Big Bash League stars Jhye Richardson (Perth Scorchers) and Brendan Doggett (Melbourne Renegades) were at Chepauk Stadium on Thursday to help launch the KFC BBL|16 season opener in Chennai.
The Renegades and Scorchers will make history when they open BBL|16 in Chennai, taking one of the world’s most entertaining T20 competitions to a passionate cricket heartland.
The BBL will become the first foreign league to play a regular season fixture in India when the two teams go head-to-head on December 12.
The season opener will showcase the noise, colour and world class cricket that has made the BBL a global phenomenon to a brand-new army of fans.
Richardson and Doggett were joined in Chennai by Scorchers head coach Adam Voges and the BBL’s Head of League Operations & Club Growth, Phil Rigby, as preparations begin for the season opener.
Details on tickets, corporate hospitality and travel packages for the match will be announced shortly.
Phil Rigby, Head of League Operations and Club Growth – Big Bash Leagues, said:
“Chennai is home to some of the most passionate cricket fans on the planet, and we can’t wait to bring the BBL to the MA Chidambaram Stadium.
“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.
“Sitting at the heart of the G’Day Namaste program, the match demonstrates the power of the Big Bash to bring Australia and India together across industry, government and people-to-people links.
“We’re thrilled our League will create history by playing a regular season match in India while driving investment and foreign relations at the highest level.
“As we saw at Chepauk on Thursday, the amount of interest in this match locally is massive and we can’t wait to see a full house on December 12.”
Perth Scorchers bowler Jhye Richardson said:
“Playing a BBL match at Chepauk in front of the Chennai crowd is going to be an incredible experience.
“This is one of the most iconic grounds in world cricket, and to be part of bringing the Big Bash here is huge for me and for the competition.
“We can’t wait to get out there and give the Chennai fans a game to remember.”
