The UAE's franchise T20 league is back, and earlier than ever. The fifth season of the International League T20 starts on 21 November 2026 and finishes with the final in Dubai on 20 December, a month of prime-time cricket that slots neatly into Indian evenings.
For Indian fans, ILT20 is more familiar than it looks. Five of its six franchises are owned by Indian business groups that also run IPL teams, and the squads are packed with overseas stars who are household names from the IPL. Here are the teams, the owners, the big signings and the road to the Dubai final.
ILT20 Season 5 at a Glance
| Detail | Information |
| Dates | 21 November – 20 December 2026 |
| Teams | 6 |
| Matches | 34 (30 league games and 4 playoffs) |
| Format | Double round-robin, then playoffs |
| Venues | Dubai, Sharjah and Abu Dhabi |
| Opening match | Desert Vipers vs MI Emirates, 21 November, 8:00 PM IST, Dubai |
| Final | 20 December 2026, Dubai International Cricket Stadium |
| Defending champions | Desert Vipers |
The league has moved forward from its original January–February window to avoid clashing with other global T20 competitions, which means it now runs alongside India's domestic season. It also has a natural crypto-friendly audience across the Gulf and South Asia, and for fans who like to follow franchise cricket with digital currencies, the bc game crypto sportsbook already covers T20 leagues from the IPL to the Big Bash, with ILT20 markets expected once the season gets under way.
The Five Indian-Owned Franchises
| Team | Owner | Captain | Head coach |
| Abu Dhabi Knight Riders | Knight Riders Group (Shah Rukh Khan, Juhi Chawla, Jay Mehta) | Jason Holder | Dwayne Bravo |
| Dubai Capitals | GMR Group | Faf du Plessis | Hemang Badani |
| Gulf Giants | Adani Group | Jos Buttler | Simon Helmot |
| MI Emirates | Reliance Industries | Nicholas Pooran | Mark Boucher |
| Sharjah Warriorz | Capri Global | James Vince | Adrian Birrell |
Abu Dhabi Knight Riders
The sister franchise of Kolkata Knight Riders is led by Jason Holder and coached by Dwayne Bravo. Sunil Narine brings his trademark mystery spin and pinch-hitting, while Kane Williamson, Moeen Ali, Finn Allen, Colin Munro and Andre Fletcher give the batting real depth.
Dubai Capitals
GMR's side, champions in 2025, is captained by Faf du Plessis with Hemang Badani as head coach. Phil Salt and Marcus Stoinis add power at the top and in the middle, Rovman Powell and Dasun Shanaka finish innings, and Mustafizur Rahman and Noor Ahmad lead the bowling.
Gulf Giants
The inaugural champions have arguably the most explosive batting line-up in the league under Jos Buttler: David Miller, Heinrich Klaasen, Liam Livingstone and Rahmanullah Gurbaz. The pace attack features Alzarri Joseph and Shamar Joseph, with Tabraiz Shamsi and Azmatullah Omarzai adding variety.
MI Emirates
Reliance's UAE franchise reached last season's final and remains the benchmark for consistency. Nicholas Pooran captains a squad with Jonny Bairstow, Rashid Khan, Romario Shepherd, Sherfane Rutherford, Kusal Perera, Chris Jordan and Fazalhaq Farooqi, with Mark Boucher as head coach.
Sharjah Warriorz
Capri Global's team is built around English experience: James Vince leads, with Tom Banton, Adil Rashid and Craig Overton, plus all-round options in Sikandar Raza and Mohammad Nabi and the pace of Adam Milne.
The Defending Champions: Desert Vipers
The only franchise without Indian ownership is also the team to beat. Desert Vipers, owned by Lancer Capital, won their first title last season by beating MI Emirates by 46 runs in the final, after losing in the first and third finals. Babar Azam is captain this year, with James Foster as head coach, and the squad includes Shimron Hetmyer, Fakhar Zaman, Shadab Khan, Naseem Shah, Mujeeb Ur Rahman and Joe Clarke.
Star Overseas Signings to Watch
| Player | Team | Why he matters |
| Jos Buttler | Gulf Giants | Captain and one of the most destructive openers in T20 cricket |
| Nicholas Pooran | MI Emirates | Captain and a match-winning finisher against spin and pace |
| Faf du Plessis | Dubai Capitals | Captain who led the Capitals with experience at the top of the order |
| Babar Azam | Desert Vipers | Captain of the defending champions |
| Rashid Khan | MI Emirates | Elite leg-spinner and lower-order hitter |
| Sunil Narine | Abu Dhabi Knight Riders | Mystery spin plus pinch-hitting at the top |
| Heinrich Klaasen | Gulf Giants | Among the best middle-order hitters of spin in the world |
| Phil Salt | Dubai Capitals | Powerplay specialist with a fast scoring rate |
| Sikandar Raza | Sharjah Warriorz | All-rounder who has won big games in this league before |
| Naseem Shah | Desert Vipers | Express pace with the new ball |
Road to the Dubai Final: Playoff Schedule
Every team plays the other five twice during the league stage, which runs from 21 November to 14 December. The top four then move into a two-chance playoff system.
| Stage | Date | Venue | Who plays |
| Qualifier 1 | 16 December 2026 | Abu Dhabi | 1st vs 2nd: winner goes straight to the final |
| Eliminator | 17 December 2026 | Dubai | 3rd vs 4th: loser is knocked out |
| Qualifier 2 | 18 December 2026 | Sharjah | Loser of Qualifier 1 vs winner of the Eliminator |
| Final | 20 December 2026 | Dubai | Winner of Qualifier 1 vs winner of Qualifier 2 |
A top-two finish is worth a lot: it gives a team two chances to reach the final, which is why the last week of the league stage is usually the most tense.
ILT20 Winners So Far
| Season | Champion | Runner-up | Final result |
| 2023 | Gulf Giants | Desert Vipers | Gulf Giants won by 7 wickets |
| 2024 | MI Emirates | Dubai Capitals | MI Emirates won by 45 runs |
| 2025 | Dubai Capitals | Desert Vipers | Dubai Capitals won by 4 wickets |
| 2025-26 | Desert Vipers | MI Emirates | Desert Vipers won by 46 runs |
Four seasons, four different champions. Abu Dhabi Knight Riders and Sharjah Warriorz are still waiting for their first title, which gives this season an open feel.
Why Indian Fans Should Follow ILT20 Season 5
- Familiar owners and brands: the Knight Riders, Mumbai Indians family, GMR, Adani and Capri Global all have franchises in the league.
- IPL stars in action: many of the overseas players will be back in the IPL in 2027, and ILT20 form often shapes how teams use them.
- Prime-time slot: evening matches start around 8:00 PM IST, after the day's domestic cricket in India has finished.
- Perfect timing with the IPL auction: the playoffs begin on 16 December, the same day as the IPL 2027 mini-auction.
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Franchise T20 league winner markets on BC Game: The Hundred, the Big Bash League and the ICC ODI World Cup 2027.
Frequently Asked Questions
When does ILT20 Season 5 start?
On 21 November 2026, with Desert Vipers against MI Emirates in Dubai at 8:00 PM IST.
When is the ILT20 2026 final?
On 20 December 2026 at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium.
Which ILT20 teams are owned by Indian companies?
Abu Dhabi Knight Riders (Knight Riders Group), Dubai Capitals (GMR Group), Gulf Giants (Adani Group), MI Emirates (Reliance Industries) and Sharjah Warriorz (Capri Global).
Who are the defending ILT20 champions?
Desert Vipers, who beat MI Emirates by 46 runs in last season's final.
How many matches are there in ILT20 Season 5?
34: 30 league matches and four playoff games.
Who has won ILT20 the most times?
No team has won it twice. Gulf Giants, MI Emirates, Dubai Capitals and Desert Vipers have one title each.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
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