Cricket Australia opens door for Indian greats in the BBL
As Indian legends Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli wowed the crowd and the world in the final ODI of the current series, and appeared to draw the curtain on their international careers in Australia, Cricket Australia (CA) is laying the groundwork to ensure this is not the last time fans see the iconic duo on Australian soil. With growing interest in boosting the Big Bash League’s (BBL) international appeal, CA is actively exploring the possibility of bringing Rohit and Kohli to the T20 tournament in the near future.
CA CEO Todd Greenberg, in a conversation with cricket.com.au, confirmed that the governing body is interested in exploring opportunities to attract top-tier Indian talent to the BBL. “I think in the short to medium term, I think it is realistic,” Greenberg said. “We’re going to keep the dialogue open.”
Greenberg cited Ravichandran Ashwin’s signing with the Sydney Thunder for the 2025-26 season as a pivotal moment for the league. “Ravi Ashwin coming is a really important moment for the BBL and it will highlight the strength of bringing Indian players in the league.” He acknowledged that turning this ambition into reality may also depend on structural changes to the league’s funding model. “Some of that will depend on whether we take private capital into the BBL, which is an open conversation for us at the moment.”
Rohit and Kohli bid emotional farewell after final ODI heroics at SCG
Rohit and Kohli’s dominant performance in the final ODI at the Sydney Cricket Ground, where Rohit scored a century and Kohli chipped in with a half-century, felt like a fitting farewell. The match ended in a resounding nine-wicket win for India, but for many spectators, it was the emotional post-match reactions that lingered.
Rohit, who first toured Australia in 2008, looked back fondly on his experiences. “I’ve always loved coming here,” he said in a post-match comment to Fox Cricket. “I enjoy playing cricket here in Australia. Fond memories of 2008 and nice way to finish getting that knock and getting that win as well.”
Reflecting on the significance of the tour, he added, “I don’t know if we’ll be coming back to Australia, but it was fun all these years that we played here. A lot of good memories, bad memories, but all in all, I’ll take the cricket that I played here.”
Kohli, who had a roller-coaster series, spoke candidly about the challenges of form. “You score so many runs in international cricket but then the game shows you everything even at this stage, almost 37 in not many days, and I feel like I don’t know how to get a run,” he said in his post-match comment to Fox Cricket.
BCCI rules remain a barrier — for now
Despite CA’s enthusiasm, the pathway to seeing Rohit and Kohli in the BBL remains complicated. Under current BCCI regulations, Indian players are barred from participating in overseas franchise leagues unless they have officially retired from all forms of Indian cricket, including the IPL.
Rohit and Kohli have not announced any retirement plans and are believed to be eyeing the 2027 ODI World Cup as their final international goal. Until then, or unless the BCCI changes its stance, a BBL appearance for either remains a possibility rather than a promise.
However, the success of Ashwin’s signing may serve as a useful case study for CA in terms of commercial viability and fan interest. As Greenberg’s comments suggest, the conversation is far from over — and the cricketing world will be watching closely.
