Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Australian counterpart Anthony Albanese jointly released the India-Australia Sports Collaboration Roadmap at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) on Friday. The roadmap aims to enhance cooperation in sports training, capacity building, sports science, technology, and sports industry investment, according to a Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) release.
Big Bash League to Debut in India
A key highlight of the collaboration is the announcement that the inaugural match of the upcoming Big Bash League (BBL) season will be played at the MA Chidambaram Stadium (Chepauk) in Chennai. The match, scheduled for December 2026, will feature the Melbourne Renegades against the Perth Scorchers. This marks the first time a foreign cricket league will host a match in India.
The Australian government stated that the event will be the cornerstone of a week-long festival called "G'Day Namaste," to be held across India in December, featuring Australian cultural, business, and sports events.
High-Profile Attendance at MCG
The event at the MCG was also attended by Premier of Victoria Jacinta Allan, former Australian men's ODI World Cup-winning captain Steve Waugh, and women's World Cup-winning skipper Lisa Sthalekar. The MEA release emphasized that the visit underscored the growing importance of sports, cultural exchanges, and people-to-people ties as pillars of the India-Australia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.
Youth Sports Festival and Future Collaborations
As part of the roadmap, an India-Australia Youth Sports Festival will also be organized. The two leaders welcomed the growing collaboration between the nations in sports. PM Modi highlighted the unique role of sports in bringing people together and noted that the roadmap will enable the two countries to diversify their sporting partnership.
Modi congratulated Australia for winning the women's cricket World Cup and noted that India and Australia are entering a significant decade in international sports, with India hosting the Commonwealth Games in 2030 and Australia hosting the Brisbane Olympics in 2032.
