Speaking about the development, Ganguly said it was encouraging to see the country’s top elected leader actively supporting sports and taking time to strengthen sporting relations between India and Australia.

“Promoting sports is a major initiative. We sincerely thank the Prime Minister for taking time out for sports. It is heartening to see the nation’s leader supporting sporting activities and helping deepen India-Australia sports relations,” Ganguly said.

The remarks come ahead of Prime Minister Modi’s three-day visit to Australia, during which he is expected to participate in the annual bilateral meeting with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese. Alongside diplomatic engagements, a special programme is scheduled at the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground, where sporting cooperation between the two countries will be highlighted.

The event is being viewed as an important example of sports diplomacy, an area that has increasingly become part of broader international engagement between nations. Cricket remains one of the strongest cultural and sporting links between India and Australia, drawing massive audiences in both countries and contributing significantly to people-to-people connections.

Officials have indicated that the partnership is now expected to move beyond cricket alone.

India’s High Commissioner to Australia, Nagesh Singh, said the two governments are keen to expand cooperation across the wider sporting ecosystem. While cricket continues to serve as the foundation of sporting ties, both countries are exploring collaboration in areas such as sports science, sports medicine, sports technology, sports management and sports infrastructure development.

According to Singh, Australia’s expertise in these sectors can provide valuable learning opportunities for India as it continues to invest heavily in athlete development and sporting excellence.

The proposed cooperation is expected to include knowledge-sharing initiatives, institutional partnerships and exchanges involving sports professionals, administrators and experts from both nations.

Officials also emphasized that future collaboration will not be restricted to mainstream sports alone. Traditional and emerging disciplines are likely to form part of the partnership framework.

India is reportedly looking to promote indigenous sports such as kabaddi on a wider international platform, while Australia is keen to showcase sports like Australian Rules Football, commonly known as “Footy.” The broader objective is to encourage greater sporting exchanges and create opportunities for athletes and organizations from both countries.

Meanwhile, reports suggest that Prime Minister Modi may also make an important cricket-related announcement during the Australia visit.

According to discussions currently underway between Cricket Australia, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and the Tamil Nadu Cricket Association, India could host the opening fixture of the 2026-27 Big Bash League season.

If the proposal receives final approval, the match is expected to be played on December 12 at Chennai’s M.A. Chidambaram Stadium between defending champions Perth Scorchers and Melbourne Renegades.

The development would mark a historic first for Australian domestic cricket, as no Big Bash League match has previously been staged on Indian soil. The move is being seen as a reflection of the growing sporting partnership between the two countries and the expanding global appeal of franchise-based cricket competitions.

With government-level support and increasing institutional collaboration, sports are emerging as an important pillar of the India-Australia relationship, complementing cooperation in trade, education, technology and strategic affairs.