India stalwarts Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma have been offered post-retirement roles in an upcoming T20 competition. The proposal has come from the European T20 Premier League, with co-owner Abhishek Bachchan keen on involving the two stars once they finish their international careers with India.
Kohli and Rohit are fully focused on the ODI World Cup 2027 in South Africa. There is no clear decision yet on whether they will continue playing for India after the tournament. With Kohli turning 40 and Rohit 41 by then, it appears unlikely that both will carry on at the international level beyond the World Cup.
Please Tell Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma That When They Retire… – Abhishek Bachchan
Abhishek Bachchan, a co-owner of the European T20 Premier League, urged Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma to join the league once they finish playing for India.
Speaking to sports journalist Vimal Kumar, Bachchan said the league needs a marquee Indian player and added that Kohli or Rohit would be ideal faces. He stated that the ETPL should be their first stop after retirement, ahead of any other league.
“Please tell Virat and Rohit that when they retire, they could come and play in the ETPL before any other league,” Bachchan said.
The first season of the ETPL is scheduled to take place in August later this year. The inaugural edition will feature three teams based in Amsterdam, Edinburgh, and Belfast, with official franchise names yet to be announced.
Overseas T20 Leagues Keen on Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, BCCI Rules Remain Roadblock
The demand for Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma from overseas T20 leagues has existed for years. Tournaments such as the SA20, Caribbean Premier League, and the Big Bash League have all shown interest in attracting Indian star players.
However, BCCI rules do not allow centrally contracted Indian cricketers to play in leagues outside the IPL. After retiring from international cricket in December 2024, Ravichandran Ashwin drew interest from the Big Bash League, but an injury ruled out his participation.
The SA20 became the first overseas league to feature an Indian player when Dinesh Karthik joined the Paarl Royals last season.
This year, the SA20 also appointed Sourav Ganguly as head coach of the Pretoria Capitals. League owners have expressed interest in signing MS Dhoni, but that remains unlikely as long as he continues playing in the IPL for the Chennai Super Kings.
Virat Kohli Shines, Rohit Sharma Struggles as India Stars Return in ODIs
Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma played nine ODI matches between October 2025 and January 2026, featuring in series against Australia away, South Africa at home, and New Zealand at home. Their return to international cricket after nearly seven months brought mixed results for the two batters.
Kohli enjoyed a strong run, especially in the home series against South Africa, where he scored two centuries and one half-century and was named Player of the Series. He continued his form against New Zealand, scoring 240 runs in three matches, including a half-century and a century in the final ODI.
Sharma’s comeback was less consistent. He registered a century and a half-century against Australia and added two fifties in the South Africa series. However, his form dipped sharply against New Zealand, where he managed only 61 runs across three matches.
