Kamal Ghorui
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.
