The last league stage game of the ongoing Big Bash League (BBL) 2025-26 will determine the final entrant for the playoffs, as Brisbane Heat (HEA) look poised to face the Sydney Sixers (SIX) at the Gabba in Brisbane on Sunday, January 18.
Brisbane Heat have enjoyed a decent run in the BBL this season. But they haven’t been able to unleash their form on a consistent basis. Nonetheless, in the upcoming do-or-die clash, the Usman Khawaja-led unit will be entering by backing their beliefs and get over the line to enter the final four. They are currently placed fourth on the table, but a loss against the Sixers will throw them out of the competition.
For the Sydney Sixers, on the other hand, it wasn’t the best of starts, as they had a bumpy ride during the early phase of the season. However, they made a brilliant comeback. Out of the last five matches, they haven’t lost a single game, which shows the amount of confidence they are carrying into the competition, especially towards the business end, when a place for the playoffs is on the line.
HEA vs SIX: Match Details
| Match | Brisbane Heat vs Sydney Sixers, Match 40, BBL 2025-26 |
| Date and Time (IST) | Sunday, January 18, 1:45 PM |
| Venue | Gabba, Brisbane |
| Broascast and Live-Streaming Details | JioStar Network Channels and JioHotstar (App & Website) |
Gabba, Brisbane: Pitch Report
A total of 70 matches have been played at the Gabba, Brisbane in the Big Bash League’s history, out of which more than half the games have went in favour of the teams batting second. A similar contest is expected for the encounter on Sunday. The pitch assists enough pace and bounce and has decent help for the spinners, too. However, the bowlers may lose their ability to generate help out of the surface in the latter half of the match.
HEA vs SIX: Head-to-Head T20 Record
| Matches Played | 24 |
| Won by HEA | 07 |
| Won by SIX | 15 |
| Tied / No Results | 2 |
| First-ever Fixture | December 16, 2011 |
| Most-recent Fixture | January 05, 2026 |
HEA vs SIX: Predicted Playing XIs
Brisbane Heat
Usman Khawaja (captain), Max Bryant, Nathan McSweeney, Matthew Renshaw, Marnus Labuschagne, Oli Patterson, Jimmy Peirson, Zaman Khan, Michael Neser, Xavier Bartlett, Matt Kuhnemann
Sydney Sixers
Steven Smith, Babar Azam, Josh Philippe (wicketkeeper), Moises Henriques (captain), Sam Curran, Lachlan Shaw, Jack Edwards, Mitchell Starc, Joel Davies, Ben Dwarshuis, Sean Abbott
HEA vs SIX: Probable Best Performers
Probable Best Batter: Steven Smith
Steven Smith wasted no time to switch formats after his brilliance in the Ashes for the Australians. In the previous must-win encounter for the Sixers, the New South Wales batter got to a terrific hundred, while hitting the ball at a blistering strike-rate, which helped the side remain in contention for the last spot in the playoffs. If Smith can produce another such knock on Sunday, it will mean the world to the Sydney Sixers.
Probable Best Bowler: Xavier Bartlett
Xavier Bartlett has been the best bowler of the season for the Brisbane Heat. In nine matches played, the right-arm pacer has accounted for 13 wickets. The only concern for the speedster has been the leakage of runs from his end. However, if he is able to overcome that, the batters will feel the pressure, resulting in breakthroughs for Bartlett.
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