Cricket Australia mulling hosting BBL 2026 opener in Chennai, final call to be taken by BCCI: Report

Cricket Australia wants to host the Big Bash League (BBL) 2026 opener in Chennai. However, the final call lies with the BCCI.

Updated on: Feb 17, 2026, 22:54:36 IST

Written by Vishesh Roy

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Cricket Australia (CA) are mulling hosting the Big Bash League (BBL) 2026 opener in Chennai; however, the final call will be taken by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). According to a report in Cricbuzz, the Tamil Nadu Cricket Association (TNCA) confirmed holding talks with an Australian delegation, but they were also aware of their jurisdiction, and if the BBL match is to go ahead at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai, then CA would be required to get the necessary permissions from the Indian board.

Cricket Australia wants to host the Big Bash League (BBL) 2026 opener in Chennai (BBL X)

The report stated that the TNCA officials met a Cricket Australia delegation a few days ago, and the possibility of hosting the BBL opener at the Chepauk was discussed. However, the final call has been left with the BCCI. The Australian delegation comprised two representatives from the BBL and one functionary from Cricket Australia.

Also Read: Australia knocked out after suffering their joint-worst T20 World Cup campaign; Zimbabwe join India in Super 8s

"We have heard their proposal and are fully aware of our jurisdiction. The TNCA has left the matter to the BCCI. We have made it clear to the Australian delegation that without BCCI approval, the plan cannot move forward," a TNCA official told Cricbuzz.

“The ball is in the BCCI court,” the official added.

If Cricket Australia gets the nod from the BCCI, the BBL opener would be played in December. The BCCI is reportedly taking a considered view of the situation, and the final decision is expected in a few days.

What's the ambition?

Earlier, a report in SEN stated that the move to host the BBL opener in Chennai is part of a broader ambition by Cricket Australia to capitalise on the Indian market.

"The bold ambition is part of a wider strategy to intertwine the lucrative Indian market with the BBL ahead of a near-certain sale for at least two of its eight franchises," a report in Australian media outlet SEN read.

According to Cricbuzz, the Perth Scorchers could be one of the two teams to potentially play at Chepauk. This decision is due to favourable time zones, as the Western Australian city is just 2.5 hours ahead of IST.

The Perth Scorchers are also the defending champions, having won the last edition of the BBL, so they are in line to play the season opener from that regard as well.

Speaking of the BBL, the tournament has become one of the most-watched overseas T20 leagues. The competition began in 2011 and Scorchers have won the BBL six times.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Vishesh Roy
Vishesh Roy is a sports journalist with a strong focus on cricket. He began his career at Asian News International (ANI), where he covered a range of high-profile events, including the India Open, Legends Cricket League, the England–India Test series in Ahmedabad in 2021, and the inauguration of the Narendra Modi Stadium. During his tenure at ANI, he also reported extensively on domestic cricket, covering several Ranji Trophy and Vijay Hazare Trophy matches across the country. While cricket remains his primary beat, Vishesh has also reported on tennis, football and WWE. After a stint of over three years at ANI, Vishesh moved to NDTV, where he gained hands-on experience in digital-first journalism, with a particular emphasis on live blogs and real-time news reporting. He joined Hindustan Times in October 2024 and quickly established himself with a series of exclusive interviews and source-driven stories. Ahead of the IPL 2025 auction, Hindustan Times was the first to report that the two-day event would be held in Saudi Arabia. In the early months of his tenure, Vishesh secured interviews with leading cricketers, including Pat Cummins, Shreyas Iyer, Nitish Kumar Reddy and Rashid Latif. He has also closely tracked the rise of emerging talents such as Vaibhav Suryavanshi and Priyansh Arya by speaking to their current and childhood coaches. His background in on-field reporting has helped Hindustan Times Digital break exclusive stories on major developments, including Virat Kohli’s return to the Ranji and Vijay Hazare Trophy, IPL scheduling, and the T20 World Cup controversy involving Bangladesh and Pakistan.Read More

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