Big Bash League season opener reportedly heading to India later this year
The Big Bash League will reportedly open next season in India, starting in the second week of December.
While Cricket Australia has openly discussed the possibility this year, the Indian Express is reporting that the BCCI has now ticked it off, despite being initially hesitant.
The report claims that a delegation of five people from CA flew to India to help get the deal over the line.
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Steve Smith of the Sixers talks with Usman Khawaja of the Heat. Getty
The match will take place in Chennai's M.A Chidambaram Stadium, which has a capacity of 38,000 and is the home of the Super Kings in the Indian Premier League.
The teams that will take part are yet to be determined, but the report states only the season opener will take place in India.
The players that take part in the game may receive a boost to their chances of being selected in the following Indian Premier League auction, given the exposure.
Things have not always been smooth between CA and the BCCI when it comes to T20 cricket, with the latter restricting Indian players from appearing in the BBL.
That was until veteran spinner Ravi Ashwin joined the Sydney Thunder last season. He would have been the first Indian to play in the league, if not for a season-ending injury.
General view inside M.A Chidambaram Stadium during the ICC Men's T20 World Cup in 2026. ICC via Getty Images
The timing of the game brings with it significant risk, given December is Chennai's monsoon season.
The reported move to open the BBL season in India comes a day after CA boss Todd Greenberg adamantly declared they would not sell the soul of the league to India.
That is despite the IPL franchises looming as the most likely buyers of the Big Bash teams, should the states agree to privatisation.
At this stage, Queensland and New South Wales both oppose the move, while Victoria, South Australia (tentatively), Tasmania and Western Australia are in favour.
Selling a 49 per cent ownership stake in the teams could net Cricket Australia hundreds of millions of dollars at a time where they're expected to post yet another operating loss this financial year.
Wide World of Sports has contacted Cricket Australia for comment.
