‘Would Love To See Virat Kohli in BBL’: Cricket Australia CEO

Cricket Australia CEO Todd Greenberg has expressed his strong desire to see Indian cricketers, especially Virat Kohli, take part in the Big Bash League (BBL). He said this during a media interaction organized by Cricket Australia.

Greenberg Keen on Kohli Playing BBL

Greenberg said he would love to see Kohli play in the BBL this year. He also mentioned that Cricket Australia continues to talk with the BCCI about this possibility.

“We would love to welcome some Indian players to the BBL. I would love to see Virat Kohli playing in the BBL this year,” Greenberg said.

He believes Kohli’s presence would boost crowd numbers and TV ratings. But as things stand, Indian male players are not allowed to play in overseas T20 leagues.

BCCI’s Firm Stance on Player Participation

The BCCI has long restricted Indian male cricketers from joining foreign T20 leagues. The main reason is to protect the value of the IPL and the domestic cricket structure.

BCCI allows Indian women to play in leagues like the Women’s Big Bash League (WBBL). Stars like Harmanpreet Kaur, Smriti Mandhana, and Jemimah Rodrigues have played in the WBBL several times.

However, for male players, the BCCI insists on their availability for domestic tournaments like the Ranji Trophy, Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, and Vijay Hazare Trophy.

Scheduling Conflicts and Fatigue a Concern

Another reason for the restriction is scheduling. The BBL usually begins in the third week of December, which overlaps with India’s domestic season. The Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy ends around that time, followed by the Vijay Hazare Trophy.

The BCCI also wants to prevent player fatigue. They believe too many leagues can lead to over-exposure and physical burnout.

Despite these hurdles, Greenberg remains hopeful. He wants to continue talks with the BCCI to open the doors for Indian stars in the BBL.

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