KEY POINTS
- ILT20 season 4 features 34 matches across three UAE venues.
- Six teams battle for supremacy with star-studded rosters.
- The season introduces a live player auction, surprising fans with Andre Fletcher’s $260,000 price tag.
DUBAI: The fourth season of the International League T20 (ILT20) burst into action at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Tuesday, starting the 34-match schedule that will see six teams battle across Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Sharjah from December 2, 2025, to January 4, 2026.
The ILT20 2025-26 will run from December 2, 2025, to January 4, 2026, with six teams competing in 34 matches across five action-packed weeks.
Hosted across three iconic UAE venues, Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi, and Sharjah Cricket Stadium, the league will feature top international players, ensuring fans a thrilling viewing experience.
Also Read: Ali Zafar Dazzles at DP World ILT20 Season 4 Opening Ceremony in Dubai
Complete ILT20 2025-26 match schedule
Dec 2, 2025 – Dubai Capitals vs Desert Vipers (Dubai)
Dec 3, 2025 – Sharjah Warriorz vs Abu Dhabi Knight Riders (Sharjah)
Dec 4, 2025 – Gulf Giants vs MI Emirates (Dubai)
Dec 5, 2025 – Desert Vipers vs Abu Dhabi Knight Riders (Sharjah)
Dec 6, 2025 – Dubai Capitals vs Gulf Giants (Dubai)
Dec 7, 2025 – Sharjah Warriorz vs MI Emirates (Sharjah)
Dec 7, 2025 – Dubai Capitals vs Abu Dhabi Knight Riders (Dubai)
Dec 8, 2025 – Desert Vipers vs Gulf Giants (Dubai)
Dec 9, 2025 – MI Emirates vs Desert Vipers (Abu Dhabi)
Dec 10, 2025 – Gulf Giants vs Sharjah Warriorz (Dubai)
Dec 11, 2025 – MI Emirates vs Abu Dhabi Knight Riders (Abu Dhabi)
Dec 12, 2025 – Gulf Giants vs Desert Vipers (Dubai)
Dec 13, 2025 – Abu Dhabi Knight Riders vs Dubai Capitals (Abu Dhabi)
Dec 14, 2025 – MI Emirates vs Sharjah Warriorz (Abu Dhabi)
Dec 14, 2025 – Desert Vipers vs Dubai Capitals (Dubai)
Dec 15, 2025 – Sharjah Warriorz vs Gulf Giants (Sharjah)
Dec 16, 2025 – Abu Dhabi Knight Riders vs Desert Vipers (Abu Dhabi)
Dec 17, 2025 – Dubai Capitals vs MI Emirates (Dubai)
Dec 18, 2025 – Abu Dhabi Knight Riders vs Gulf Giants (Abu Dhabi)
Dec 19, 2025 – Sharjah Warriorz vs Dubai Capitals (Sharjah)
Dec 20, 2025 – Abu Dhabi Knight Riders vs MI Emirates (Abu Dhabi)
Dec 20, 2025 – Desert Vipers vs Sharjah Warriorz (Dubai)
Dec 21, 2025 – Gulf Giants vs Dubai Capitals (Sharjah)
Dec 21, 2025 – Desert Vipers vs MI Emirates (Dubai)
Dec 22, 2025 – Abu Dhabi Knight Riders vs Sharjah Warriorz (Abu Dhabi)
Dec 23, 2025 – MI Emirates vs Gulf Giants (Abu Dhabi)
Dec 24, 2025 – Dubai Capitals vs Sharjah Warriorz (Dubai)
Dec 26, 2025 – Sharjah Warriorz vs Desert Vipers (Sharjah)
Dec 27, 2025 – MI Emirates vs Dubai Capitals (Abu Dhabi)
Dec 28, 2025 – Gulf Giants vs Abu Dhabi Knight Riders (Dubai)
Dec 30, 2025 – Qualifier 1 (Abu Dhabi)
Jan 1, 2026 – Eliminator (Dubai)
Jan 2, 2026 – Qualifier 2 (Sharjah)
Jan 4, 2026 – Final (Dubai)
What. A. Start. 🔥
Ali Zafar just lit up Season 4… vocals, vibe, pure voltage. ⚡️
A spectacular salute to UAE National Day and a showstopping opening to the league. 🇦🇪🤩#DPWorldILT20 #WhereTheWorldPlays #AllInForCricket pic.twitter.com/TYYq5gWzOY— International League T20 (@ILT20Official) December 2, 2025
Auction results and player signings
The ILT20 2025-26 season marked a historic change by moving to a live player auction. On October 1, 2025, over 300 players from 20 countries entered the auction, where teams vied for the best talent to strengthen their squads.
The auction results saw some big surprises, including Andre Fletcher of MI Emirates, who became the most expensive player at $260,000.
Notable signings included Scott Currie (Dubai Capitals) and Liam Dawson (Gulf Giants), while the unsold Ravichandran Ashwin, despite being a highly sought-after player, left many fans puzzled.
All stations go! 🏁
The 6️⃣ franchises are ready and raring to go, with captains and representatives of each franchise at the iconic Captain’s Photoshoot and press conference. 🎙️
The 🏆 is back in play and we can’t wait to get things started tomorrow! 😍#DPWorldILT20… pic.twitter.com/3WI4sQqxUx
— International League T20 (@ILT20Official) December 1, 2025
ILT20 2025-26 Teams
The ILT20 2025-26 season features six teams with a mix of experienced internationals and rising stars. Here’s a breakdown of the teams:
Dubai Capitals
Key players: Leus du Plooy, Rovman Powell, Tymal Mills
Strength: Solid pace attack, with players like Scott Currie and Tymal Mills adding depth.
Desert Vipers
Key players: Shimron Hetmyer, Fakhar Zaman, Lockie Ferguson
Strength: Explosive batting lineup capable of chasing big totals.
Sharjah Warriorz
Key players: Tim David, Sikandar Raza, Adil Rashid
Strength: Depth in all-rounders and solid spin options with Adil Rashid.
Abu Dhabi Knight Riders
Key players: Alex Hales, Andre Russell, Liam Livingstone
Strength: Powerful batting lineup with big hitters like Andre Russell and Alex Hales.
Gulf Giants
Key players: James Vince (Captain), Moeen Ali, Tabraiz Shamsi
Strength: Well-balanced squad with both strong batting and bowling departments.
MI Emirates
Key players: Jonny Bairstow, Andre Fletcher, Shakib Al Hasan
Strength: Aggressive top-order batting with world-class all-rounders like Shakib Al Hasan.
Broadcast and streaming guide
Fans across the globe can tune in to ILT20 2025-26 through a wide range of broadcast and streaming options:
India: Zee TV, Sony Six, and Zee5 for streaming.
Pakistan: ARY ZAP, A Sports, Geo Super, and TAPMAD.
MENA Region: Abu Dhabi TV, Dubai TV, and ILT20 Official YouTube Channel.
USA and Canada: Willow TV.
Australia: Fox Sports, Tapmad TV.
UK and Europe: Zee TV, BT Sport, and Samsung TV Plus.
Caribbean: SportsMax.
This international coverage will ensure that fans around the world can follow all the action live.
Team analysis & predictions
MI Emirates, with their star-studded roster, including Jonny Bairstow and Andre Fletcher, is expected to be a dominant force. Their aggressive top order, combined with experienced all-rounders, makes them a formidable team.
The Abu Dhabi Knight Riders, featuring explosive batters like Alex Hales and Andre Russell, are primed to challenge for the title with their destructive batting power.
Dubai Capitals are well-rounded, with a solid bowling attack and balanced all-rounders like Tymal Mills and Scott Currie.
Gulf Giants, led by James Vince, have a competitive edge with their mix of strong batting and bowling options.
Meanwhile, Sharjah Warriorz could be the dark horses of the tournament, with players like Tim David and Sikandar Raza adding depth to both batting and bowling.
