Big Bash League eyes global expansion with historic Chennai opener, ticket sales exceed Cricket Australia's expectations

More than 5,000 tickets have already been sold for the December 12 game. At this rate, it should be a full house in Chennai.

The Big Bash League (BBL) is considered one of the most successful franchise leagues in the world after the Indian Premier League (IPL). Now, the Australian T20 league is coming to Indian shores, and reports suggest that the response to it has been overwhelming. The opening match of BBL 16 between Melbourne Renegades and Perth Scorchers will be held at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai on December 12, and believe it or not, 5,000 tickets have already been sold for the game. This will be the first time that an overseas T20 league will stage a match in India.

Jhye Richardson and Brendan Doggett with the BBL trophy in Chennai. (AP)

As many as 2,000 tickets were sold in the first 30 minutes, prompting the release of additional tickets. The General Manager of the BBL and the Women’s Big Bash League, Alistair Dobson, was delighted. “We know the BBL is already really popular in India. I think we were really optimistic when we put tickets on sale that that would translate into some sales, but it’s certainly exceeded our expectations,” he said. Cricket Australia (CA) is targeting a sellout at a stadium that can seat 35,000 spectators.

BBL looks to expand its global footprint

The organisation of the match in India is part of the BBL’s larger plan to extend its international reach and develop into a global product. To that end, it has decided to use Chennai, home to five-time IPL champions Chennai Super Kings (CSK), as the launchpad. “So, the days of the BBL just being an Australian league where we exist and grow in our own backyard are over, and the BBL is and continues to grow as a global league that has fans and impact around the world,” said Dobson.

India is known to be a cricket-mad nation, so Dobson believes that the commercial potential for the league in the country is immense. The arrival of the BBL in India could further consolidate its standing among T20 leagues and help the Australian players and franchises reach a much larger audience. “It’s a great opportunity, not just for our league but for our clubs and, importantly, for our players to come and show just how good they are in arguably the biggest market in the world.

“I think the BBL offers something slightly different. We hear from our fans in India that they really want to experience it in person, the colour, noise, and music that comes with a BBL game. It’s a combination of taking our game to Chennai, but also having the clarity to bring a BBL experience,” he said.

No reserve day for BBL opener in Chennai

Managing the weather could prove to be a logistical challenge for the organisers. The city receives considerable rainfall between October and December. The date for the match, December 12, falls towards the end of Chennai’s rainy season. So, while rain interruptions remain a possibility, the organisers have not allocated a reserve day.

“We've certainly taken lots of advice from the locals and are really optimistic that we'll be in good shape, but clearly you can't predict the weather. We won't have a reserve day. We are working through some playing conditions that might allow us to extend the playing time if required,” Dobson said. The match is scheduled to start at 2:40 PM IST, which would allow them to extend play if necessary.

Dobson also spoke about organising the WBBL in India in the future. However, he clarified that the immediate priority remains the successful organisation of the December opener. “We do believe in the WBBL, and it is, in our view, the best cricket league for women in the world. So we would be open to, in the future, the possibility of bringing a WBBL game to different parts of the world.

“Right now, our seasons don't align in the context of double-headers, and so that's probably not on the cards. But certainly, we also know through the WPL how popular our women's players are in India and clearly how good they are. So, I'd never say never on that,” he said.