Modi gifts Steve Waugh a 20-year-old photo at MCG during Australia visit
Synopsis
PM Modi's MCG visit produced more than a nostalgic photo op — it came packaged with a cricket first: the Big Bash League will play its 2026-27 season opener in Chennai, making it the first overseas domestic cricket league match ever held in India. The personal gesture to Steve Waugh and the sports roadmap signal that India-Australia ties are being built as much on cricket diplomacy as on trade.
Key Takeaways
PM Modi presented former Australia captain Steve Waugh with a nearly 20-year-old photograph of their first meeting at the MCG on 10 July .
The Melbourne Renegades will face the Perth Scorchers at Chennai's M.
Chidambaram Stadium on 12 December — the first-ever BBL match outside Australia .
The BBL will be the first overseas domestic cricket league to hold a match in India; JioStar will broadcast the game nationally.
Chennai was chosen with BCCI backing due to its cricket culture and the Chennai Super Kings' unmatched social media reach.
Modi and Albanese released the India-Australia Sports Collaboration Roadmap , covering sports, youth, infrastructure, and talent development.
Modi noted India will host the 2030 Commonwealth Games and Australia the 2032 Brisbane Olympics as shared milestones ahead.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday, 10 July presented former Australia cricket captain Steve Waugh with a nearly 20-year-old photograph of their first meeting — taken when Modi served as Chief Minister of Gujarat — during a visit to the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG). The gesture underscored the personal and diplomatic warmth framing Modi's Australia engagements.
A Historic Moment at the MCG
Modi was accompanied by Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan during the MCG visit. He also interacted with children participating in exhibition matches of cricket, kabaddi, and Australian rules football, alongside sporting legends including Waugh and former Australia women's cricketer Lisa Sthalekar. The event was designed to celebrate the deepening sporting relationship between the two nations.
BBL to Make History in India
A landmark cricket announcement emerged from the visit: the Melbourne Renegades will face the Perth Scorchers at Chennai's M. A. Chidambaram Stadium on 12 December to open the 2026-27 Big Bash League (BBL) season. This will be the first-ever BBL match held outside Australia, with the Renegades serving as the home side. The game is scheduled after the fourth day's play of the opening Test between Australia and New Zealand in Perth.
The BBL will also become the first overseas domestic cricket league to stage a match on Indian soil. While Australian franchises such as the Perth Scorchers, Brisbane Heat, and Hobart Hurricanes previously played in India during the now-defunct Champions League T20, this marks the first official BBL fixture in the country. Notably, Cricket Australia had previously taken a Sheffield Shield match to New Zealand in 2016.
Why Chennai and Who Is Behind It
Chennai was selected for the historic match with the backing of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and Australian Consul-General Silai Zaki, owing to the city's deep cricket culture and the massive popularity of the Chennai Super Kings — the IPL franchise with the largest social media following. The initiative is jointly supported by India and Australia, with partial funding from the Centre of Australia-India Relations as part of a broader bilateral engagement strategy.
Cricket Australia General Manager of Big Bash Leagues Alistair Dobson said the decision to stage the season opener in India reflects the BBL's growing global appeal and the strong cricketing bond between the two countries. The match is expected to be the most-watched game in the history of any Australian domestic sporting league. Australian broadcasters will deploy commentary teams to Chennai, while JioStar will carry the broadcast across India. Cricket Australia is targeting a full house at the 38,000-capacity stadium and plans to offer travel packages for Australian fans.
India-Australia Sports Roadmap and Broader Ties
The two Prime Ministers jointly released the India-Australia Sports Collaboration Roadmap, aimed at strengthening cooperation in sports, youth programmes, infrastructure, and talent development. Modi also congratulated Australia on winning the ICC Women's Cricket World Cup and highlighted the opportunities ahead, with India set to host the 2030 Commonwealth Games and Australia hosting the 2032 Brisbane Olympics.
This visit signals that the India-Australia sporting partnership is moving well beyond bilateral fixtures — with institutional frameworks, shared hosting ambitions, and now a landmark overseas league match cementing ties for the decade ahead.
Point of View
Which marks a genuine structural shift: an overseas domestic league willing to plant a flag in India, cricket's largest market, rather than simply court Indian broadcast revenue from afar. The choice of Chennai is astute — the city's Super Kings fanbase offers a ready-made audience — but the real test will be whether a single marquee fixture translates into sustained league-level engagement, or remains a one-off goodwill gesture dressed as globalisation.
NationPress
10 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did PM Modi gift Steve Waugh at the MCG?
PM Modi presented former Australia captain Steve Waugh with a nearly 20-year-old photograph of their first meeting, taken when Modi was the Chief Minister of Gujarat. The gesture was made during Modi's visit to the Melbourne Cricket Ground on 10 July.
What is the historic BBL match announced during Modi's Australia visit?
The Melbourne Renegades will face the Perth Scorchers at Chennai's M. A. Chidambaram Stadium on 12 December to open the 2026-27 Big Bash League season — the first-ever BBL match to be held outside Australia.
Why was Chennai chosen to host the BBL match?
Chennai was selected with BCCI backing and the support of Australian Consul-General Silai Zaki, owing to its rich cricket culture and the popularity of the Chennai Super Kings, the IPL franchise with the most social media followers.
Who will broadcast the BBL match in India?
JioStar will broadcast the match across India. Australian broadcasters will also send commentary teams to Chennai for the fixture, which Cricket Australia expects to be the most-watched game in the history of any Australian domestic sporting league.
What is the India-Australia Sports Collaboration Roadmap?
It is a joint framework released by PM Modi and Australian PM Anthony Albanese during the MCG visit, aimed at strengthening bilateral cooperation in sports, youth programmes, infrastructure, and talent development. The roadmap also looks ahead to India hosting the 2030 Commonwealth Games and Australia the 2032 Brisbane Olympics.
