Cricket Australia is considering taking the opening match of the Big Bash League to India next season. Chennai has been identified as a possible venue. Senior BBL officials recently visited the city and met local cricket authorities as part of early discussions. However, the Board of Control for Cricket in India will have the final say on whether such a plan can proceed.
Chennai visit and early talks
According to reports, Phil Rigby and Margot Harley from Cricket Australia travelled to India to explore staging a BBL game overseas. They met officials of the Tamil Nadu Cricket Association and toured the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai. The venue is the home ground of Chennai Super Kings in the Indian Premier League.
The idea is being taken seriously by Cricket Australia. Still, there are many issues to solve. Approval from the BCCI is the biggest step. Broadcasters and BBL clubs also need to agree. If a match is moved to India, one BBL team would lose a home game. Cricket Australia may have to compensate that team to take control of the fixture.
There are also scheduling concerns. The BBL runs for only seven weeks, from mid-December to late January. Travel to and from India would require extra time for preparation and recovery. Chennai also faces heavy rain and flooding during December, which could affect plans.
Bigger picture and plans
The move comes at an important time for the BBL. The league may soon open up to private investment. Indian investors and existing IPL owners are expected to show strong interest. There has been talk about selling teams such as the Sydney Thunder and Melbourne Renegades to private owners.
This season of the BBL was a major success. A record crowd of 55018 attended the final at Optus Stadium, where Perth Scorchers won the title. Star players like Steven Smith and David Warner added great value. Smith scored 299 runs in six innings for the Sydney Sixers, including a century at the SCG.
Next season will be challenging. Australia will tour India for a five-Test series in January and February. Players involved in that tour will miss the final part of the BBL. The league also overlaps with other tournaments, such as the ILT20 and SA20, making player availability even harder.
Cricket Australia now waits to see whether the bold plan to start the BBL in India can become a reality.
