Big Bash League to kick off season in Chennai, India

Cricket Australia announced that the 2026‑27 Big Bash League (BBL) will open outside the country for the first time, with the Melbourne Renegades playing the Perth Scorchers at Chennai’s M. A. Chidambaram Stadium on December 12. The opening match will be followed three days later by the Brisbane Heat versus the Sydney Sixers at the Gabba, after which the competition returns to Australia for a full schedule of nightly games through the school holidays, including a Christmas Eve fixture at Melbourne’s Junction Oval and an Australia Day final.

The Perth Scorchers, defending champions, will benefit from a block of early home games at Optus Stadium, hosting three consecutive matches over the Christmas and New Year period before heading east in January. Their schedule includes a Boxing Day clash with the Melbourne Stars on December 26 and a series of home fixtures against the Hobart Hurricanes, Sydney Thunder, and Adelaide Strikers. All 30 regular‑season matches and the finals will be broadcast live on the Seven Network, Fox Cricket and Kayo Sports.