BBL 2025/26 | Challenger: Sydney Sixers vs Hobart Hurricanes | Preview and Predictions

The Sydney Sixers will take on the Hobart Hurricanes in the Challenger match of the 2025/26 KFC Big Bash League season at the Sydney Cricket Ground on January 23, 2026.

The victors from this game will face the Perth Scorchers in Sunday’s final, while the defeated team’s campaign will come to an end. Thus, expect another thriller as two BBL heavyweights face off.

Here, we present our preview and predictions for the BBL|15 Challenger between the Sixers and the Hurricanes.

BBL|15 Challenger: Sixers vs Hurricanes | 13:45 IST, January 23, 2026

The Sixers entered the play-offs riding high on confidence after finishing the league phase in second place. But the Perth Scorchers brought them back down to earth in the Qualifier, handing them a heavy 48-run defeat. And while they have got one more chance to reach the final via the Challenger, their batting line-up needs to show some serious improvement after being bundled out for just 99 by the Scorchers.

In the Sixers’ batting department, Babar Azam has been recalled by Pakistan for national duty and won’t feature in their remaining play-off matches. Daniel Hughes is the likeliest choice to fill his position in the team. Josh Philippe still leads the run-scoring chart for the Sixers with 235 runs, though the wicketkeeper-batter has been struggling for form lately, having gone past the 20-run mark once in his last seven games. The good news, however, is that Steve Smith has found his rhythm at the top and has already accumulated 210 runs in just four outings at a strike rate of 172.

Their bowling department has really been on song lately. Jack Edwards leads the wicket-takers’ column with 17 wickets at an impressive economy rate of 7.89. The trio of Joel Davis, Sean Abbott, and Ben Dwarshuis has been consistent and provided solid breakthroughs. Moreover, having someone like Mitchell Starc with the new ball can be the difference, which is something he has proven over the years with the Australian national team.

Defending champions Hobart Hurricanes, on the other hand, fought well to get past the Stars in the Knockout, winning the rain-hit affair by just three runs. Their form has been a bit uneven lately, but there’s no shortage of talent in this Hurricanes squad. That Knockout result should give them a real lift heading into the Challenger.

Their batting department has contributed as a whole for the most part, although the top order needs to step up after recent failures. Nikhil Chaudhary leads the Hurricanes’ run-scoring chart with 303 runs, with Ben McDermott (282) following close behind. Beau Webster has also brought some much-needed firepower and depth to this batting line-up in the absence of Tim David.

In the bowling setup, skipper Nathan Ellis leads the charge with 14 wickets. Rishad Hossain and Riley Meredith are close behind with 13 and 11 wickets, respectively, while Chris Jordan, despite not picking up enough wickets, has provided control and restricted the flow of runs in the death overs. Mitch Owen and Webster, meanwhile, will fill the fifth bowler’s overs.

In terms of weather forecast and pitch report for this game, conditions are expected to be overcast on Friday, though rain shouldn’t be an issue this time. The SCG should offer a balanced contest. Early on, there might be some movement through the air and a bit of help from the surface under the lights, but as the game goes on and the ball gets older, spinners become more relevant once the pitch starts to show wear.

Looking ahead to this fixture, the Hobart Hurricanes have looked strong all season and head into the Challenger on the back of an excellent showing in the Knockout against the Melbourne Stars. The Sydney Sixers, on the other hand, took a big loss in the Qualifier and will want to move past that result as fast as they can.

The Sixers’ fate will rest on Steve Smith; if he gets going at the top, they will be in the game. That said, the Hurricanes have been more reliable across the board and have more players in form right now, making them the smarter pick here. 

Fantasy XI: Mitch Owen, Steve Smith (c), Nikhil Chaudhary, Ben McDermott, Jack Edwards, Beau Webster (vc), Joel Davis, Nathan Ellis, Sean Abbott, Rishad Hossain, Mitchell Starc 

Venue: Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney 
Winners Prediction: Hobart Hurricanes