ILT20 Playoffs: Desert Vipers dominate league stage, chase elusive title

NEW DELHI: Abu Dhabi Knight Riders (ADKR) came through in a do-or-die game to become the fourth team to book their place in the ILT20 playoffs. They will join Dubai Capitals (DC), Desert Vipers (DC) and MI Emirates (MIE) in making a final push to lift the trophy.

In the first Qualifier, Desert Vipers will take on MI Emirates and the Eliminator will pit ADKR against the defending champions Capitals. As the rules go, the losing team from Qualifier 1 will then go up against the winning team of the Eliminator for a place in the final.



History

Of the four teams that have qualified for the playoffs, the DC and MIE have lifted the ILT20 trophy before, in 2025 and 2024, respectively.

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The Vipers, however, have reached the final on two occasions, in 2023 and 2025, but never gone all the way. ADKR are into the ILT20 playoffs for the second time, having been to the knockouts in 2024.

Form guide

Desert Vipers had a blazing start to the season with six wins on the trot including close victories against ADKR (by 2 wickets with 3 balls remaining), Gulf Giants (in a Super Over), MI Emirates (by 1 run) and Dubai Capitals (by 5 wickets with 2 balls remaining). Eventually they finished with 8 wins out of 10 league matches to top the table.

MI Emirates finished second in the points table despite a mixed start to the campaign. They lost three in the first five matches before staging a remarkable turnaround to clinch five consecutive wins - all by comfortable margin.

Both Dubai Capitals and ADKR had patchy pushes to the playoffs during the league stage. DC, who are now led by Mohammad Nabi, strung three wins in a row only after a formation of two losses, two wins and two losses. They closed out the league stage with yet another defeat.

ADKR, who had four wins and six losses in the group stage, had a poor campaign but not worse than Gulf Giants and Sharjah Warriorz who had three wins and seven defeats. Jason Holder-led ADKR were bottom of the standings halfway through the league stage with four defeats in five matches.

Consecutive wins, against DV and GG, steered them up the standings. One final push, also against the Gulf Giants, on Sunday, helped them into the playoffs.

Standout performers

Sam Curran has had the most impact this ILT20 season with 285 runs and 7 wickets for Desert Vipers. (Image: Creimas)

Sam Curran had made a rollicking start with the bat for Desert Vipers. The England international has had the most impact so far this season with 285 runs at an average of 35.62, a strike rate of 123.91 with standout innings of an unbeaten 67 and 52, against Giants and DC, respectively. He has been less effective with the ball, picking 7 wickets, but has been an all-round asset for the table toppers.

Equally decisive for the franchise has been Max Holden - the leading run-scorer (318 runs) going into the ILT20 playoffs. From the infamy of not being stumped on purpose and being retired out a ball later, against the MI Emirates on December 9, the 28-year-old has turned a leaf.

Since that night of 37-ball 42, Holden has produced a 64-ball 41 vs Gulf Giants; 22-ball 34 vs Dubai Capitals; 43-ball 52 vs ADKR and Player of the Match winning 46-ball 66 against Sharjah Warriorz.

Dubai Capitals have seen multiple strong individual performances so far. Jordan Cox (311 runs), Shayan Jahangir (302 runs), Waqar Salamkheil (17 wickets) and Mustafizur Rahman (15 wickets) have been the star acts.



Green Belt holder (most runs): Max Holder of the Desert Vipers (318 runs)

White Belt holder (most wickets): Waqar Salamkheil of the Dubai Capitals (17 wickets)

Red Belt holder (Most valuable player): Sam Curran of the Desert Vipers (285 runs and 7 wickets)

Blue Belt holder (best UAE player): Muhammad Waseem of the MI Emirates (293 runs)

ILT20 Playoff Squads as of 28th December

Abu Dhabi Knight Riders International Players: Alex Hales, Andre Russell, George Garton, Jason Holder, Khary Pierre, Liam Livingstone, Michael Pepper, Phil Salt, Piyush Chawla, Olly Stone, Sherfane Rutherford, Sunil Narine.
UAE Players: Ajay Kumar, Alishan Sharafu, Ibrar Ahmed, Mayank Chowdary.
Associate Players: Abdul Manan (Saudi Arabia), Adnan Idrees (Kuwait), Brandon McMullen (Scotland), Shadley Van Schalkwyk (USA), Unmukt Chand (USA).

Dubai Capitals International Players: Dasun Shanaka, David Willey, Dushmantha Chameera, Gulbadin Naib, Jimmy Neesham, Jordan Cox, Leus du Plooy, Mohammad Nabi, Navin Bidassey, Rovman Powell, Scott Currie, Sediqullah Atal, Toby Albert, Waqar Salamkheil.
UAE Players: Farhan Khan, Haider Ali, Muhammad Farooq, Muhammad Jawadullah.
Associate Players: Anudeep Chenthamara (Kuwait), Kaleem Sana (Canada), Rushil Ugarkar (USA), Shayan Jahangir (USA), Usman Najeeb (Saudi Arabia).

Desert Vipers International Players: Daniel Lawrence, David Payne, Fakhar Zaman, Faridoon Dawoodzai, Hassan Nawaz, Jason Roy, Max Holden, Naseem Shah, Qais Ahmad, Sam Curran, Usman Tariq, Wanindu Hasaranga, Zafar Gohar.
UAE Players: Khuzaima Tanveer, Matheesha Khan, Sanjay Pahal, Vritiya Aravind.
Associate Players: Andries Gous (USA), Bilal Tahir (Kuwait), Faisal Khan (Saudi Arabia), Tom Bruce (Scotland).

MI Emirates International Players: Allick Athanaze, Allah Ghazanfar, Andre Fletcher, Arab Gul, Chris Woakes, Daniel Mousley, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Kadeem Alleyne, Kieron Pollard, Naveen-ul-Haq, Nicholas Pooran, Romario Shepherd, Shakib Al Hasan, Tom Banton.
UAE Players: Muhammad Rohid, Muhammad Waseem, Usman Khan, Zahoor Khan.
Associate Players: Mohammed Shafeeq (Kuwait), Nosthush Kenjige (USA), Sanjay Krishnamurthi (USA), Sunny Patel (USA), Zain Ul Abidin (Saudi Arabia).


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