An Indian Premier League (IPL) match could eventually be played in Australia after Cricket Australia (CA) extended an open invitation to the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), according to a report by The Sydney Morning Herald.
The development comes after Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese jointly announced that the Melbourne Renegades will take on the Perth Scorchers at Chennai’s MA Chidambaram Stadium (Chepauk) on December 12, marking the first-ever overseas match of Australia’s Big Bash League (BBL) in India.
Cricket Australia Eyes Historic IPL Fixture
According to the report, Cricket Australia hopes the BCCI will reciprocate by allowing an IPL match to be staged in Australia in the future.
The publication claimed that CA has already extended an “open invitation” to the Indian cricket board, while sources indicated that private discussions between the two cricketing bodies are underway.
If approved, it would mark the first IPL match to be played in Australia, representing another milestone in the growing cricket partnership between the two nations.
BBL to Make History in Chennai
The opening fixture of the upcoming BBL season will feature Melbourne Renegades against defending champions Perth Scorchers at Chepauk in December.
The match will become the first game from a foreign franchise cricket league to be played in India.
The eight-team Big Bash League is regarded as one of the world’s most popular domestic T20 competitions after the IPL and is traditionally held between December and February.
Cricket Australia is reportedly keen to make the Chennai opener an annual event, further strengthening its commercial and sporting presence in India.
India-Australia Sports Collaboration Roadmap
The announcement formed part of the newly unveiled India-Australia Sports Collaboration Roadmap, launched jointly by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese during an event at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG).
The roadmap seeks to expand cooperation in several areas, including:
- Sports training and athlete development
- Sports science and technology
- Sports industry and investment
- Youth sporting exchanges
The initiative also includes plans to launch an India-Australia Youth Sports Festival aimed at promoting greater interaction between young athletes from both countries.
Leaders Highlight Growing Sporting Partnership
Prime Minister Modi welcomed the initiative, saying sport has the power to strengthen ties between nations and bring people together.
He also congratulated Australia on winning the Women’s Cricket World Cup and noted that both countries are entering an important sporting decade, with India set to host the 2030 Commonwealth Games and Australia preparing to stage the 2032 Brisbane Olympics.
The launch event was attended by Victoria Premier Jacinta Allan, former Australia captain Steve Waugh, and former Australia women’s captain Lisa Sthalekar, underscoring the growing sporting and cultural partnership between the two nations.
Should the BCCI accept Cricket Australia’s invitation, an IPL fixture in Australia would mark another historic first for the world’s biggest T20 league.