The third edition of the International League T20 tournament was kicked off on January 11, featuring the Dubai Capitals facing off against MI Emirates in the inaugural match. The final match of the tournament will occur on February 9, 2025, at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium.

This year’s competition includes six teams: Abu Dhabi Knight Riders, Desert Vipers, Gulf Giants, MI Emirates, Dubai Capitals, and Sharjah Warriors. A total of 34 matches are scheduled, using a double round-robin format where each team will compete against one another twice. Following the league stage, the playoffs will begin on February 5.

The playoffs will consist of Qualifier 1, involving the top two teams from the group stage, followed by an Eliminator between the third and fourth-placed teams. The loser of Qualifier 1 will then play against the winner of the Eliminator in Qualifier 2, with the winner advancing to face the winner of Qualifier 1 in the Final.

Matches for the International League T20 2025 will be hosted at Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi, Dubai International Cricket Stadium in Dubai, and Sharjah Cricket Stadium in Sharjah.

In the previous edition, MI Emirates claimed victory over Dubai Capitals in the final, winning by 45 runs.

As one of the most anticipated tournaments of the year, the International League T20 will showcase top players, including Allah Ghazanfar, Alishan Sharafu, Andre Russell, Fakhar Zaman, Aayan Afzal Khan, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Nicholas Pooran, and Adil Rashid.

Previous Edition’s Stats:

• Winners: MI Emirates
• Runners-up: Dubai Capitals
• Top Run Scorer: James Vince, Gulf Giants (356 Runs)
• Top Wicket Taker: Fazalhaq Farooqi, MI Emirates (17 Wickets)

Impact Players in Each Team:

1. MI Emirates: Romario Shepherd, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Kieron Pollard, Andre Fletcher
2. Sharjah Warriors: Adil Rashid, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Harmeet Singh, Virandeep Singh
3. Gulf Giants: Dominic Drakes, Aayan Afzal Khan, Dipendra Singh Airee, Shimron Hetmyer
4. Dubai Capitals: Gulbadin Naib, Rovman Powell, Najibullah Zadran, Scott Kuggeleijn
5. Desert Vipers: Fakhar Zaman, Mohammad Amir, Sherfane Rutherford, Lockie Ferguson
6. Abu Dhabi Knight Riders: Allah Ghazanfar, Gudakesh Motie, Andries Gous, Charith Asalanka

Teams and Squads:

• Dubai Capitals: Adam Rossington, Brandon McMullen, Garuka Sanketh, Gulbadin Naib, Jeffrey Vandersay, Joe Burns, Joe Weatherley, Najibullah Zadran, Obed McCoy, Scott Kuggeleijn, Sharafuddin Ashraf, Shai Hope, Dasun Shanaka, David Warner, Dushmantha Chameera, Haider Ali, Raja Akif, Rovman Powell, Sam Billings, Sikandar Raza, Zahir Khan, Jake Fraser-McGurk, Oliver Stone
• Gulf Giants: Adam Lyth, Dominic Drakes, Daniel Worrall, Ibrahim Zadran, Mark Adair, Tom Curran, Tymal Mills, Wahidullah Zadran, Aayan Afzal Khan, Blessing Muzarabani, Chris Jordan, Dipendra Singh Airee, Gerhard Erasmus, Jamie Overton, James Vince, Jamie Smith, Jordan Cox, Mohammad Zuhaib Zubair, Rehan Ahmed, Shimron Hetmyer
• Sharjah Warriors: Adam Milne, Adil Rashid, Ashton Agar, Avishka Fernando, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Daniel Sams, Gus Atkinson, Harmeet Singh, Jason Roy, Karim Janat, Keemo Paul, Matthew Wade, Virandeep Singh, Tim Seifert, Dilshan Madushanka, Johnson Charles, Junaid Siddique, Muhammad Jawadullah, Kusal Mendis, Luke Wells, Peter Hatzoglou, Tom Kohler-Cadmore
• MI Emirates: Romario Shepherd, Tom Banton, Fareed Ahmad, Thomas Jack Draca, Ben Charlesworth, Akeal Hosein, Andre Fletcher, Daniel Mousley, Dwayne Bravo, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Jordan Thompson, Kieron Pollard, Kusal Perera, Muhammad Rohid Khan, Muhammad Waseem, Nicholas Pooran, Nosthush Kenjige, Vijayakanth Viyaskanth, Waqar Salamkheil
• Abu Dhabi Knight Riders: Allah Mohammad Ghazanfar, Gudakesh Motie, Hassan Khan, Roston Chase, Terrance Hinds, Aditya Shetty, Ali Khan, Alishan Sharafu, Andre Russell, Andries Ghous, Charith Asalanka, David Willey, Joe Clarke, Laurie Evans, Michael Pepper, Sunil Narine
• Desert Vipers: Dan Lawrence, David Payne, Fakhar Zaman, Lockie Ferguson, Max Holden, Adam Hose, Alex Hales, Ali Naseer, Azam Khan, Bas de Leede (injured), Luke Wood, Michael Jones, Mohammad Amir, Nathan Sowter, Sherfane Rutherford, Tanish Suri, Wanindu Hasaranga

Fixtures Schedule:

• January 11, Saturday
  Match 1: Dubai Capitals vs MI Emirates – Dubai
• January 12, Sunday
  Match 2: Abu Dhabi Knight Riders vs Desert Vipers – Abu Dhabi
  Match 3: Gulf Giants vs Sharjah Warriors – Dubai
• January 13, Monday
  Match 4: MI Emirates vs Dubai Capitals – Abu Dhabi
• January 14, Tuesday
  Match 5: Gulf Giants vs Desert Vipers – Dubai
• January 15, Wednesday
  Match 6: Abu Dhabi Knight Riders vs Sharjah Warriors – Abu Dhabi
• January 16, Thursday
  Match 7: Desert Vipers vs MI Emirates – Dubai
• January 17, Friday
  Match 8: Sharjah Warriors vs Dubai Capitals – Sharjah
• January 18, Saturday
  Match 9: Desert Vipers vs Abu Dhabi Knight Riders – Dubai
  Match 10: Gulf Giants vs Dubai Capitals – Sharjah
• January 19, Sunday
  Match 11: Sharjah Warriors vs MI Emirates – Sharjah
  Match 12: Gulf Giants vs Abu Dhabi Knight Riders – Dubai
• January 20, Monday
  Match 13: Dubai Capitals vs Desert Vipers – Dubai
• January 21, Tuesday
  Match 14: Abu Dhabi Knight Riders vs MI Emirates – Abu Dhabi
• January 22, Wednesday
  Match 15: Desert Vipers vs Sharjah Warriors – Dubai
• January 23, Thursday
  Match 16: Dubai Capitals vs Gulf Giants – Dubai
• January 24, Friday
  Match 17: MI Emirates vs Abu Dhabi Knight Riders – Abu Dhabi
• January 25, Saturday
  Match 18: Sharjah Warriors vs Desert Vipers – Sharjah
  Match 19: MI Emirates vs Gulf Giants – Abu Dhabi
• January 26, Sunday
  Match 20: Abu Dhabi Knight Riders vs Dubai Capitals – Abu Dhabi
  Match 21: Sharjah Warriors vs Gulf Giants – Sharjah
• January 27, Monday
  Match 22: MI Emirates vs Desert Vipers – Abu Dhabi
• January 28, Tuesday
  Match 23: Dubai Capitals vs Sharjah Warriors – Dubai
• January 29, Wednesday
  Match 24: Desert Vipers vs Gulf Giants – Dubai
• January 30, Thursday
  Match 25: Sharjah Warriors vs Abu Dhabi Knight Riders – Sharjah
• January 31, Friday
  Match 26: Gulf Giants vs MI Emirates – Dubai
• February 1, Saturday
  Match 27: Abu Dhabi Knight Riders vs Gulf Giants – Abu Dhabi
• February 2, Sunday
  Match 28: MI Emirates vs Sharjah Warriors – Abu Dhabi
  Match 29: Dubai Capitals vs Abu Dhabi Knight Riders – Dubai
• February 3, Monday
  Match 30: Desert Vipers vs Dubai Capitals – Sharjah
• February 5, Wednesday
  Qualifier 1 (31st Match): 1st Placed Team vs 2nd Placed Team – Dubai
• February 6, Thursday
  Eliminator (32nd Match): 3rd Placed Team vs 4th Placed Team – Abu Dhabi
• February 7, Friday
  Qualifier 2 (33rd Match): Eliminator Winner vs Qualifier 1 Loser – Sharjah
• February 9, Sunday
  Final Match (34th Match): TBA vs TBA – Dubai

Where to Watch ILT20 2025 Live on TV:
Indian cricket fans can catch the live telecast of the ILT20 2025 matches on ZEE Network TV channels.

Where to Watch ILT20 2025 Games Online in India:
The ILT20 2025 matches will be available for live streaming on the Fancode app and website.

Punjab’s last ray of hope in their match against Maharashtra dimmed when Anmolpreet Singh was dismissed by Maharashtra’s standout performer, Arshin Kulkarni. Kulkarni entered the attack in the 32nd over and bowled Anmolpreet, denying him a half-century and bringing Punjab to their seventh wicket down.

Earlier in the match, Rajnish Gurbani, alongside PC Dadha and Mukesh Choudhary, had already struck when Anmol Malhotra was dismissed in the 23rd over. Anmolpreet Singh was the lone established batter left, needing approximately 200 more runs for Punjab to clinch victory.

Mukesh Choudhary wreaked havoc on Punjab’s top order, first removing Abhishek Sharma, then Nehal Wadhera, leaving Punjab in a precarious position at three wickets down. He also bowled Prabhsimran Singh in the fourth over, granting Maharashtra a crucial breakthrough, after which Anmolpreet came to the crease.

Punjab began their innings with a partnership of Prabhsimran Singh and Abhishek Sharma at the top, while Maharashtra’s attack was led by Rajnish Gurbani and Mukesh Choudhary from opposite ends.

Despite their quarter-final elimination from the Vijay Hazare Trophy at the hands of Maharashtra, Punjab pacer Arshdeep Singh had an outstanding campaign. He capped it off with his highest professional score on Saturday. Having played only a few 50-over matches and eight ODIs, Arshdeep bolstered his chances for a spot on India’s Champions Trophy squad, set to begin in February. On Saturday, he impressed with his swing and accuracy, taking the wicket of Maharashtra captain Ruturaj Gaikwad and finishing with two more scalps in his nine-over spell.

Arshdeep concluded the tournament with an impressive tally of 20 wickets in seven innings, making him the first bowler from Punjab to pick up 20 wickets in a single Vijay Hazare Trophy season and placing him at the top of the bowling charts.

Meanwhile, Satyajeet Bachhav (20 not out off 15 balls) and Nikhil Naik (52 not out off 29 balls) contributed significantly by scoring 59 runs in the last five overs, leading Maharashtra to a total of 275 runs in their first innings of the quarter-final against Punjab.

Arshin Kulkarni reached his well-deserved century in the 41st over but lost his wicket shortly after while attempting to accelerate. Arshdeep was responsible for this pivotal dismissal. Nikhil Naik and Satyajeet Bachhav continued to guide Maharashtra to a competitive total.

Maharashtra crossed the 150-run mark in the 32nd over, with both Arshin Kulkarni and Ankit Bawne looking solid as they added crucial runs but needed to increase their scoring rate. Kulkarni reached his half-century at a strike rate below 100, while Ankit Bawne quickly followed suit. The pair combined for over 100 runs for the third wicket, aiming to quicken the pace of their innings.

The match took place at the newly inaugurated Kotambi Stadium in Vadodara, with Punjab and Maharashtra vying for a spot in the semi-finals of the ongoing Vijay Hazare Trophy 2024-25 on January 11. The Abhishek Sharma-led Punjab finished second in Group C with 24 points, while Maharashtra topped their group, also accumulating 24 points over seven games. In quarter-final 4, Karnataka faced Baroda for a chance to secure a semi-final position.

Australia’s left-arm spinner Matthew Kuhnemann has credited his move to Tasmania in the domestic cricket circuit for his recall to the Test team ahead of the upcoming tour of Sri Lanka.

Kuhnemann previously featured in three Tests during the India tour in early 2023, where he even achieved a five-wicket haul. However, he struggled afterwards, finishing the 2023/24 Sheffield Shield season without any appearances, as Queensland opted to field leg-spinner Mitchell Swepson as their primary spinner.

In response, Kuhnemann made the switch to Tasmania before the 2024/25 season. There, he participated in six Sheffield Shield matches and took 18 wickets, with nine of those coming at his new home ground in Hobart—a venue that poses challenges for spinners.

This strong performance led the Australian selectors to include Kuhnemann in the squad for the two-match tour of Sri Lanka, where he will join Nathan Lyon, Todd Murphy, and Corey Rocchiccioli in the spin department.

“I made some sacrifices moving to Tasmania, and I’m very thankful to them for the opportunity. It’s funny how cricket works; if you’d told me a few years ago that I would be in Tasmania and then going on an Australian tour to Sri Lanka, I would have been thrilled,” Kuhnemann told The Sydney Morning Herald on Friday.

He mentioned that he plans to draw on his experiences from playing in India to prepare for the Sri Lanka tour. Kuhnemann expressed confidence that he and fellow left-arm spinner Connolly could coexist in the same playing XI at Galle.

“We bring different styles of bowling—while we’re both left-arm orthodox bowlers, I’ve adapted my approach a bit. There are many technical aspects I learned from my first trip to India, but more than that, it’s about handling the pressure of the crowd and expectations off the field,” he explained.

“The key is to stick to my role and avoid overcompensation. Some conditions will favor us, so I need to be as accurate as possible. I’m really pleased with how the ball’s coming out and my overall game,” he said.