BBL 2025/26 | Match 30: Melbourne Renegades vs Melbourne Stars | Preview and Predictions

The Melbourne Renegades will take on the Melbourne Stars in Match 30 of the 2025/26 KFC Big Bash League season at Docklands Stadium on January 10, 2026. 

The Renegades come into this contest with a bit of momentum behind them, having won their last two fixtures, while the Stars find themselves on a downward spiral, with three back-to-back losses denting their confidence and play-off prospects. 

Here, we present our preview and predictions for Match 30 of BBL|15. 

BBL|15 Match 30: Renegades vs Stars | 13:45 IST, January 10, 2026

Two close games and two positive results have put the Renegades right back in contention for a play-off spot with four games in hand. Will Sutherland and Co have recently won two close matches against the Melbourne Stars and the Perth Scorchers, which will give them a lot of confidence heading into the business end of the season. Their bowling attack was brilliant in the last game, though Sutherland would like a better show from his batters. 

While the likes of Josh Brown, Tim Seifert, and Oliver Peake have stepped in and delivered consistent performances throughout the league phase, the same cannot be said about the likes of Mohammad Rizwan and Jake Fraser-McGurk. Although both skipper Sutherland and Hassan Khan have contributed in patches, the team will expect more from their lower order, especially when the engine room isn’t firing on all cylinders. 

In the bowling department, Gurinder Sandhu has been the standout performer with 14 wickets in six games. Sutherland and Jason Behrendorff have been the lead support acts, while the lack of output from the rest of the attack on a consistent basis can be blamed for the Renegades’ early-season wobbles.  

In the opposite camp, Marcus Stoinis is a worried man; the Stars have lost steam with three consecutive losses. The bowlers let the team down twice in three games, while it was the batting unit that didn’t fire in the last game against the Sydney Sixers, resulting in a six-wicket defeat. Thus, the latest chapter of the Melbourne derby is a must-win contest for the Stars, with the rest of the pack closing in on them.

In the batting department, Sam Harper has been in sensational form, accumulating 272 runs in six outings at an average of 68 and a strike rate of 157. Captain Stoinis and Campbell Kellaway have been the other key contributors, while Blake Macdonald’s introduction has given the team some much-needed firepower in the lower order. The rest of the batting unit, however, especially the likes of Glenn Maxwell and Hilton Cartwright, are yet to deliver, and whether they manage to start delivering or not will become a deciding factor heading into the last three games of the league phase.

The Stars’ bowling attack, which was getting plenty of praise during the first third of the season, has struggled in the last few games. Heading into the final leg of the league phase, the team will need Peter Siddle and Liam Hatcher to make early inroads into the opposition batting order, Haris Rauf to use the conditions well and trouble the batters during the middle phase with Stoinis, and Glenn Maxwell, Mitchell Swepson, and Campbell Kellaway to ably add variety and control to the bowling attack.

In terms of weather forecast and pitch report, Geelong will have some clouds during the game. As a result, batting can be tough to begin with, especially with the new ball. However, with shorter boundaries, expect the ball to travel once batters get settled. Besides, the side batting second has won five out of the last seven games at this venue, so teams have little hesitation in opting to bowl first.

Looking ahead to this contest, it is an important game for both teams as they look to move up on the points table. The Stars will be under pressure after registering three consecutive losses, while the Renegades will be confident, especially considering they beat the Stars in the reverse fixture recently.

Taking league form and recent match-up into consideration, we expect a tight contest, but the Renegades have a slight edge on paper. 

Fantasy XI: Josh Brown, Sam Harper, Tim Seifert (c), Campbell Kellaway, Oliver Peake, Marcus Stoinis (vc), Hassan Khan, Gurinder Sandhu, Haris Rauf, Jason Behrendorff, Peter Siddle 

Venue: Docklands Stadium, Melbourne
Winners Prediction: Melbourne Renegades