With Indian icons Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma nearing the twilight of their international careers, Cricket Australia (CA) is preparing a special farewell for the two legends during India’s upcoming tour in October. The move has sparked strong “end of an era” sentiment across the cricketing world.
As per a Hindustan Times report, Kohli and Rohit—both of whom have already stepped away from T20Is and Tests—are expected to feature in India’s tour of Australia later this year. The visit, part of a three-match ODI series, could mark the duo’s final international matches Down Under.
“This might be the last time that we get to see Virat Kohli or Rohit Sharma play in our country. And if that is the case, who knows, it might not be, but if it is, we wanna make sure we give them a great send-off and a reflection of the incredible contribution they’ve made to international cricket,” said Cricket Australia CEO Todd Greenberg during a virtual media interaction organized by Cricket Australia.
Kohli and Rohit are expected to play a three-match series against Bangladesh in August, but their presence there remains uncertain. Speculation continues to mount that both players may call time on their careers after the 2027 ODI World Cup—making the Australia tour a symbolic farewell.
Push for Indian players in the BBL continues
Alongside honoring two of India’s greatest modern cricketers, Cricket Australia is eyeing a more ambitious long-term play: getting Indian stars into the Big Bash League. CA has long desired Indian participation in the BBL but remains constrained by the BCCI’s policy barring centrally contracted players from overseas leagues.
Greenberg reaffirmed his interest in changing that dynamic, particularly with the potential fanfare a player like Kohli could generate.
“That’s certainly some conversations that we will continue to have with the BCCI. I mean, I would love to see, Virat Kohli playing in the BBL this year. That would certainly create some interest in crowds and ratings, I’m sure. But at the moment, that’s not happening, but we do have our ambitions to do those types of things. And as you’re seeing all over the world, t20 leagues are going down a lot of the private investment opportunities,” Greenberg said.
“We’re seeing that in England recently with the hundred. A number of the IPL franchises are now taking ownership stakes in the Hundred. We’ve got to continue to evolve and innovate the way we run our business here in Australia and making sure that we have an open mind to new things. But the short answer to that question is if we could find opportunities for Indian cricketers, either retired, recently retired, or current players to play in the BBL, they’d be very welcome, and it’s a conversation we’ll continue to have,” he added.
What’s next for Kohli and Rohit?
The immediate future remains fluid. While India’s tour of Bangladesh in August might feature both players, the spotlight is clearly on the Australia series in October. If this does indeed prove to be the final time the pair dons the India jersey on Australian soil, it will mark the close of a chapter that defined an era of cricketing excellence.
For Cricket Australia, the opportunity to honor these legends while exploring new commercial frontiers—like BBL participation for Indian players—is more than just symbolic. It’s strategic.
As cricket evolves into a more global and commercially complex sport, farewelling legends like Kohli and Rohit becomes as much a moment of tribute as it is a moment of transition.
