An IPL match could be staged in Australia for the first time, with Cricket Australia reportedly exploring a reciprocal arrangement after taking the Big Bash League (BBL) to India, according to The Sydney Morning Herald. The report says CA has extended an open invitation to the BCCI to host an IPL fixture on Australian soil and is hopeful the idea will move forward in the coming months.
The discussions follow Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announcing that the Melbourne Renegades will face defending champions Perth Scorchers at Chennai’s M.A. Chidambaram Stadium on December 12. That contest will be historic, as it marks the first time an official foreign franchise T20 league match will be played in India.
Neither the BCCI nor Cricket Australia has commented publicly on the latest report, but the move is seen as part of a broader effort to deepen cricketing and commercial ties between the two nations. CA is also understood to be keen on turning the Chennai BBL opener into an annual event, strengthening the league’s presence in one of the world’s biggest cricket markets.
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The Chennai fixture forms part of the India-Australia Sports Collaboration Roadmap unveiled at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. The initiative is designed to expand cooperation between the two countries in sports training, sports science, technology and the wider sports industry, while also building stronger people-to-people connections through cricket.
🚨 IPL TIME IN AUSTRALIA. 🚨
– An IPL match might be scheduled in Australia very soon. The Big Bash league could become an annual affair in India. (The Age). pic.twitter.com/TcttoKcwZe
— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) July 10, 2026
The BBL opener is expected to headline the week-long “G’Day Namaste” festival in India, which will include a mix of Australian cultural, business and sporting events. The eight-team BBL, already regarded as one of the leading domestic T20 leagues in world cricket after the IPL, is traditionally held between December and February.
The launch event at the MCG was attended by Victoria Premier Jacinta Allan, former Australia captain Steve Waugh and former Australia women’s captain Lisa Sthalekar, underlining the significance of the initiative. According to the Ministry of External Affairs, the roadmap also includes an India-Australia Youth Sports Festival to encourage greater interaction between young athletes from both countries.
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Speaking at the event, Modi said sport has the power to bring people together and expressed confidence that the new roadmap would further strengthen the sporting partnership between India and Australia. He also congratulated Australia on winning the Women’s Cricket World Cup and said both nations are entering a crucial decade in global sport, with India preparing for the 2030 Commonwealth Games and Australia gearing up for the Brisbane 2032 Olympic Games.
