The Big Bash League is set for one of its most dramatic shake-ups in history as the Melbourne Stars and Melbourne Renegades are confirmed to merge into a single franchise ahead of the upcoming season, ending the existence of two of the league’s founding clubs.
Cricket Victoria’s board has confirmed it will sell the franchise licence of its second BBL side to a private investor. If no buyer is found, the Renegades will operate under caretaker administration for next season, as the proposed W/BBL privatisation model is scheduled to come into effect in 2027-28.
Players were informed of the decision through individual phone calls. The ‘Stars’ name will be discontinued and the team’s iconic colours will be dropped; however, the club’s home ground will remain the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground. The merged team is expected to don Victoria’s traditional navy blue colours, with Cricket Victoria set to decide on a new nickname.
Renegades General Manager James Rosengarten will head the new combined outfit. Notably, Cricket Victoria is reportedly looking to sell its second Melbourne franchise to an IPL owner, with the Sun Group and Reliance Industries both said to have expressed interest in a potential buyout.
The merger comes amid broader speculation about the BBL’s future, with reports of new teams from Canberra, Geelong, the Gold Coast, or even New Zealand being considered, alongside full privatisation of the competition.
The BBL, now in its 16th year, has long been regarded as one of the world’s premier T20 leagues.
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