The next edition of the Big Bash League is likely to start in December 2026.
The tournament opener of the new BBL season, starting in the second week of December 2026, will be played in India, as CA has received encouraging signals from BCCI, as per a report in the Indian Express.
CA has spent the last three months looking into the possibilities of hosting the BBL opener in India. The BCCI was originally resistant, but after additional conversations, CA is believed to have gotten positive news from its Indian colleagues. A five-member CA delegation has since flown to Chennai for CSK's final IPL home game to inspect the venue.
“We are not able to confirm anything. We are exploring the potential of Chennai in partnership with the Australian Government to deepen the India-Australia relationship. Nothing confirmed as yet, and we are working closely with our friends in BCCI,” a CA representative was quoted as saying by the Indian Express.
Mithun Manhas, the BCCI president, was also in Chennai to meet with the CA team, as were officials from the Australian commerce community. Since CA chose to move the BBL opener overseas, Chennai has been their first-choice venue, with discussions ongoing with the local Tamil Nadu Cricket Association.
While early negotiations suggested hosting more than one contest, scheduling constraints mean it will most likely be just the opener, which might feature defending champions the Perth Scorchers. The December timing carries complications. Chennai’s peak monsoon season runs through that month, a factor both boards will need to navigate