Melbourne Stars and Renegades Set to Merge; Second Franchise to Be Sold

In a seismic shake-up of Australian cricket’s domestic landscape, the Melbourne Stars and Melbourne Renegades will merge into a single entity ahead of the 2026-27 season, with the Renegades’ license set to be sold entirely to a private investor. The move, confirmed by Cricket Victoria’s (CV) board, could see the second Melbourne franchise operate under caretaker administration before a full sale.

The Stars’ name and iconic green colours will cease to exist, replaced by a new nickname and Victoria’s navy blue state colours. The merged team will continue to play at the MCG, though the new name is yet to be determined. James Rosengarten, currently Renegades’ general manager, will run the merged entity, while current Stars’ contracted players will remain with the team for 2026-27.

The second Melbourne franchise, the former Renegades will be sold outright to a private investor. CV is understood to be open to IPL owners, several of whom have already expressed interest. The lure of owning a BBL team that plays at the MCG is considered highly attractive.

Staff and players were informed of the decision on Tuesday, though some players reportedly learned of the merger via media before being personally contacted.

The shake-up follows CV’s long-standing difficulties in servicing two franchises equally under one administration. Renegades’ men’s team currently lacks a permanent home after their agreement with Marvel Stadium expired, forcing them to play home games across Chennai, the MCG, Junction Oval, and Geelong next season.

Cricket Australia (CA) is expected to approve the next phase of a hybrid BBL privatisation model in mid-June, with the sale process potentially completed within two months. However, significant work remains, including renegotiating player pay deals and determining how a competition with mixed ownership models will operate.

                                               

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