Big Bash League’s first overseas match to be held in Chennai.
BBL is coming to India — yes, you read that right.
For the first time in its history, the Big Bash League will host a match outside Australia, with the Melbourne Renegades set to face defending champions Perth Scorchers at Chennai’s MA Chidambaram Stadium on December 12, marking the start of the 2026–27 season.
he historic fixture, which will officially be a Melbourne Renegades home game, was announced at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in the presence of Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Supported by both governments, the match is part of Cricket Australia’s efforts to expand the BBL’s global reach and further strengthen cricketing ties between Australia and India.
A key talking point ahead of the game will be the availability of Pakistan players Mohammad Rizwan and Hassan Khan, who are both part of the Renegades squad. However, their participation in the Chennai fixture remains uncertain, given that Pakistani players have not featured in the IPL since 2008 and have rarely travelled to India for sporting events due to strained relations between the two nations. Cricket Australia is yet to provide clarity on whether the duo will be available for the historic opening match.
Cricket Australia also views the Chennai fixture as a potential stepping stone for future opportunities, including the possibility of hosting an IPL match in Australia if the BCCI ever decides to take the tournament to international venues.
The move represents a rare development in franchise cricket. Other than the Caribbean Premier League hosting matches in the United States, major domestic T20 competitions have seldom taken regular-season games beyond their home borders. The IPL has previously moved overseas to South Africa and the UAE due to election-related issues and the COVID-19 pandemic, while the Pakistan Super League also staged multiple seasons in the UAE before eventually returning home.
Both teams are expected to travel to India after the Sheffield Shield round concludes on December 6, before heading back to Australia for an extended break ahead of their next BBL matches. Cricket Australia is aiming for a packed house at the 35,000-capacity MA Chidambaram Stadium, with the complete 2026–27 BBL schedule set to be released next week.
