BBL 2025/26 | Match 40: Brisbane Heat vs Sydney Sixers | Preview and Predictions

Brisbane Heat will take on Sydney Sixers in Match 40 of the ongoing 2025/26 Big Bash League at The Gabba on 18th January 2026. 

It’s technically a knockout game where the winner progresses into the playoff rounds and the loser packs their bags and heads home. A win here will help Brisbane Heat reach the knockout match while a win for the Sydney Sixers will push up to second place on net run rate and help them secure a two bites at the cherry. With so much at stake for both sides, this should be a competitive and gripping affair.

Here, we present our preview and predictions for Match 40 between the Heat and the Sixers.  

BBL|15 Match 40: Heat vs Sixers | 13:45 IST, January 18, 2026

After enduring a rather inconsistent run for much of the campaign, Brisbane Heat gained some much needed momentum in recent weeks, winning three out of their last four fixtures. A dramatic three-run win against the Hobart Hurricanes in Match 35 has kept their hopes alive, but victory is needed in their final fixture against the Sixers to claim the last remaining knockout spot on offer. 

In the batting department, Matt Renshaw has been the leading runscorer with 324 runs in nine innings while striking at 157. There has been solid support from the likes of Jack Wildermuth and Max Bryant while the return of Usman Khawaja and Nathan McSweeney (who missed a few games due to injury) has given their batting unit more stability and balance in this business end of the season. 

In the bowling department, Xavier Bartlett leads the wicket-takers column with 13 scalps. Both Wildermuth and Matthew Khunemann have bowled consistently for the Heat, sharing 18 wickets between them while the likes of Tom Balkin and Matt Renshaw have done a commendable job as the supporting cast. 

As for their opponents, Sydney Sixers, they’ve done a more than commendable job in bringing themselves back to such a situation. After the first leg of fixtures, the Sixers were almost dead and buried, sitting near the foot of the table beside city rivals Sydney Thunder. However, a run of fixtures where they registered four wins in five games has enabled them to now potentially snatch a top-two finish at the very end. 

Although their change in fortune coincided with some of their experienced bowlers returning from international duty, getting both Steven Smith and Sam Curran back for the last stretch of the competition gave them a massive boost both in terms of confidence and in raising the ceiling of the squad. 

For a batting unit that has struggled for most parts this season, the return of Steven Smith has allowed the likes of Babar Azam and co to settle down and calmly build their innings alongside the Australian legend. That said, they still need the likes of Josh Philippe and the rest of the middle order to contribute with meaningful runs which hasn’t been the case this season. 

In the bowling department, though, things are looking a lot better. While Jack Edwards still leads the tally with 14 wickets, the rest of the bowling attack has stepped up in recent weeks. Joel Davis and Sean Abbott have been the pick of the bowlers in this period, however, the addition of Sam Curran and Mitchell Starc adds a different dimension to this Sixers pace attack. 

In terms of weather forecast and pitch report, expect conditions to remain mostly cloudy and humid in Brisbane, with chances of a shower or two. Coming to the 22-yard strip, this BBL season, teams batting first have posted scores well above 175 in the four games, with 257-6 being the highest and 179-9 being the lowest. Thus, indicating that the surface here favours high-scoring games.  

Looking ahead to this fixture, there is no margin for error, not anymore, as the loser heads home while the winner progresses into the next stage. The stakes alone suggest this should be a close contest. Brisbane Heat have the advantage of playing at home and the confidence of that thrilling win against the Hurricanes. The Sixers, though, have hit their stride at the right time, winning five of their last six completed matches. Thus, looking at both lineups and recent form, we think the Sixers hold a slight advantage despite playing away from home.  

Fantasy XI: Jack Wildermuth, Steven Smith (c), Nathan McSweeney, Josh Philippe, Matt Renshaw (vc), Sam Curran, Jack Edwards, Micheal Neser, Sesh Abbott, Xavier Bartlett, Mitchell Starc 

Venue: The Gabba, Brisbane 

Winners Prediction: Sydney Sixers