Big Bash League comes to India; Chennai’s Chepauk to host inaugural match

The opening match of next season's Big Bash League will be played in India, with Chennai’s MA Chidambaram Stadium (Chepauk) selected as the venue. The historic fixture will see Melbourne Renegades take on defending champions Perth Scorchers, marking the first time a foreign cricket league match will be staged in India.

The announcement was jointly made by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. The eight-team BBL, one of the most popular domestic cricket leagues in the world after the Indian Premier League (IPL), is usually held during the December to February window.

"I am happy that a Big Bash League match will be organised in India, in Chennai. Any sporting league that conducts games in India is guaranteed to reach a large base and attract significant viewership," Prime Minister Narendra Modi said.

"I am excited to expand cooperation with India on sport, which not only brings joy to Australians but also boosts trade, tourism and investment," Albanese said on the final day of Prime Minister Modi’s visit to Australia.

The announcement comes amid debate over Cricket Australia’s plans to allow private investment in the BBL. Critics have raised concerns that such a move could result in the tournament losing control to Indian Premier League (IPL) franchises.

Several wealthy IPL owners have already acquired teams in leagues across England, South Africa, the United States, the West Indies and the United Arab Emirates.

Cricket Australia hopes opening the BBL to private investment will strengthen the tournament’s finances and improve its competitiveness in global T20 cricket. The governing body reported a net deficit of $7.86 million for the 2024-25 financial year, despite a rise in revenue from hosting the lucrative Border-Gavaskar Trophy series against India.

Australian players continue to be in high demand in the IPL, and BBL franchises have welcomed the decision to host the league opener in India. "Our sport has such an authentic connection in India," Cricket Australia General Manager of BBL Alistair Dobson said in a statement. "We're hugely excited by the opportunity and expect the match will be the most-watched game in Australian domestic league history across any sport."

The move further strengthens the sporting relationship between India and Australia, particularly in cricket, while creating opportunities for greater collaboration in sports innovation, athlete development and other disciplines.

(With inputs from Reuters and PTI)