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Renegades vs Sixers BBL Match 18: Babar Azam vs Rizwan | New Year’s Day Complete Match Preview
On New Year’s Day at Marvel Stadium, Sydney Sixers won the toss and chose to bowl first against Melbourne Renegades. This is the 18th match of the BBL 2025–26 season and is expected to be an exciting contest, made even more interesting as Pakistan’s star players Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan are playing for opposite teams.
Match Information
Game: Melbourne Renegades vs Sydney Sixers (18th Match)
Competition: Big Bash League 2025–26
Ground: Marvel Stadium, Melbourne
Date: January 1, 2026
Match Time: 4:00 PM local | 5:00 AM GMT
Main Story: Clash of Pakistan’s Top Stars
All eyes are on the exciting face-off between Sydney Sixers batter Babar Azam and Melbourne Renegades wicketkeeper-batter Mohammad Rizwan.
Renegades’ Expectations: Rizwan is seen as a steady and dependable player. He recently grabbed attention by smashing a record-breaking 123 runs from only 34 deliveries in the BBL. He now carries the hopes of a Renegades team that is eager to end a run of two straight defeats.
Sixers’ Upper Hand: Sydney Sixers come into this match full of confidence, having beaten the Renegades in their last nine meetings. While Babar Azam is still settling into the BBL, his role at the top of the order is important for giving the Sixers a solid start as they aim for a tenth win in a row against the same opponents.
Pitch and Ground Update
Docklands Stadium usually offers a very batter-friendly pitch, and with the roof closed, weather won’t affect the game. Fast bowlers such as Jason Behrendorff and Sean Abbott could get some movement early, especially under the lights. However, the small boundary sizes often result in big totals. Teams chasing targets have generally done well here, which explains why the Sixers chose to bowl first.
IMAGE CREDITS : CRIC TRACKER
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