A light-hearted yet telling moment involving actor Abhishek Bachchan has gone viral on social media after he jokingly suggested that Indian cricket icons Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma should be signed by the European T20 Premier League (ETPL) once they retire from international cricket.
The remark came during a high-profile ETPL event in Sydney, where the league officially announced the owners of its first three franchises. During a media interaction, Bachchan was asked whether there was any possibility of Kohli or Rohit being associated with the league in the future.
Responding with his trademark wit, Bachchan said in Hindi, “Hum aapse darkhwast karna chahte hain ki jab Chiku aur Rohit retire ho jaayein, aap unhe kahe idhar khelein sabse pehle. Aap jo bhi bolte ho, woh sunte hain,” drawing laughter from the audience. His comment instantly struck a chord with fans, given the global appeal of both Indian superstars.
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Abhishek Bachchan is one of the co-owners of the ICC-sanctioned European T20 Premier League, which was officially launched in 2025 with the aim of expanding franchise cricket across Europe and tapping into new cricketing markets.
When @juniorbachchan stumped me with a request! As a co-founder of #ET20league , junior AB tries to reach out to #ROKO in his own inimitable style 😊 #Kohli #Rohitsharma pic.twitter.com/C3uTbryT57
— Vimal कुमार (@Vimalwa) January 21, 2026
Although the league’s inaugural season was postponed, ETPL has continued to generate interest due to its ambitious roadmap and the involvement of prominent names from the worlds of sport and entertainment.
Under current BCCI regulations, active Indian cricketers are not permitted to participate in overseas franchise leagues. This makes it impossible for leagues like ETPL to feature current Indian stars during their playing careers.
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However, retired Indian players are free to explore such opportunities, which is why Bachchan’s comment was clearly aimed at a post-retirement scenario for Kohli and Rohit, possibly beyond 2027. While said in jest, the remark underscores ETPL’s long-term vision to attract global cricketing icons and elevate the league’s international stature.
