The Big Bash League (BBL) 2025/26 season starts on December 14 with the Perth Scorchers facing the Sydney Sixers at the Optus Stadium in Perth. But the eyes will also be on Brisbane Heat, who didn’t enjoy a great campaign last year, finishing at the penultimate position. They collected only three wins in 10 clashes at a net run rate of -0.831.
In the upcoming season, they will come with some fresh and exciting players. Their signing of Pakistan quick, Shaheen Shah Afridi, will be the centre of attention with left-arm speed-star, Spencer Johnson, getting ruled out of the event with a back injury. In part of their opening game’s match prediction, they are likely to beat the Melbourne Renegades in Geelong.
A look at the top five players to watch out for from Brisbane Heat in upcoming BBL 2025-26
1. Shaheen Shah Afridi
The Pakistan pacer, Shaheen Afridi, will turn up in the BBL for the very first time. He already has the experienced of 239 T20s where he has picked up 334 wickets at an average of 20.75 and a strike rate of 15.8 besides the economy rate of 7.78, thanks to the best bowling figures of 6/19.
For Brisbane Heat, Afridi will be a vital member with the new ball in the powerplay over, especially when they play at the Gabba, using the pace and bounce of the surface to trouble the bowlers.
2. Colin Munro
Just like every season, the attention will remain on Colin Munro to provide them a fiery start at the top inside the first six overs of the innings. The left-handed opening batter is full of the experience in the shortest format, having smashed 11639 runs in 435 innings at a strike rate of 141.26 with six centuries and 70 fifties.
Meanwhile, Munro had a struggling last season with 46 runs in six innings at an average of 7.66. However, the franchise sill showed faith on the veteran, who will be eager to turn the table this time around.
3. Xavier Bartlett
The new inclusion of the national side, Xavier Bartlett, has showed his fabulous skill of batting lower down the order and bowling with tremendous pace and use the hard lengths to raise questions among the batters. In 86 T20 innings, the right-arm pacer has collected 108 wickets at an average of 22.45 and a strike rate of 15.9.
Last year, Bartlett was in decent form, collecting 12 wickets in nine innings at an average of under 28 and an economy rate of 9.46, thanks to the best figures of 4/10. This time, he has earned more maturity and can make a massive impact for the Brisbane Heat.
4. Matthew Renshaw
In the ongoing season, Matt Renshaw has found his groove in various formats of the game. Whether in the shortest format or the longest format, the left-handed opening batter has been in fabulous form with the bat. In the absence of Usman Khawaja and Marnus Labuschagne at the top, Renshaw will be a vital member in the team.
In 79 innings of the T20s, Renshaw has overall collected 1800 runs at an average of 26 and a strike rate of 132.84 with the help of eight half-centuries at the best score of unbeaten 90 runs. Last year, he was in good touch with 280 runs coming off his blade in nine innings at a strike rate of 169.69.
5. Jack Wildermuth
The Queensland all-rounder, Jack Wildermuth, could be the glue of the Brisbane Heat in BBL 2025/26. In 33 innings, he has clubbed 308 runs at a strike rate of 118 in the T20s, while with the ball, he has picked up 42 wickets in 56 innings at an average of around 35 and an economy rate of over eight.
Last season, Wildermuth couldn’t do well, thanks to his 56 runs in three innings at an average of 18.66 and a strike rate of 114.28. However, this season could be a new shinning light for the all-rounder, who can hold the batting order of the Heat if they continue to lose wickets in the powerplay.
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