BBL 2026/27 Opening Week Preview: Chennai & Beyond

For the first time, a Big Bash match will be played outside Australia. Melbourne Renegades meet the champions Perth Scorchers at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai on Saturday 12 December, at 2:40 PM IST. Then the league flies home and opens in Australia three days later. Here is what to know about the first six games.

BBL 2026/27 first six matches

No.	Date (IST)	Match	Venue	IST	Local
1	Sat 12 Dec	Melbourne Renegades v Perth Scorchers	MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai	2:40pm	2:40pm
2	Tue 15 Dec	Brisbane Heat v Sydney Sixers	The Gabba, Brisbane	1:45pm	6:15pm
3	Wed 16 Dec	Sydney Thunder v Adelaide Strikers	Manuka Oval, Canberra	1:45pm	7:15pm
4	Thu 17 Dec	Hobart Hurricanes v Brisbane Heat	Bellerive Oval, Hobart	1:45pm	7:15pm
5	Fri 18 Dec	Melbourne Stars v Adelaide Strikers	Melbourne Cricket Ground	1:45pm	7:15pm
6	Sat 19 Dec	Sydney Thunder v Sydney Sixers	Sydney Showground Stadium	1:45pm	7:15pm

Renegades v Scorchers, Chennai

Chennai is a home ground for neither side. Jonny Bairstow fills the keeper and top-order job for the Renegades. Jason Behrendorff misses the season, so the Renegades new-ball plan changes. For Perth, the opening pair is new: Finn Allen has gone, and Zak Crawley and Aneurin Donald are the obvious candidates to walk out with Mitch Marsh if Marsh is available.

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This is the only game for three days, so anyone holding Renegades or Scorchers players gets a head start. Chepauk has a reputation for helping spin as games go on, which is a reason to look at Cooper Connolly, Ashton Agar and Calvin Harrison. Wait for the toss and pitch report before you lock.

15 December: Heat v Sixers at the Gabba

Opening night in Australia. Tom Curran misses this one, as the first of three games out, with Bevon Jacobs covering. Matt Renshaw and Jack Wildermuth, who both hit hundreds in last season's record chase here, are the local picks.

16 December: Thunder v Strikers at Manuka

Andrew Flintoff's first match as Thunder coach, and likely Ben Stokes's first BBL game since playing for the Renegades eleven years ago. David Warner against Stokes is the headline.

17 to 19 December

17 December: Hurricanes v Heat at Bellerive Oval.
18 December: Stars v Strikers at the MCG, with Finn Allen's first home game for the Stars.
19 December: Thunder v Sixers at Sydney Showground, the first Sydney Smash of the season.