Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese jointly announced that Chennai will stage the opening match of the 2026-27 Big Bash League, making it the first time the Australian T20 competition will begin outside its home country.
The season opener will see the Melbourne Renegades face the Perth Scorchers at the MA Chidambaram Stadium on 12 December.
The Chennai fixture will officially kick off the 16th edition of the Big Bash League, with the Renegades designated as the home team.
Organisers have scheduled the match to take place after the fourth day’s play of the opening Test between Australia and New Zealand in Perth.
Addressing the gathering at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, Prime Minister Modi said hosting a Big Bash League fixture in India would significantly expand the tournament’s audience and generate enormous interest among cricket fans.
India and Australia collaborated to bring the landmark fixture to Chennai, with the project receiving support through funding from the Centre of Australia-India Relations.
Authorities selected Chennai because of its vibrant cricket culture and the city’s passionate support for the Chennai Super Kings, one of the most-followed franchises in T20 cricket.
A First for the Big Bash League
The decision makes the Big Bash League the first foreign domestic cricket competition to organise an official league match in India.
Although Australian teams previously featured in the now-discontinued Champions League T20, this will be the tournament’s first regular-season fixture on Indian soil.
Cricket Australia’s General Manager of Big Bash Leagues, Alistair Dobson, said the match demonstrates the BBL’s growing international profile. He added that cricket continues to serve as a powerful link between India and Australia and expressed confidence that the Chennai opener would become the highest-viewed Australian domestic sporting event in history.
Australian television networks will send dedicated commentary teams to Chennai, while JioStar will broadcast the match for Indian audiences.
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