CHENNAI: It’s official. The MA Chidambaram Stadium will host the opening match of Big Bash League (BBL) between defending champions Perth Scorchers and Melbourne Renegades on Dec 12. It will be the first time a match from a foreign franchise league is held in India. The game is scheduled to begin at 2.40pm local time (8.10 pm AEST) and will count as a home fixture for the Renegades.“Cricket Australia has confirmed Melbourne Renegades will play Perth Scorchers in Chennai this Dec in what the league anticipates will be the most watched game in Big Bash history. The match will be the first Big Bash League fixture outside Australia,” Cricket Australia said in a release on Friday.The eight-team BBL is one of the world’s most-followed domestic T20 leagues after IPL. The fixture, presently a one-off arrangement, was officially announced at the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground on Friday at an event attended by the PMs of Australia and India, Anthony Albanese and Narendra Modi.“I am happy that a Big Bash League match will be organised in India, in Chennai. Any sporting league that conducts games in India is guaranteed to reach a large audience and attract huge viewership,” Modi said.During IPL 2026 in late May, five Cricket Australia officials had visited Chepauk and inspected the dressing rooms and other facilities after Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) gave its approval.One of the Cricket Australia representatives had said: “We’re exploring the potential of Chennai in partnership with Australian govt to strengthen India-Australia relations. We’re working closely with our friends at BCCI to make it happen.”The proposal to explore the possibility of holding a match in the city was first initiated in Feb, when two senior Cricket Australia officials travelled to Chennai. When Tamil Nadu Cricket Association (TNCA) received the proposal, it left the final decision to BCCI. TNCA on Friday said in a statement that it would work closely with Cricket Australia and BCCI to ensure everything runs smoothly.“It’s a historic milestone not only for Chennai but also for Indian cricket as a whole. TNCA conveys its deep appreciation to BCCI for granting the necessary approvals and for its unwavering support in facilitating this historic initiative. TNCA will work in close coordination with Cricket Australia and BCCI to ensure world-class arrangements and a vibrant match-day atmosphere that reflects the spirit of both nations,” the statement read.
