The opening match of next season’s Big Bash League will take place in India on 12 December.

The game between Melbourne Renegades and defending champions Perth Scorchers in Chennai will make Australia’s Twenty20 competition the first foreign franchise league to play in India.

“I am excited to expand co-operation with India on sport, which not only brings joy to Australians but boosts trade, tourism and investment,” Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said on the final day of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Australia.

Australian players are in high demand in the Indian Premier League and organisers of the BBL, which started in 2011–12, are looking to tap into cricket’s most lucrative market.

Cricket Australia reported a net deficit of A$11.3m (£5.8m) for 2024-25 despite hosting the lucrative Border-Gavaskar Test series against India.

The governing body hopes to open up the league to private investment to boost its finances and improve competitiveness in T20 cricket.

Critics say it could lead to the BBL ceding control ​to IPL franchises, whose owners have already bought franchises in England, South Africa, the USA, West Indies and United Arab Emirates.

“Our sport has such an authentic connection in India,” Cricket Australia’s BBL general manager, Alistair Dobson, said in a statement.

“We’re hugely excited by the opportunity and we expect the match will be the most-watched game in Australian domestic league history for any sport.”