Big Bash League to open 2026-27 season with match in India

The opening match of the 2026-27 Big Bash League will be played in Chennai on 12 December between Melbourne Renegades and defending champions Perth Scorchers. The fixture will make the Australian Twenty20 competition the first foreign franchise league to play a match in India.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the decision would expand cooperation with India on sport and boost trade, tourism and investment.

Background and context The Big Bash League began in 2011-12.

Australian players already appear regularly in the Indian Premier League. Cricket Australia reported a net deficit of A$11.3 million for 2024-25 despite hosting the Border-Gavaskar Test series against India. The governing body is seeking private investment to improve finances and competitiveness in T20 cricket.

BBL general manager Alistair Dobson said the sport has an authentic connection in India and expects the match to be the most-watched game in Australian domestic league history for any sport. Some observers have raised concerns that private investment could shift control of the league toward IPL franchise owners who already hold stakes in competitions in England, South Africa, the United States, West Indies and the United Arab Emirates.