Dubai: The fourth ILT20 season begins on Tuesday, 2 December 2025, when reigning champions Dubai Capitals meet Desert Vipers at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium – a repeat of last season’s final. The tournament will run for 34 days, culminating in the final on Sunday, 4 January 2026, also in Dubai.
Four double-header days are pencilled in, meaning two matches on the same day, and the round-robin section wraps up on 28 December. Qualifier 1 follows on 30 December, the Eliminator on New Year’s Day, and Qualifier 2 on 2 January, leaving teams a solitary rest day before the decider.
Sharjah Warriorz and Abu Dhabi Knight Riders get underway on 3 December, while Gulf Giants play MI Emirates the next evening. As in previous years, fixtures are spread across Dubai, Sharjah and Abu Dhabi.
“We’ve tried to balance player welfare with a schedule that keeps momentum,” league chief David White said in a media release. “The two-day turnaround in the play-offs is tight, but teams have planned for it.”
Capitals captain Rovman Powell noted, “A quick start is vital; we learnt that last season.” Vipers coach James Foster added, “You can’t win the trophy in week one, but you can fall behind, so clarity of role matters.”
Dubai have reached the past two finals, edging the Vipers by four wickets last term. Before that, MI Emirates lifted the 2024 title and Gulf Giants claimed the inaugural crown in 2023. The six-team field remains unchanged: Gulf Giants, Desert Vipers, Dubai Capitals, Abu Dhabi Knight Riders, MI Emirates and Sharjah Warriorz.
While the calendar is familiar, squads will look different once the player draft concludes in October. As analyst Lisa Sthalekar put it, “Fresh combinations mean the early matches often shape the whole campaign.”
Ticket details and exact start times are expected later this month.
