The New Year 2026 will kick off with a spectacularly enthralling battle between two of Pakistan’s best T20 batsmen when the Melbourne Renegades take on the Sydney Sixers at Melbourne’s iconic Docklands Stadium on Thursday January 1 in the 2025-26 Big Bash League.
At the heart of this contest is the impressive undercard of Babar Azam vs Mohammad Rizwan, two modern day greats of Pakistan cricket who now represent rival BBL franchises. A classy and world-class batsman, Babar was signed as an overseas player by the Sixers and remains a key pillar of their batting line-up.
Rizwan – one of Pakistan’s most consistent performers across formats – brought his signature intensity and reliability to Renegades. Stretched high in the Melbourne outfit, he bolsters their middle order and offers a mixture of grit and controlled acceleration capable of swinging momentum in T20 contests.
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However, Babar’s start to life in the BBL has been mixed. He has struggled to convert starts, posting modest scores of 2, 9, 58 and 2 in his early appearances, highlighting the challenges of adapting to Australian conditions and the relentless pace of the league.
Rizwan also underwent a Test initiation, managing just four runs on debut and still finding the rhythm that has made him one of Pakistan’s leading white-ball batsmen.
Despite their early struggles, this device carries another layer of intrigue. Fans will be keenly watching to see which of the two stars manages to grab the limelight in the New Year, especially given their contrasting styles – Babar’s classic timing against Rizwan’s trademark tenacity in the groove.
With both players eager to make a definitive impact ahead of the mid-season clash to qualify for the finals, this New Year’s clash could prove pivotal to their respective BBL campaigns.
When to watch Melbourne Renegades vs Sydney Sixers in BBL?
The match between Melbourne Renegades and Sydney Sixers will start at 10:30 IST, 16:00 local time.
Where to watch Melbourne Renegades vs Sydney Sixers in BBL?
Star Sports Network will telecast the BBL clash between Melbourne Renegades and Sydney Sixers. Live streaming of the match will be available on JioHotstar app.
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Issued by:
sabyasachi chowdhury
Published on:
December 31, 2025
