Former India captain Sourav Ganguly has praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi's planned visit to the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), describing the move as 'a huge thing for the game' and expressing gratitude for the Prime Minister's commitment to promoting cricket on the global stage.

Modi's Australia Visit and the MCG Programme

Prime Minister Modi is scheduled to travel to Australia for a three-day visit, during which he and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will participate in the India-Australia Annual Summit. As part of the trip, the Prime Minister is set to attend a special programme at the iconic MCG aimed at celebrating sports diplomacy and deepening bilateral ties between the two nations.

'The Prime Minister promoting the game is a huge thing for the game. So, it's so nice to hear, and our sincere gratitude and thanks to the Honourable Prime Minister for taking time off to promote the sport,' Ganguly said.

What Ganguly Said

Ganguly, one of India's most celebrated cricket captains, said it was heartening to see the country's highest elected leader invest time in supporting cricket and strengthening sporting ties between India and Australia. His remarks reflect a broader sentiment within Indian cricket circles that diplomatic engagement at the highest political level can accelerate the sport's global reach.

India-Australia Sports Ties Beyond Cricket

Indian High Commissioner to Australia Nagesh Singh underscored that while cricket remains a cornerstone of the bilateral relationship, both governments are keen to broaden cooperation across the entire sporting ecosystem.

'We want to have sports cooperation beyond cricket. Australia is a cricketing superpower. Australia has a population of around 28 million, and it has excelled across a wide range of sports. Beyond sport itself, Australia is highly advanced in sports medicine, sports science, sports technology, sports management, and sports infrastructure. We want to build a partnership that expands cooperation beyond cricket and hockey to other sports as well,' Singh said.

He added that the collaboration would extend to knowledge-sharing across sports science, infrastructure, and management — not merely team exchanges. The MCG programme will reportedly feature Kabaddi as India's showcase sport alongside Australian rules football (locally known as 'footy'), with cricket also represented.

Big Bash League Opener in India on the Cards

According to several media reports, Prime Minister Modi is also likely to confirm the historic staging of the opening match of the 2026-27 Big Bash League (BBL) season in India during his Australia visit — marking what would be the first time an Australian domestic cricket fixture is played on Indian soil.

Reports suggest that defending champions Perth Scorchers could face Melbourne Renegades in the tournament opener at Chennai's M.A. Chidambaram Stadium on 12 December, subject to final approvals. Discussions between Cricket Australia, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), and the Tamil Nadu Cricket Association (TNCA) are understood to be at an advanced stage.

This comes amid a period of deepening India-Australia strategic ties, with sports diplomacy increasingly serving as a soft-power vehicle for both nations. If confirmed, the BBL fixture in Chennai would be a landmark moment in bilateral cricket relations — and a signal that the commercial and cultural pull of Indian venues is now reshaping the calendar of overseas leagues.