Australia‑India cricket tie: BBL season opener to be played in Chennai

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced that the opening match of the 2026‑27 Big Bash League (BBL) will be staged in India. The Melbourne Renegades will face defending champions Perth Scorchers on 12 December 2026 at the M. A. Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai, marking the first time an Australian domestic franchise league will play outside Australia. The fixture was revealed during a joint appearance at the Melbourne Cricket Ground and forms part of a broader Australia‑India sports‑cooperation roadmap covering sport science, tourism and investment. Cricket Australia expects the game to become the most‑watched Australian domestic sporting event ever, leveraging India's massive cricket audience and existing JioStar broadcast rights. The match will be the headline event of the week‑long “G’Day Namaste” cultural festival, supported by the Australian government and the Centre for Australia‑India Relations.