For the first time ever, the Big Bash League is all set to be played overseas. Melbourne Renegades will lock horns against defending champions Perth Scorchers in Chennai on December 12, kicking off BBL’s 16th season. The match will be played at the MA Chidambaram Stadium, home turf of Chennai Super Kings. The match starts at 2:40 PM IST, timed to begin right after day four of the Australia-New Zealand Test in Perth wraps up.
The announcement was made by Australian PM Anthony Albanese and Indian PM Narendra Modi at the MCG on Friday, with both governments throwing their support behind it as part of a bigger push to bring Australia and India closer through cricket.
Teams participating in the BBL 2026
- Adelaide Strikers
- Brisbane Heat
- Hobart Hurricanes
- Melbourne Renegades
- Melbourne Stars
- Perth Scorchers
- Sydney Sixers
- Sydney Thunder
Cricket Australia’s Big Bash boss, Alistair Dobson, said taking the league to India shows just how much the fanbase has grown beyond Australia’s borders, “Our sport has such an authentic connection in India,” Dobson said. “This game is also part of a much bigger initiative across both our governments and shows that cricket is a connector for both our countries, and that both the Australian and Indian governments see that and want to be part of it.”
“We’re hugely excited by the opportunity, and we expect the match will be the most-watched game in Australian domestic league history for any sport.” he further said
Cricket Australia officials believe playing even one game in India could massively boost the BBL’s fan engagement, viewership, and overall visibility in the world’s biggest cricket market.
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From the timing point of view, it is an interesting strategy. The other issue that has been under consideration by the league involves private investments in BBL teams, and Renegades and Scorchers may very well be the pioneers in implementing the new model, once it is approved by Cricket Australia, six state associations, and Australian Cricketers’ Association.
Why has Chennai’s Chepauk stadium been picked for BBL match?
It had the backing of both the BCCI and Australian officials, including Australian Consul-General Silai Zaki. The decision was made back in May, when a joint CA-BBL delegation flew down to Chennai to scout the city and the ground in person. While there, they also met BCCI President Mithun Manhas and acting CEO Hemang Amin, catching up on the sidelines of a CSK vs Sunrisers Hyderabad IPL match.
Australia’s history at Chepauk isn’t bad, either. They last played there during the ODI World Cup 2023, and lost their opening game to India, but bounced back to win the whole tournament. Chepauk will stay busy too, with the second Test of next year’s Border-Gavaskar Trophy also set to be played there.
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Dobson said all eight BBL clubs had actually shown interest in being part of this historic India fixture. In the end, the Renegades got picked as the home team simply because their schedule had more room to move, they’ve shifted their men’s home games from Marvel Stadium to the MCG this season.
That move also brings down the curtain on an era for the Renegades, who have been based at Marvel Stadium since they entered the BBL for the first time back in 2011-12, bringing their stay to an end after 15 years. Under the new arrangement, they will play three matches this season at the MCG, hosting two and visiting once.
“Last season’s Melbourne derby attracted more than 68,000 fans to the MCG and we’re excited by the opportunity to create more occasions like that for fans, albeit with the ground turned red,” new Renegades general manager Max Abbott said in a statement.
“(Marvel Stadium) has been a huge part of the Renegades’ DNA, providing our home for the past 15 years and hosting so many memorable moments. It’s a world-class venue and will always hold a special place in the club’s journey.”
This isn’t the Renegades first time playing at the MCG, either. They hosted Hobart Hurricanes there back in January 2021 and came out on top. They returned a year later to take on Sydney Thunder, but this time came up just short, losing by a single run.
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