Cricket Victoria is planning to merge the Melbourne Stars and the Melbourne Renegades into a single Big Bash League (BBL) franchise. Multiple outlets report that the governing body intends to retire the separate Stars and Renegades brand identities and consolidate the clubs under one team name associated with the state banner—described as a unified “Melbourne” team. The proposal is presented as part of a broader BBL shake-up, with Cricket Victoria seeking to reduce the number of teams in Melbourne by combining the current franchises. Under the plan, the Stars and Renegades would effectively cease as distinct entities for BBL purposes, replaced by one merged side representing Melbourne. The reports do not indicate a specific season for the change, but they describe a clear intent to restructure the franchise setup controlled by Cricket Victoria. The merger would reshape the domestic branding and match identity of both clubs, consolidating player pathways and fan followings into a single Melbourne team in the competition.