Canberra University T10 Cricket Challenge Returns: Tournament Deepens India-Australia Ties in Sport & Education
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Building on the success of its inaugural edition, the UC T10 Cricket Challenge returns to Bengaluru from 28–31 August 2025, doubling its scale and ambition. Now positioned as India’s premier inter-school cricket tournament, this edition marks a significant step in expanding Australia and India’s bilateral engagement through sport, education, and cultural exchange.
Held across two leading venues including the Padukone-Dravid Centre for Sports Excellence, the tournament will host 25 under-16 teams, with 17 boys’ and 8 girls’ squads from 17 top schools across India. The teams will compete over four days, with matches being livestreamed to ensure wide national reach. A strong emphasis is placed on gender equity, with the number of girls’ teams doubled from last year.
This initiative is part of a partnership between University of Canberra (UC) and Cricket ACT, designed to introduce international academic pathways for Indian students to study in Australia’s capital, Canberra.
Canberra offers students excellence in education alongside an exceptional lifestyle. The city is known for is inclusivity which is shaped by a striking balance of nature, culture, and community. According to Oxford Economics’ Global Cities Index 2025, Canberra is #1 in the world for Quality of Life.
Beyond the tournament, participating students will have the opportunity to apply for the UC–Cricket ACT Excellence Scholarship, which offers a 30% tuition fee waiver to eligible students. They will also gain access to academic and sports immersion programs hosted in Canberra, offering a rich cultural experience. In addition, players will be invited to attend masterclasses and virtual sessions led by UC faculty and Cricket ACT coaches, introducing them to international opportunities that combine high-performance sport with world-class academics.
Olivia Thornton, CEO, Cricket ACT shares, “Our continued partnership with India reflects a shared commitment to nurturing youth through cricket. This UC T10 Cricket Tournament is a platform that brings together talent and ambition across borders. We’re thrilled to bring the second edition to some of the country’s top schools, and with initiatives like the UC Cup, we aim to further strengthen cross-cultural relationships and champion a holistic approach to sports education.”
Echoing the sentiment, Hon Bill Shorten, Vice-Chancellor, University of Canberra (UC), said “The UC T10 Cricket Challenge embodies our belief that education and sport can open doors to global opportunities. The blend of academic excellence and athletic development offered at UC means that our students can confidently pursue their sporting interests while gaining a world-class degree that will secure their future employment. At UC you will feel welcome, your interests, identity and story will be known to us, and you will be part of a community that will help make your dreams a reality.”
The long-term vision is to scale the UC T10 Challenge into an annual flagship event, with future editions set to expand to multiple Indian cities. This continued commitment reflects the growing collaboration between India and Canberra across education, sport, and innovation.
