Fox Sports the big winners from Virat Kohli’s baby bombshell

Virat Kohli’s decision to return home for the birth of his baby has very different ramifications for Cricket Australia’s two broadcasters Fox Sports and Channel 7.

Virat Kohli’s baby bombshell has split cricket’s broadcasters, but Fox Sports is seizing on a rare chance to claim almost exclusive rights to a global phenomenon.

Kohli’s announcement that he will fly home after the first Test in Adelaide and not return puts free-to-air partner Channel 7 at a major disadvantage, because Fox has sole access to the six-game white ball series that the Indian superstar will headline to open the summer later this month.

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Football superstars Lionel Messi, Christiano Ronaldo and basketball icon LeBron James are the only international athletes on earth with a bigger marketing and social media footprint than ‘King Kohli’ and his ‘limited time only’ summer has now put a premium on every game he plays on Fox.

The news has echoed all the way to the Australian dressing room, and despite early fears Pat Cummins might be rested alongside other IPL stars for the white ball games, there is a growing expectation now that the fast bowling destroyer may line-up for a mouth-watering head-to-head battle with his arch rival Kohli.

Virat Kohli has put family ahead of team and will miss three Tests to attend the birth of his baby.

Both networks have based their summer promotion almost entirely on Kohli, and while Channel 7 will now have to recut their advertising to reflect the fact he’s missing the last three Tests including Boxing Day, Fox Sports will double down on ramming home the fact they’re the home of a megastar with a social media reach of more than 100 million people.

“We’ve been sweating on Kohli coming here and something is better than nothing. But not only that, we’ve got those first six games exclusive on Fox Cricket,” said Fox’s executive director, Steve Crawley.

“You’ve got to remember in the world of social media, which is massive, No.1 in the world is Christiano Ronaldo, No.2 Neymar, No.3 Messie, LeBron is No.4 and the only person in that top 10 who isn’t a footballer or basketballer is Virat Kohli at No.5. That’s how big he is.”

“And there’s only one bowler in the world that he looks over his shoulder with, and that’s Pat Cummins.

“To have those six games beginning November 27 exclusive on Fox Cricket is a massive thing for us and our greatest ever challenge and our greatest ever triumph already to have him exclusively.

“Then we’re the host broadcaster for the Adelaide day-night Test, so we’re honoured and just can’t wait. Everything we do now will be directed at this series.”

Tickets won’t be affected at all by Kohli’s absence, with the possible exception of the final Test in Brisbane, depending on the status of the series at that point.

But if the Test series is going to miss its biggest act for the last three Tests, there is pressure on CA to make the one-day and T20 series as big as possible – and that means having Australia’s IPL stars available.

Cricket Australia interim chief executive Nick Hockley said even though Kohli wouldn’t play the entire summer, his presence would still be massive for the white ball games and a first Test which becomes absolutely must-win.

If Kohli can inspire his team to victory in Adelaide, India would be in a great position regardless of his departure, particularly given the second and third Tests are played at draw-friendly venues Melbourne and Sydney.

“I think India have got 1.2 billion fans at home and fans all around the world. He has become very much admired by Australian cricketing fans by the competitive nature he plays the game,” Hockley said.

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“Clearly, one of the game‘s absolute superstars. We’re looking forward to seeing him here for seven out of the 10 matches.

“This series, I was listening to Steve Waugh the other day he said it‘s going to be one for the ages.”

Under the original schedule, which was preferred by Channel 7 but ultimately changed at the prompting of the BCCI, the Tests would have kicked off the summer on December 3, with the white ball series at the end.

In that scenario, Kohli would have played two Tests instead of one, but would have missed the entire white ball campaign, which is of such benefit to Fox.