Marcus Stoinis brought raw intensity to the Big Bash League on Thursday as the Australian all-rounder delivered a fiery send-off to Pakistan star Babar Azam during the clash between Melbourne Stars and Sydney Sixers. The moment, caught on camera and widely shared across social media, quickly became one of the most talked-about incidents of the BBL season.
Stoinis had a point to prove after being dismissed for 33 in the first innings, gifting a straightforward catch to Babar at cover. When the Stars turned to the ball, Stoinis responded in emphatic fashion. Bowling a full delivery that straightened just enough, he trapped Babar Azam LBW for 14, with the Sixers batter missing his flick completely.
The umpire’s finger went up instantly, and Babar chose not to review the decision. What followed grabbed even more attention. Stoinis celebrated the wicket with visible aggression, delivering a verbal send-off that summed up the competitive edge of the contest.
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“See you later, Babar, see you later, brother,” he was heard saying as the former Pakistan captain walked back after a brief exchange with Josh Philippe at the non-striker’s end.
Marcus Stoinis removes Babar Azam, and doesn’t he love that 👀 #BBL15 pic.twitter.com/eyAAOhIRsH
— KFC Big Bash League (@BBL) January 8, 2026
Earlier in the match, the Sydney Sixers had dominated proceedings by bowling the Melbourne Stars out for a modest 128. Ben Dwarshuis led the charge with a four-wicket haul, while Stoinis and Blake Macdonald were the top scorers for the Stars with 33 runs each.
The chase wasn’t entirely straightforward for the Sixers, who slipped to 89/4 in the 13th over. However, Jordan Silk and Lachlan Shaw steadied the innings with a crucial 40-run partnership for the fifth wicket, guiding their side home comfortably.
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For Babar Azam, the BBL campaign has been inconsistent. After low scores of 2 and 9 in his opening games, he bounced back with a fluent 58 against the Sydney Thunder. However, another single-digit score followed before an unbeaten 58 raised questions over his strike rate and intent in the shortest format.
