BBL 2026-27 edition will see its opening game being hosted in Chennai.
The BBL will make history in December when its season-opening match is played at Chennai's MA Chidambaram Stadium, marking the first time the Australian domestic T20 league will be held outside of Australia.
CA representatives were reportedly present at Chepauk Stadium during the final group stage match of the IPL 2026 and were met with a warm response from both the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and the Tamil Nadu Cricket Association.
Dhumal claims that the action is a reflection of India's status as the biggest and most significant market for the sport, which makes it a desirable location for international leagues trying to expand their fan base.
“See, India is the biggest cricket market. So definitely, Cricket Australia would want to capitalise on that,” Dhumal told PTI.
The idea was applauded by the BCCI official, who also wished the Australian board luck in its efforts to broaden the audience for its premier T20 tournament.
Additionally, Dhumal saw the growth as advantageous for cricket's larger international aspirations, especially since the sport is scheduled to make a comeback to the Olympic programme in the 2028 Los Angeles Games.
“India, being the leader in world cricket, has a lot of scope to add to world cricket. Since cricket is now becoming part of the Olympics, it augurs very well for the game, for its global footprint to reach the length and breadth across the globe. I’m sure they would have done their calculations, and they are expecting a good boost to their domestic tournament," he said.