Hindi, regional feeds) and on the JioHotstar app + web player. Free over-the-top access requires a Jio mobile plan; otherwise a JioHotstar Premium subscription is needed for ad-light viewing. Smartcric Guide does not stream any IPL match — every link routes to the official rights-holder.
Is there any free legal way to watch cricket in India?
Yes, for selected matches. DD Sports (Doordarshan) carries free-to-air coverage of selected India men’s home series and ICC events under the Sports Broadcasting Signals Act — the public broadcaster gets a clean feed and shows the matches uninterrupted on terrestrial TV and the DD Free Dish satellite platform. JioHotstar ad-tier mobile streaming was free for Jio mobile subscribers for the 2025 IPL and is expected to continue in 2026. FanCode sometimes carries free coverage of secondary tours (smaller bilateral series, women’s cricket, domestic competitions).
JioHotstar vs Sony Sports Ten — which broadcaster do I need for which series?
JioHotstar (Star Sports group) has IPL, all India men’s home + away bilateral series, the ICC events cycle (Champions Trophy 2026, T20 World Cup 2026), England tours of India, Australia vs India ODIs. Sony Sports Ten has PSL, BBL, The Hundred, plus Pakistan, West Indies and Sri Lanka bilateral series outside the India market. To cover the full international + IPL calendar from India you typically need both — Star Sports/JioHotstar for India-led cricket and Sony LIV for PSL/BBL/overseas tours.
Does Smartcric Guide host cricket streams?
No. Smartcric Guide is editorial only — we publish series windows, broadcaster names, package pricing and pan-region rights guidance. We do not host, embed, link to or describe how to access any unauthorised stream. Every match access route on this site points to a licensed broadcaster app. Copyright complaints: [email protected].