Italy's finest: World Cup standout Manenti signs with 'Gades

Ben Manenti, Italy's best at their maiden T20 World Cup appearance earlier this year, has landed a new Big Bash deal with Melbourne Renegades.

Also fresh off scoring his maiden first-class century earlier on Friday to put South Australia in a dominant position in their opening round Sheffield Shield clash with Victoria, the Renegades announced they have secured the hard-hitting allrounder for the next two seasons.

The 'Gades will be Manenti's third BBL club after previous stints with Sydney Sixers and Adelaide Strikers over the past nine years.

While Manenti only played a bit-part role at both the Sixers and Strikers, predominantly as spin cover for the likes of Steve O'Keefe, Cameron Boyce, Lloyd Pope and more recently Joel Davies, the 29-year-old has taken his T20 game to another level in 2026.

It's come on the back of a sensational World Cup campaign in February where he was Italy's top scorer with 138 runs in three innings, as well as their second-highest wicket-taker with five scalps in their four matches.

The highlight was a rollicking 60 off 25 balls at Kolkata's Eden Gardens that featured six sixes and four fours and briefly raised hopes of an upset win over England before the Azzurri fell 24 runs short.

The right-hander also hit a 29-ball half-century against Scotland earlier in the tournament, while his best return with the ball was 2-9 against Nepal in Italy's historic first win at a cricket World Cup.

Manenti has since turned out for Rotterdam Dockers in the inaugural edition of the European T20 Premier League and has started the Australian domestic summer in fine touch for South Australia with runs and wickets in both the one- and four-day formats.

Against Victoria on Friday, the stand-in SA skipper brought up his century in 112 balls before finishing on 128 to push his side's first innings total past 500.

"It's very exciting to get a new opportunity," Manenti said after stumps on day three. "I've had a few years with the Sixers, so to be able to come across and work with (head coach Luke) Ronchi and the Renegades boys, I'm looking forward to it.

"Obviously, first game in Chennai … I had the World Cup there with Italy earlier in the year, so it'll be good to get back there."

The new Renegades coach believes Manenti's versatility and recent form makes him a natural fit for the squad.

"He's coming off an outstanding period of cricket and he's a highly competitive player who offers genuine flexibility with both bat and ball, and just as importantly he's the type of character we want in our environment," Ronchi said.

With Adam Zampa's off-season move to the Hobart Hurricanes, Manenti will have a chance to push for the No.1 spin role at the Renegades with his off breaks.

The club has also re-signed young left-armer Callum Stow, who debuted in BBL|14, and Victorian leg-spinner Michael Archer, who followed his Big Bash debut in their final match of last season with strong performances in the Top End T20 tournament in August.

New Zealand international Michael Bracewell offers more spin support for the Renegades in KFC BBL|16 while also strengthening their batting alongside high-profile overseas recruit Jonny Bairstow.

Ronchi's Renegades will kick off their BBL|16 campaign against reigning champions Perth Scorchers in the league's historic Chennai match on December 12.