Virat Kohli to join Steve Smith at Sydney Sixers? BBL team's viral post has a catch

Three-time Big Bash League (BBL) Sydney Sixers on Tuesday posted a photo of Virat Kohli on social media

Updated on: Apr 1, 2025, 05:59:26 IST

By Yash Nitish Bajaj

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Three-time Big Bash League (BBL) Sydney Sixers on Tuesday posted a photo of Virat Kohli on social media, welcoming India and Royal Challengers Bangalore star Virat Kohli. However, after the tweet went viral, the BBL team clarified that it was an April Fools prank made on April 1.

India's Virat Kohli with Australia's captain Steve Smith (REUTERS)

The Sydney-based team, which has several big-shot Australian players like Steve Smith and Mitchell Starc, wrote in the caption of the post: “Virat Kohli is officially a Sixer for the next TWO seasons! ✍️”

After several Kohli fans started wondering if the RCB batter has really joined the Sixers, the team clarified: it is ‘the 1st of April 2025’ - indicating that their latest post was an April Fools prank. In fact, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) doesn't allow Indian male cricketers to participate in foreign leagues.

Kohli will be in action on Wednesday when the Royal Challengers Bengaluru take on Shubman Gill's Gujarat Titans at the M.Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru. RCB is currently on top of the IPL 2025 points table with two wins in as many matches. They beat the Kolkata Knight Riders in the season opener before handing the Chennai Super Kings a 50-run defeat in an away game.

The 36-year-old scored 741 runs in last year's IPL, finishing as the orange cap holder. In two games in IPL 2025, he has scored 90 runs, which includes an unbeaten 59 against defending champions KKR.

‘Imagine Kohli playing for the Sixers’

Back in 2022, former Australia seamer Brett Lee spoke about the BBL going private and having players like Virat Kohli playing full seasons. According to a report by crictoday.com, the legendary pacer said: “ I am talking about the Virat Kohli. Imagine Kohli playing for the Sixers and the crowds you would get. I am impressed with the Big Bash. They have done a great job. But to reach the next level, you would have to do that."

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Yash Nitish Bajaj
Yash Bajaj is a Chief Content Producer with a strong foundation in US coverage, digital strategy, and audience-focused storytelling. As part of the US Desk at Hindustan Times, he covers a wide range of topics - from American politics to sports (NFL, NBA, derbies, MLB and more). Before joining Hindustan Times, Yash served as Deputy News Editor at Times Now, where he oversaw international coverage and led a team of six. In this role, he significantly expanded global traffic through strategic planning, SEO-driven content execution, and meticulous trend tracking across platforms. He is experienced in managing high-pressure breaking-news shifts, coordinating live coverage, and building newsroom systems that improve speed, accuracy, and reach. Prior to Times Now, Yash held a position at Opoyi, where he headed the Sports and US news team. He developed broad editorial strategies, guided reporters across multiple beats, and played a key role in recruiting and training new talent. His responsibilities also extended to social media management and experimenting with innovative content formats. A passionate NFL fan, Yash is a die-hard supporter of the Cincinnati Bengals and has followed Joe Burrow closely since his college days at LSU. Whether breaking down top players' latest performance, analyzing team performances, or tracking roster moves, he brings the same dedication and sharp storytelling to his sports coverage as he does to American politics and breaking news. When he’s not writing, Yash can often be found watching games or debating the latest NFL storylines with fellow fans. Yash holds a Bachelor of Mass Media (Journalism) from HR College, Mumbai University. His interests extend well beyond the newsroom: he is an enthusiastic explorer of AI tools, a movie buff with an ever-growing watchlist, and someone who enjoys unraveling conspiracy theories for fun.Read More

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