The International League T20 (ILT20) is the UAE’s premier franchise cricket tournament, featuring six competitive teams battling across exciting T20 fixtures. The ILT20 2025 season begins on December 2, 2025, and continues until January 4, 2026, with 34 high-intensity matches scheduled across Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Sharjah.
This edition holds extra significance as teams enter with refreshed squads, new combinations, and strong overseas talent, making the competition more unpredictable and engaging. In this article, we’ll take a closer look at all ILT20 2025 teams, full squad lists, key players to watch, team analysis, and season expectations to help fans stay fully updated.
ILT20 2025 — Participating Teams Overview
The ILT20 2025 season will feature six franchise teams, each backed by strong domestic and international talent. These teams will compete across 34 matches hosted in three major UAE cricket venues, Dubai International Stadium, Abu Dhabi’s Zayed Cricket Stadium, and Sharjah Cricket Stadium. Each team brings a unique squad balance, leadership style, and star player lineup that will define the competition this season.
List of Teams in ILT20 2025
- Dubai Capitals
- Desert Vipers
- Abu Dhabi Knight Riders
- Gulf Giants
- MI Emirates
- Sharjah Warriorz
ILT20 2025 Tournament Format
| Total Teams | 6 |
| Total Matches | 34 |
| Duration | December 2, 2025 – January 4, 2026 |
| Host Country | United Arab Emirates (UAE) |
| Main Venues | Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah |
| Format | League Stage + Knockouts + Final |
ILT20 2025 Squads – Complete Team-wise Breakdown
Get a detailed look at all ILT20 2025 squads, including captains, key players, and the full roster of batters, bowlers, all-rounders, and wicket-keepers for every team. See how each franchise has built its lineup for the season.
1. Dubai Capitals Squad 2025
- Captain: Dasun Shanaka
- Batters: Leus du Plooy, Sediqullah Atal, Usman Najeeb, Toby Albert, Rovman Powell
- All-Rounders: Gulbadin Naib, James Neesham, Dasun Shanaka, Navin Bidaisee, Scott Currie, David Willey, Mohammad Nabi
- Wicket-Keepers: Shayan Jahangir, Jordan Cox
- Bowlers: Farhan Khan, Muhammad Jawadullah, Rushil Ugarkar, Haider Ali, Waqar Salamkheil, Anudeep Chenthamara, Muhammad Farooq, Tymal Mills
2. Desert Vipers Squad 2025
- Captain: Lockie Ferguson
- Batters: Fakhar Zaman, Max Holden, Hasan Nawaz, Shimron Hetmyer, Dan Lawrence, Tawanda Muyeye, Bilal Tahir, Faisal Khan
- All-Rounders: Tom Bruce, Sam Curran, Sanjay Pahal
- Wicket-Keepers: Andries Gous, Vriitya Aravind
- Bowlers: Naseem Shah, Khuzaima Tanveer, Lockie Ferguson, David Payne, Qais Ahmad, Faridoon Dawoodzai, Matiullah Khan, Noor Ahmad
3. Abu Dhabi Knight Riders Squad 2025
- Captain: Jason Holder
- Batters: Alex Hales, Adnan Idrees
- All-Rounders: Alishan Sharafu, Brandon McMullen, Liam Livingstone, Sherfane Rutherford, Andre Russell, Jason Holder, Sunil Narine, Shadley van Schalkwyk
- Wicket-Keepers: Philip Salt, Michael-Kyle Pepper, Unmukt Chand, Abdul Manan Ali
- Bowlers: Olly Stone, Piyush Chawla, George Garton, Khary Pierre, Ajay Kumar
- Others: Ibrar Ahmad, Mayank Choudhary
4. Gulf Giants Squad 2025
- Captain: James Vince
- Batters: James Vince, Asif Khan, Sean Dickson
- All-Rounders: Moeen Ali, Gerhard Erasmus, Kyle Mayers, Aayan Afzal Khan, Liam Dawson, Haider Razzaq, Azmatullah Omarzai
- Wicket-Keepers: Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Lorcan Tucker, Tom Moores, Meet Bhavsar
- Bowlers: Mark Adair, Tabraiz Shamsi, Blessing Muzarabani, Matthew Forde, Chris Wood, Ramon Simmonds, Fred Klaassen, Ishtiaq Ahmad, Muhammad Zuhaib
5. MI Emirates Squad 2025
- Captain: Kieron Pollard
- Batters: Muhammad Waseem, Ackeem Auguste
- All-Rounders: Shakib Al Hasan, Kamindu Mendis, Arab Gul Momand, Kieron Pollard, Romario Shepherd, Jordan Thompson, Chris Woakes, Tajinder Dhillon
- Wicket-Keepers: Jonny Bairstow, Andre Fletcher, Tom Banton, Nicholas Pooran
- Bowlers: AM Ghazanfar, Nosthush Kenjige, Muhammad Rohid Khan, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Naveen-ul-Haq, Mohamed Shafeeq, Zain Ul Abidin, Zahoor Khan
6. Sharjah Warriorz Squad 2025
- Captain: Tim Southee
- Batters: Ethan DSouza, Tim David
- All-Rounders: Tom Abell, Sikandar Raza, Shubham Ranjane, Mohammed Aslam, Dwaine Pretorius, Harmeet Singh
- Wicket-Keepers: Johnson Charles, Tom Kohler-Cadmore, James Rew, Dinesh Karthik
- Bowlers: Tim Southee, Adil Rashid, Junaid Siddique, Saurabh Netravalkar, Jayden Seales, Richard Ngarava, Taskin Ahmed, Nathan Sowter, Abdul Salman Khan, Raees Ahmed Ayan, Wasim Akram
What Changed in ILT20 2025? – New Format, Auction & Team Dynamics
The 2025 edition of ILT20 brought significant changes, making team building more strategic and competitive. With the introduction of the live player auction, franchises had greater flexibility to balance experience and young talent, resulting in refreshed squads and some surprising moves.
- Shift to Live Player Auction: For the first time, ILT20 moved from a draft system to a live auction, giving teams more control in building balanced squads.
- Blending Experience with Youth: Franchises focused on a mix of veteran stars and emerging talent to strengthen batting, bowling, and all-round options.
- Squad Rebuilds & Reinforcements: Many teams restructured their lineups, either rebuilding key departments or reinforcing existing strengths.
- Notable Transfers & Retentions: The auction saw marquee signings, retention of star players, and some surprising moves that changed team dynamics.
- Strategic Focus: Teams prioritized all-rounders, power hitters, and versatile bowlers to adapt to the evolving competition format.
ILT20 2025‑26 Team Analysis, Strengths & Season Predictions
Ahead of ILT20 2025‑26, a few teams stand out as strong contenders based on squad balance and auction strategy. Abu Dhabi Knight Riders (ADKR) and Gulf Giants (GG) have strong batting, all‑rounders, and bowling depth. MI Emirates (MIE) and Dubai Capitals (DC) follow closely with solid all‑rounder squads and key reinforcements.
Team Strengths and Weaknesses Comparison
Best Batting Lineup
- Abu Dhabi Knight Riders have a strong top order and experienced T20 specialists, making their batting lineup one of the strongest in the tournament.
Strongest Bowling Attack and Depth
- Gulf Giants: A balanced pace and spin attack gives them strong bowling depth for all match situations.
- MI Emirates: Their bowling lineup offers variety and depth, helping control big hitters and middle overs.
Tournament Winner Prediction for ILT20 2025‑26
Based on squad balance, strong all-rounders, and leadership, Abu Dhabi Knight Riders and Gulf Giants look like the top contenders for the title. ADKR has a powerful batting lineup and experienced all-rounders who can perform under pressure, giving them a strong chance to win.
Gulf Giants, on the other hand, have a deep and balanced bowling attack and versatile players, making them equally capable of challenging for the trophy. This season, the title race is expected to be very close, with both teams capable of dominating in different match situations.
Final Thoughts on the Competition Level of the ILT20 2025-26 Teams
The ILT20 2025-26 promises an exciting, highly competitive season, with franchises fielding a mix of international stars, emerging talent, and strong all-rounders. Teams like Abu Dhabi Knight Riders and Gulf Giants lead the pack, but other squads such as MI Emirates and Dubai Capitals have reinforced their lineups, making every match unpredictable.
With a balanced combination of batting firepower, versatile bowlers, and dynamic all-rounders across the league, fans can expect intense contests throughout the tournament. The level of competition this season ensures exciting matches from the opening game to the grand finale, keeping cricket enthusiasts engaged.