In brief
- Australia and India have agreed to host a Big Bash League match in India this year.
- It will be the first foreign cricket league match to take place in India.
The opening match of the next Australian Men's Big Bash League (BBL) cricket tournament will be played in India, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and his Indian counterpart have announced.
The location of the Melbourne Renegades' December clash with the Perth Scorchers was confirmed during a special event led by the two leaders at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Friday.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is in Australia for a three-day trip to attend the Australia-India Annual Summit.
The first BBL match outside Australia will take place on 12 December at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai. It's also the first foreign cricket league match ever hosted by India.
The event will also be the cornerstone of a week-long festival, called G'Day Namaste, to be held across India in December.
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The festival will feature Australian cultural, business and sports events designed to strengthen trade and other forms of economic engagement with India.
"Australia and India are united by our love and passion for sport," Albanese said.
"I am excited to expand cooperation with India on sport, which not only brings joy to Australians but boosts trade, tourism and investment."
Sports Minister Anika Wells also talked up the potential for sports to build bridges between the two nations.
"The Australian sports ecosystem is actively sharing knowledge and expertise with our Indian counterparts, including through the Australian Sports Commission and our national sporting bodies," Wells said.
"We are excited to further deepen that engagement as we count down to the Amdavad 2030 Commonwealth Games and Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.”
A 'one-year view'
The BBL game in Chennai will start in the afternoon in India and will be shown here by the Seven Network and Fox Cricket following the conclusion of day four of the Test between Australia and New Zealand at Perth Stadium.
Both TV networks are expected to send over commentary crews to cover the match.
However, the game is not necessarily the first step in a permanent foothold for the BBL in India, league boss Alistair Dobson said.
"We've certainly been taking a one-year view on this for now," Dobson said.
"Our focus is making sure this is a great event that's a true reflection of the BBL.
"We want people in Australia watching on the telly to see that looking like a BBL game, but we also want people in Chennai and throughout India to get the unique BBL experience."
Both the Renegades, who will sacrifice one of their five home games, and the Scorchers will spend a significant period in India in the build-up to the match.
The rest of the tournament won't fully get underway until 15 December, with both teams to play their second matches later in the week.
While there is no reserve day in case of wet weather, BBL officials are weighing up whether to extend the hours of play to ensure there is a full game.
The full BBL 2026-2027 fixture will be released next week.
With the Renegades in caretaker mode and in transition for the upcoming season following Cricket Victoria's controversial decision to sell the franchise, the match presents an opportunity to put on a show for potential buyers.
"The opportunity for any of our clubs and players to be in India and playing a BBL game creates such value for their club, whether it's now or in the future," Dobson said.
"The Renegades are a team that have shown an interest in this event from day one, with the opportunity to take a home game in a different market.
"It was an opportunity for them that was an obvious fit."
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