Is Australia Planning an Unforgettable Farewell for Virat & Rohit in ODIs This Year?

New Delhi, June 3 (NationPress) Todd Greenberg, the CEO of Cricket Australia (CA), expressed his desire to orchestrate a memorable farewell for Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli if the iconic duo competes in Australia one final time later this year. With both players having retired from Tests and T20Is within the last year, they will now be focusing solely on ODIs for India.

India is scheduled to tour Australia for three ODIs across Perth, Adelaide, and Sydney from October 19-25, followed by five T20Is from October 29 to November 8. This Australian summer, highlighted by the five-match Ashes, also sees significant interest from the Indian women's team, which is set to tour for a multi-format series after the conclusion of WPL 2026.

“This summer is huge for cricket, with both the Indian men's and women's teams participating. Additionally, the Ashes are taking place, and for the first time in nearly two decades, Australian cricket will host international matches in every capital city and territory across the nation, which is remarkable considering the logistical challenges involved,” remarked Greenberg.

“In response to inquiries, we are working on tailored marketing strategies for each game in every city. Some of these plans will be tailored to local markets, whether it's in far North Queensland during the South Africa series or in our major cities when both Indian men's and women's teams come to play. A lot of effort is being put into this,” Greenberg added during a virtual interaction with IANS on Tuesday.

With CA announcing record ticket sales on the first day of its priority pre-sale, fans in Australia and international spectators can expect significant returns on their investments during the dual India tours and the Ashes, especially after record attendance at the Border-Gavaskar Trophy series.

“Last year, we witnessed incredible momentum from the Border-Gavaskar Trophy series, resulting in record ticket sales. I expect numerous sellouts throughout the summer, starting in August and continuing through March. This may be a summer unlike any we have seen, given the volume of content available,” he stated.

“Considering the caliber of players, particularly from India, this could be the last opportunity to watch Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma play in our country. If this is indeed the case, we want to provide them with a fitting farewell that reflects their tremendous contributions to international cricket,” Greenberg concluded, who previously held the position of chief of the Australian Cricketers Association (ACA).

In addition to the excitement surrounding this major home summer, Australia is also expanding its ‘A’ teams program. Last year, the country hosted the India women’s ‘A’ team for a multi-format series in Queensland. This time, the Sri Lanka men’s ‘A’ team will visit Australia for three 50-over matches and two red-ball games in July.

The Australia ‘A’ team will also travel to India in September for two multi-day matches and three limited-overs games in Kanpur and Lucknow. The revival of the ‘A’ tours program, which was paused due to the Covid-19 pandemic, remains a priority for Greenberg, despite a packed international calendar.

“Finding balance is challenging, as ‘A’ tours are crucial. Our Australian men's team excelled in Sri Lanka earlier this year, but many may not realize how much time our players spent touring there in ‘A’ series before earning their chances at the highest level,” he noted.

“The ‘A’ series matches are vital for our players' long-term development. They represent a significant investment from countries, as they don't generate the same revenues as traditional Test cricket. However, they are essential, and I sense that we will continue discussions with counterparts in other countries to find meaningful slots in the schedule for these players, giving them exposure to varied conditions, especially younger talents emerging from our systems,” he concluded.