A social media post from the Sydney Sixers announced that Indian cricket star Virat Kohli has signed on for two seasons in the Big Bash League (BBL) on Tuesday, April 1, 2025, creating a huge buzz online.
The BCCI’s announcement that centrally contracted players could not participate in foreign leagues beyond the IPL shocked fans until the Sixers revealed it was an April Fools’ Day prank. The viral stunt initially reeled cricket lovers, then made them laugh at the clever deception.
Recent developments from the BCCI indicate that Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma will retain their A+ grade contracts, valued at Rs 7 crore, even after retiring from T20 cricket. Having recently performed well in the Champions Trophy, Shreyas Iyer is expected to receive a new contract. Meanwhile, Ishan Kishan continues to wait for his opportunity.
April Fools
— Sydney Sixers (@SixersBBL) April 1, 2025Following his impressive performances in the T20 World Cup and Champions Trophy, Axar Patel’s contract could be increased. Additionally, newcomers Varun Chakaravarthy, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Abhishek Sharma hope to secure their first contracts.
India’s Cricket Calendar Heats Up
Last week, the BCCI announced the retainers for the women’s team for the 2024/25 season. Ajit Agarkar and Devajit Saikia’s meeting in Guwahati, which was intended to review the men’s contracts and discuss India A’s upcoming tour to England, has been postponed.
After the IPL, the Indian team will face England in a five-Test series starting on June 20 at Headingley. This series will be their first meeting since a 3-1 loss in Australia. With no series win against England since 2007, the stakes are extremely high, and the recent prank by the Sixers has added some lightheartedness to the situation.
