Former Indian cricket captain Sourav Ganguly has expressed his appreciation for Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s upcoming visit to the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG). Ganguly described the Prime Minister’s decision to promote cricket on a global platform as significant for the sport. Prime Minister Modi is scheduled to travel to Australia for a three-day visit, where he will participate in the India-Australia Annual Summit alongside Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.
Ganguly emphasized the importance of the Prime Minister’s involvement in promoting cricket, stating that it is a commendable gesture towards strengthening sporting ties between India and Australia. The visit aims to celebrate sports diplomacy and enhance bilateral relations between the two nations. Indian High Commissioner to Australia, Nagesh Singh, highlighted the significance of expanding sports cooperation beyond cricket to encompass a broader spectrum of sports.
Singh underscored the desire to foster collaboration in areas such as sports science, infrastructure, and management, beyond traditional cricket exchanges. The partnership between India and Australia seeks to facilitate knowledge-sharing and mutual learning across various aspects of the sporting ecosystem. The focus is on transcending cricket to embrace a wider range of sports and enhance overall sporting cooperation between the two countries.
Reports suggest that Prime Minister Modi may announce the historic staging of the opening match of the 2026-27 Big Bash League season in India during his visit to Australia. This event would mark the first time an Australian domestic cricket fixture is played on Indian soil. Discussions involving Cricket Australia, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), and the Tamil Nadu Cricket Association (TNCA) are reportedly progressing towards final approvals for the tournament opener between defending champions Perth Scorchers and Melbourne Renegades at Chennai’s M.A. Chidambaram Stadium on December 12.
