The Big Bash League opens its 2026/27 season on 12 December 2026 with Melbourne Renegades against Perth Scorchers, and the first ball is bowled in Chennai. The MA Chidambaram Stadium hosts the opener at 2:40 PM IST, after which the league moves to Australia for 39 more league matches and four finals matches ending on 26 January 2027.
This guide covers the whole season in IST: the schedule, the eight teams, the venues and what to expect from the finals. BBL squads are being loaded as clubs confirm them, so Predictor is open now and Fantasy XI and Draft open match by match. Everything here is free.
Season at a glance
The eight teams and the grounds
Adelaide Strikers, Brisbane Heat, Hobart Hurricanes, Melbourne Renegades, Melbourne Stars, Perth Scorchers, Sydney Sixers and Sydney Thunder take part. The league schedule uses Adelaide Oval, The Gabba, Bellerive Oval in Hobart (and one game in Launceston), the MCG, Junction Oval in Melbourne, Perth Stadium, the SCG, Sydney Showground Stadium and Manuka Oval in Canberra, plus the Chennai opener.
What the schedule means for Indian viewers
Almost every BBL game starts at 7:15 PM Australian Eastern time, which is 1:45 PM IST. Some days have two games: Boxing Day (7:05 AM and 10:15 AM GMT, which is 12:35 PM and 3:45 PM IST), 1 January, 4 January, 10 January, 16 January and 17 January. The result is a tournament where most matches are played in the Indian afternoon, so you can follow them live on a normal working day.
- Mid-December: Brisbane Heat v Sydney Sixers (15 Dec), Sydney Thunder v Adelaide Strikers (16 Dec) and Hobart Hurricanes v Brisbane Heat (17 Dec) make up the first week in Australia.
- Boxing Day, 26 December: Sydney Sixers v Brisbane Heat at the SCG in the morning (GMT) and Perth Scorchers v Melbourne Stars at Perth Stadium later.
- New Year's Day, 1 January: Melbourne Renegades v Sydney Sixers at the MCG, then Brisbane Heat v Hobart Hurricanes at the Gabba.
- Last league days, 16 and 17 January: Adelaide Strikers v Perth Scorchers, Melbourne Renegades v Melbourne Stars, Hobart Hurricanes v Sydney Sixers and Brisbane Heat v Sydney Thunder.
How to approach BBL fantasy
- Home grounds matter. Perth Stadium, the Gabba and Adelaide Oval are big grounds where pace and bounce count, while Manuka Oval and Launceston host the occasional game where the venue is unfamiliar. Always check the pitch and toss notes on the match page.
- Overseas stars are the captain picks. Every BBL side has international players who bat in the top three or bowl in the powerplay and the death. They are the first names in most fantasy teams.
- Allrounders are premium. In T20, a player who bats at 4 or 5 and bowls two or three overs has a high floor.
- Back the openers early. Powerplay runs are the biggest single source of fantasy points, so top-order batters in teams that bat first are worth a premium.
- Squads change. BBL clubs add replacement players through the season, and national call-ups pull players out. Check each confirmed XI before the lock.
The New Zealand Test series in Australia starts on 9 December, three days before the BBL opener, so international availability can change club line-ups early in the season. Predictor works for every match now, and Fantasy XI opens as squads are confirmed.
The finals
After the 40 league matches, the BBL runs a four-match finals series: a Qualifier on 19 January, a Knockout on 20 January, a Challenger on 23 January and the Final on 26 January. The teams and venues are decided by the league table and are confirmed once the league stage ends. CricketDream adds each finals match to the BBL hub the moment the teams are known.
Women's Big Bash too
WBBL|12 starts earlier, on 29 October 2026, and runs to 5 December. It has its own hub with Season Fantasy, team guides and a full schedule, so you can play the women's competition first and move to the men's tournament in December.
Play free on CricketDream
Every CricketDream game is free, with no entry fee and no prize pool. Pick 11 players within the credit budget, choose a captain (2x points) and vice-captain (1.5x points), and your score updates live through the match.
Open the BBL 2026/27 hub for the full schedule, teams and your free Predictor games.
Open BBL hubFrequently asked questions
When does BBL 2026/27 start?
It starts on Saturday 12 December 2026 with Melbourne Renegades v Perth Scorchers at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai. The final is on 26 January 2027.
What time is the BBL in India?
Most evening games start at 7:15 PM AEDT, which is 1:45 PM IST. The Chennai opener starts at 2:40 PM IST.
How many matches are in the BBL 2026/27?
44 in total: 40 league matches plus the Qualifier, Knockout, Challenger and Final.
Which teams are in the BBL?
Adelaide Strikers, Brisbane Heat, Hobart Hurricanes, Melbourne Renegades, Melbourne Stars, Perth Scorchers, Sydney Sixers and Sydney Thunder.
Can I play BBL fantasy on CricketDream?
Yes, free. Predictor is open for every match now, and Fantasy XI, Draft and Multi-Draft open match by match as squads are loaded.
Is CricketDream fantasy free to play?
Yes. Fantasy XI, Draft, Multi-Draft, Predictor, Cricket Quiz and CricketQuest are all completely free, with no entry fees and no cash prizes.