Sydney Sixers will host defending champions Hobart Hurricanes in the BBL|15 Challenger at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) on January 23, 2026. This is a knockout match where the winner advances to the BBL|15 Final against Perth Scorchers on Sunday, January 25, while the loser’s season ends.
The Sixers will be without star signing Babar Azam, who has been recalled for Pakistan national duty, while the Hurricanes welcome back captain Nathan Ellis after missing the Knockout match with injury.
This article provides a detailed Dream11 prediction, match details, head-to-head records, and key players for this crucial BBL playoff encounter.
SIX vs HUR BBL Challenger Match Preview
The Sydney Cricket Ground will host this high-stakes Challenger final. The match starts at 7:15 PM AEDT (1:45 PM IST).
| Details | Information |
|---|---|
| Match | Sydney Sixers vs Hobart Hurricanes, The Challenger |
| Date | 23 January 2026 (Friday) |
| Time | 7:15 PM AEDT / 1:45 PM IST |
| Venue | Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG), Sydney |
| Tournament | Big Bash League 2025-26 (BBL |
Playoff Results & Schedule:
- Qualifier (Jan 20): Perth Scorchers beat Sydney Sixers by 48 runs → Scorchers to Final
- Knockout (Jan 21): Hobart Hurricanes beat Melbourne Stars by 3 runs (DLS) → Hurricanes to Challenger
- Challenger (Jan 23): Sydney Sixers vs Hobart Hurricanes at SCG
- Final (Jan 25): Perth Scorchers vs Winner of Challenger at Optus Stadium, Perth
Key Context:
- Sixers lost the Qualifier badly (48 runs) – need to bounce back
- Hurricanes won a rain-affected thriller against the Stars – 3 runs via DLS
- Defending champions Hurricanes seeking back-to-back Final appearances
- The Sixers lost Challenger last season to the Sydney Thunder
- The Sixers also lost the BBL|13 Final to the Brisbane Heat – a poor recent finals record
- The winner plays the Perth Scorchers in the Final
Pitch Report
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Venue | Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) |
| Pitch Type | Balanced – traditionally spin-friendly for Australia |
| Average T20 Score | 155-170 (batting first) |
| Highest T20 Score | 221/5 by Australia (2007) |
| Nature | Good for batting under lights; spinners get assistance as the pitch wears |
| Pace Factor | Some early bounce and movement for pace bowlers |
| Spin Factor | Most spin-friendly pitch in Australia – Bulli soil foundation |
| Boundaries | Square: ~68m, Straight: ~80m |
| Toss Factor | Teams batting first win ~53% of T20s – slight advantage |
The SCG is known as one of Australia’s more spin-friendly grounds due to its unique Bulli soil foundation. It offers good bounce and pace for batters early, but spinners come into play as the pitch wears. High-scoring games are common, especially under lights.
Weather Report
| Condition | Details |
|---|---|
| Temperature | 24-28°C |
| Humidity | Moderate |
| Wind | Light breeze |
| Rain Chance | Low – clear conditions expected |
| Dew Factor | Possible later in the evening |
| Overall | Good conditions for cricket |
Injury Updates
Sydney Sixers: The Sixers suffer a big setback as Babar Azam leaves the tournament after being recalled by the PCB for the upcoming T20I series against Australia. He scored 202 runs in 11 matches at an average of 22.44 with a strike rate of 103.06, drawing criticism from Mark Waugh. Mitch Perry has been named as his replacement.
Hobart Hurricanes: The Hurricanes receive a major boost with captain Nathan Ellis returning after missing the Knockout match due to injury. Ellis has taken 14 wickets this season and was managed carefully with the T20 World Cup approaching. He has been rested for the Pakistan T20I series along with Glenn Maxwell, while Rehan Ahmed is unavailable due to England duty in Sri Lanka.
Dream11 Team For SIX vs HUR
SIX vs HUR Head-to-Head Records (BBL)
| Category | Stats |
|---|---|
| Total BBL Meetings | 24 |
| Sydney Sixers Wins | 13 |
| Hobart Hurricanes Wins | 10 |
| No Results | 1 |
| This Season | No Result (rain abandoned – Jan 11) |
Last Five Meetings
- No result 11-Jan-2026
- Hurricanes won by 12 runs, 21-Jan-2025
- Hurricanes won by 50 runs 01-Jan-2025
- Sixers won by 6 wickets (with 4 balls remaining) 11-Dec-2023
- Sixers won by 24 runs, 23-Jan-2023
Suggested Reads:
Top Picks For The Match
| Player | Reason |
|---|---|
| Steve Smith (SIX) | 100 off 42 balls vs Thunder. 32 runs off one over – BBL 2025-26 210 runs at SR 172.13. |
| Nikhil Chaudhary (HUR) | Leading Hurricanes scorer – 303 runs at avg 33.66, SR 155.38. Consistent. |
| Ben McDermott (HUR) | 282 runs, captained in Ellis’ absence. Experience in big matches. |
| Nathan Ellis (HUR) | RETURNS from injury. 14 wickets. Key for Hurricanes at death. |
| Josh Philippe (SIX) | 253 runs – Sixers’ most consistent. Wicketkeeper adds value. |
| Jack Edwards (SIX) | Leading wicket-taker for Sixers – 17 wickets at an economy rate of 7.89. |
| Beau Webster (HUR) | In form – 50 vs Heat, 47 in Knockout. Big match temperament. |
| Mitchell Starc (SIX) | Returns to BBL after 11 years (since 2014). X-factor with raw pace. |
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