BENGALURU: There will be an IPL debut of a rather special kind at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium on Saturday afternoon. Former Australian great
Allan Border is set to watch his first-ever match in the competition when Royal Challengers Bengaluru take on Delhi Capitals.
Border last visited the venue as captain of the Australian side during the World Series on October 27, 1989 — an ODI that India won by three wickets. More than three decades later, the 70-year-old returns, this time as a spectator, to witness the spectacle of the IPL 2026.
In India on an invitation from fellow legend and close friend Sunil Gavaskar, Border is also expected to attend matches in Kolkata and Mumbai during his visit.
In Bengaluru, the former Australian captain will be hosted by the Karnataka State Cricket Association.
“We are delighted to have the legendary Allan Border and host him for his first IPL experience. When Sunny bhai reached out, we told him it’s an honour for us to host Border. It’s a wonderful initiative by Sunny bhai to invite his friend for the IPL experience,” KSCA president and former India pacer Venkatesh Prasad told TOI.
Border, who arrived in the city on Friday evening, is accompanied by his son, Dene.
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Manuja Veerappa, Senior Assistant Editor at The Times of India, h...
Read MoreManuja Veerappa, Senior Assistant Editor at The Times of India, has dedicated over half of her 22-year journalism career to the publication. Specializing in
cricket and hockey, she has covered major sporting events including World Cups, the Commonwealth Games, and world championships in billiards and snooker.
Known for her compelling human-interest stories, she has traveled extensively across Karnataka to spotlight untold talent and their journeys. An internationally
published sportswriter and former national-level hockey player for Karnataka, Manuja is a true-blue Bengalurean who also writes on the city’s culture and life, blending deep reporting with a passion for storytelling.
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