Melbourne: The Women’s Big Bash League returns on Thursday, October 29, with WBBL|12 running for 38 days until the final on December 5. Eight teams will play 43 matches in all, each side playing 10 league games before the top four advance to the finals — the Knockout on December 1, the Challenger on December 3 and the Final on December 5, hosted by the team that finishes top of the table.
The season opens with a double-header at Junction Oval in Melbourne. Melbourne Renegades face Sydney Thunder in the first match at 10:10 AM IST, before Melbourne Stars take on defending champions Hobart Hurricanes at 1:40 PM IST in the second game of the day.
Hobart begin as champions, and as the story of last season. They won their first-ever WBBL title in WBBL|11, beating Perth Scorchers by eight wickets in the final at Bellerive Oval after topping the league table to earn the right to host the decider. They start their defence with Sri Lanka’s Chamari Athapaththu arriving from Sydney Thunder as their headline new signing.
The team list has been reshaped across the board. With the overseas draft scrapped, clubs have signed international stars directly, and the moves tell the story of the off-season. England spinner Charlie Dean replaces Marizanne Kapp at the Stars, where Meg Lanning leads a side built around Annabel Sutherland and Amy Jones. Alice Capsey has moved to the Sydney Sixers, who begin a new era after the retirement of Alyssa Healy — the Sixers icon announced her retirement from all cricket in January 2026 and finished her career in March, leaving a gap no single player can fill. At Adelaide Strikers, captain Tahlia McGrath will have South Africa’s Laura Wolvaardt and England spinner Sophie Ecclestone in her squad, while Hayley Matthews returns to the Melbourne Renegades.
One innovation to watch is the designated batter, listed among WBBL|12’s new features in season guides: a team may nominate a batter who can bat but does not have to field or bowl, a specialist power-hitter or a batter carrying a minor injury, with a designated fielder taking their place in the field. It is a different idea from the IPL’s Impact Player — the designated batter comes from within the XI rather than adding a 12th player — and how aggressively captains use it could become one of the season’s tactical talking points.
For fans in India, one note of caution: pre-season guides had not confirmed broadcast or streaming details for India at the time of writing, so check local listings closer to the first ball. What is certain is the shape of the season — a compact sprint from October 29 to December 5, with the Hurricanes defending, the Stars and Sixers rebuilding, and the Strikers loading up for another title run.
Teams: Adelaide Strikers, Brisbane Heat, Hobart Hurricanes, Melbourne Renegades, Melbourne Stars, Perth Scorchers, Sydney Sixers, Sydney Thunder.
Opening fixtures, October 29, Junction Oval: Melbourne Renegades vs Sydney Thunder (10:10 AM IST); Melbourne Stars vs Hobart Hurricanes (1:40 PM IST).
