Abu Dhabi
Zayed Cricket Stadium
174
32
21
Vipers
DV
233/1 (20.0)
MI Emirates chose to BOWL
MI Emirates
MIE
188/7 (20.0)
Vipers won by 45 runs
DV vs MIE Qualifier 1 Preview – ILT20 2025 Analysis, Pitch Report, Key Players & Fantasy Strategy

Published on Dec 28, 2025

DV vs MIE Qualifier 1 Preview – ILT20 2025 Analysis, Pitch Report, Key Players & Fantasy Strategy

The International League T20 (ILT20) 2025 reaches a decisive phase with Qualifier 1, as table-toppers Desert Vipers (DV) take on second-placed MI Emirates (MIE) at the Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi, on December 30, 2025. This is a high-stakes knockout clash, where the winner secures a direct berth in the ILT20 Final, while the loser gets another chance in Qualifier 2.

The Desert Vipers, who finished at the top of the league table, have been the most consistent side across the season, built on disciplined bowling and reliable all-round performances. MI Emirates, ending the league stage in second position, arrive with strong momentum and a formidable winning run. For fantasy players aiming to climb the leaderboard, this Qualifier 1 offers maximum impact potential.

Match Context and Form Guide

MI Emirates enter Qualifier 1 as the most in-form team of the tournament, having won five consecutive matches. Their ability to defend totals and chase targets with composure has made them a serious title contender.

Desert Vipers, despite a few ups and downs during the league stage, finished table toppers thanks to crucial wins at key moments. They are coming off a confidence-boosting victory against the Warriors and will be eager to make full use of home conditions to book a direct final spot.

Weather and Pitch Report

Venue: Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi

Conditions in Abu Dhabi are expected to favor a competitive contest.

  • Temperature: 22°C – 24°C
  • Rain: No rain expected
  • Humidity: Likely to rise later in the evening
  • Dew Factor: Could assist the chasing side

Pitch Behavior

Abu Dhabi has leaned towards bowlers in recent matches.

  • Average Score (Last 5 matches): 147.1
  • Pacer Wickets: 31
  • Spinner Wickets: 24

Pitch Insight: The new ball offers some early movement, but fantasy value peaks during the death overs. Mystery spinners and pace bowlers who use cutters are especially effective due to the large boundaries.

Team Analysis: Desert Vipers (DV)

As league leaders, the Vipers rely heavily on their all-round depth and bowling control.

Key Players from DV

  • Sam Curran: The backbone of the side. Bats in the middle order and bowls crucial overs, making him a premium captaincy option.
  • Max Holden: Found form at the right time with a match-winning 65 in the previous game.
  • Naseem Shah: Raw pace and bounce can trouble MI’s top order.
  • David Payne: A consistent wicket-taker in both powerplay and death overs.

Team Analysis: MI Emirates (MIE)

MI Emirates finished the league stage in second position and bring immense firepower into this Qualifier.

Key Players from MIE

  • Muhammad Waseem: Explosive opener who maximizes powerplay scoring.
  • Nicholas Pooran: One of the most reliable T20 finishers in world cricket.
  • AM Ghazanfar: Breakout star with 14 wickets in the series; a must-have fantasy pick.
  • Romario Shepherd: A genuine all-rounder who delivers in high-pressure overs.

Top Fantasy Picks & Strategy

Wicket Keepers

  • Nicholas Pooran – safest and most reliable option

Batters

  • Muhammad Waseem – powerplay specialist
  • Max Holden – form player for DV
  • Dan Lawrence – budget pick with moderate risk

All Rounders

  • Sam Curran – non-negotiable in Qualifier 1
  • Romario Shepherd – strong death-over impact
  • Kieron Pollard – high-upside pick if MI bats first

Bowlers

  • AM Ghazanfar – in red-hot wicket-taking form
  • Naseem Shah – early breakthrough potential
  • David Payne – death-over specialist

Captaincy Recommendations

  • Safe Picks: Sam Curran, Muhammad Waseem
  • Differential Picks: AM Ghazanfar, Nicholas Pooran

Final Fantasy Tips

With the average score staying below 150, avoid loading your team with only top-order batters. Prioritize all-rounders who bowl full quotas and middle-order batters who can anchor under pressure. Dew generally favors chasing in Abu Dhabi, making the toss a critical factor in Qualifier 1.

Match Outlook: Desert Vipers’ consistency earned them the top spot, but MI Emirates’ winning momentum makes this a finely balanced knockout clash. Expect a tense, tactical contest with the final spot on the line.

Live Streaming & Broadcast Details

Live Streaming: Available on ZEE5

Disclaimer

This analysis is based on recent performances, venue trends, and publicly available data. Team combinations, player availability, and match conditions may change before the start of play. Fantasy sports involve risk—use your own judgment and follow official updates.

International League T20 DV vs MIE players T20 past performance, current series performance, fantasy points and selection percentage.

PlayerBattingBowlingSeries PerformanceFantasy SelectionMatch Performance
Name
T
R
S
M#BatInnNORunsHSAvgSR50+4/6BowlInnWkOvAvgEcoSR4wBestC/St
M
A. Pt
Pts
Run
Wk
DT
P
S%
C
VC
iDt
#
PTS
Bat
Bowl
Field
Usman TariqDVBOWL37RHB9727713.5112.504OB37563.917.896.8715.634/1760000001020.371.611.77411201080
Kieron PollardMIEALL729RHB6471931437510431.66151.23681867RM4223332.425.48.2718.484/154031040400182050460.32.654.4712302510
Shakib Al HasanMIEALL451LHB4145975108921.15124.633910SLA4434983.621.56.7819176/6105541.620833340738.712.483.4913171210
Usman Khan ShinwariMIEBATRHB00000000000130.080.010.01390000
Chris WoakesMIEBOWL167RHB1004910315720.21128.872117RFM1631773.325.248.2418.314/2164333.331000233180.160.010.02480000
Zahoor KhanMIEBOWL83RHB1510156351.7201RMF83973.521.877.3217.924/16148463680950923.090.781.24500-40
Muhammad WaseemMIEBAT114RHB1148368711234.78151.4730520RM951.428.211.1315.202/13891058.7587293070175.229.399.187696100
AM GhazanfarMIEBOWL61RHB22496285.3397.95014OB,LB60743.720.026.7417.824/1281054.354311160871.853.415.7295210380
David PayneDVBOWL188RHB5624225287.03114.79018LFM1842393.421.528.1615.855/2441675.71530012831158.031.783.258630590
Tom BantonMIEBAT205RHB19914503410727.21143.1330732000-1281049.9499193050269.54.496.22212911700
Fazalhaq FarooqiMIEBOWL134RHB29214816666.6605LFM1331683.620.897.3916.985/919861.62493010501150.971.993.161912080
Jason RoyDVBAT414RHB407171056914527.1139.65751545211.539131801/23203219381800616.171.771.411812008
Andre FletcherMIEWK328RHB32035820311828.78123.09491074RMF,LB731.426.338.0319.602/221871373721001614.571.851.36208400
Nosthush KenjigeMIEBOWL29RHB1052494.87503SLA28273.224.557.4219.803/215000000140.070.010.01510000
Sunny PatelMIEALLRHB00LB000000000150.140.020.02280000
Tom BruceDVBAT139RHB1352532929329.92142.5722427OB25151.927.668.6119.203/995512.2612500130.170.020.02330000
Matiullah KhanDVBOWL10RHB22112000RMF752.636.810.1221.802/412237740250120.110.010.01430000
Dan LawrenceDVALL136RHB1271028739324.55139.9419362OB69552.221.657.8616.524/20461053.8538214240567.683.496.051612008
Andries GousDVWK95RHB8911234610130.07137.0317321000-59547.2236108040289.915.865.31122820800
Muhammad RohidMIEBOWL30RHB32424133.3300LMF29352.918.657.7114.503/216221.543010120.090.010.01490000
Fakhar ZamanDVBAT307LHB29712810811528.44135.26581124SLA1541.640.56.6536.501/3135932320171033139.965.114.13311510300
Qais AhmadDVBOWL181RHB89287415012.14125.8196LB1761993.523.357.4518.745/1866456.752273575163.70.110.18420000
Arab GulMIEBOWLRHB00LB000357.523005661015.830.560.85224000
Khuzaima TanveerDVBOWLRHB00RF000980.22722661477972.566.59.8811420380
Vriitya AravindDVWK48RHB43510529727.68112.396128000-31811.879570251.480.080.07290000
Naseem ShahDVBOWL133RHB5822262277.27115.92037RF1321353.729.158.0421.735/202167042088831510.380.40.6110500460
Dan MousleyMIEALL73LHB64711856820.78127.148138OB59572.619.877.2916.324/28441474701100516.460.881.221417508
Faridoon DawoodzaiDVBOWL27RHB117287773.6802LF26333.619.696.9616.903/107000000170.050.010.01440000
Zafar GoharDVBOWL70LHB38143523714.66116.55033SLA68743.423.867.6818.634/1421000000140.060.010.01530000
Kadeem AlleyneMIEBAT25RHB2122064710.84127.95028RM531.528.6611.7214.603/5314000000170.150.020.02380000
Sam CurranDVALL314LHB25852520510225.26137.5131621LMF3002983.228.298.8119.295/101271085.8858285780489.928.910.9559776-316
Sanjay KrishnamurthiMIEALL23RHB1834117927.4135.64254SLA32214.54.831802/1310318.66562100315.720.810.98232-200
Max HoldenDVBAT87LHB8610203012126.71143.1511285OB101120-291057570318050371.718.247.86214000
Hasan NawazDVBAT58RHB555134810526.961479180RM301140-331032.4324124020718.731.011.131712008
Sanjay PahalDVBOWLRHB00RM0001202040086.820.240.351517058
Romario ShepherdMIEALL222RHB1636324437324.43156.86337RFM2012062.926.219.1817.124/13481045.945977650671.564.798.5568075-30
Completed matches of MI Emirates
Teams
Date
Venue
Bat First
Bat Second
Inning 1
Inning 2
Winner
04 Dec - 08:00 PMDubaiMI EmiratesMIEGulf GiantsGG163/6 (20.0)164/4 (14.4) Giants won by 6 wickets (with 32 balls remaining)
07 Dec - 03:30 PMSharjahMI EmiratesMIESharjah WarriorsSW185/8 (20.0)181/7 (20.0) MI Emirates won by 4 runs
09 Dec - 08:00 PMAbu DhabiDesert VipersDVMI EmiratesMIE159/4 (20.0)158/9 (20.0) Vipers won by 1 run
11 Dec - 08:00 PMAbu DhabiAbu Dhabi Knight RidersADKRMI EmiratesMIE122/10 (19.3)123/3 (13.5) MI Emirates won by 7 wickets (with 37 balls remaining)
14 Dec - 03:30 PMAbu DhabiSharjah WarriorsSWMI EmiratesMIE174/3 (20.0)168/5 (20.0) Warriorz won by 6 runs
17 Dec - 08:00 PMDubaiMI EmiratesMIEDubai CapitalsDC137/8 (20.0)130/10 (20.0) MI Emirates won by 7 runs
20 Dec - 03:30 PMAbu DhabiMI EmiratesMIEAbu Dhabi Knight RidersADKR187/4 (20.0)152/7 (20.0) MI Emirates won by 35 runs
21 Dec - 08:00 PMDubaiDesert VipersDVMI EmiratesMIE124/7 (20.0)128/6 (17.3) MI Emirates won by 4 wickets (with 15 balls remaining)
23 Dec - 08:00 PMAbu DhabiGulf GiantsGGMI EmiratesMIE141/6 (20.0)142/2 (16.3) MI Emirates won by 8 wickets (with 21 balls remaining)
27 Dec - 08:00 PMAbu DhabiDubai CapitalsDCMI EmiratesMIE122/8 (20.0)126/2 (16.4) MI Emirates won by 8 wickets (with 20 balls remaining)
30 Dec - 08:00 PMAbu DhabiDesert VipersDVMI EmiratesMIE233/1 (20.0)188/7 (20.0) Vipers won by 45 runs
Completed matches of Desert Vipers
Teams
Date
Venue
Bat First
Bat Second
Inning 1
Inning 2
Winner
02 Dec - 08:00 PMDubaiDubai CapitalsDCDesert VipersDV150/8 (20.0)151/6 (19.0) Vipers won by 4 wickets (with 6 balls remaining)
05 Dec - 08:00 PMSharjahAbu Dhabi Knight RidersADKRDesert VipersDV171/6 (20.0)175/8 (19.3) Vipers won by 2 wickets (with 3 balls remaining)
08 Dec - 08:00 PMDubaiGulf GiantsGGDesert VipersDV179/5 (20.0)179/9 (20.0) Match tied (Vipers won the one-over eliminator)
09 Dec - 08:00 PMAbu DhabiDesert VipersDVMI EmiratesMIE159/4 (20.0)158/9 (20.0) Vipers won by 1 run
12 Dec - 08:00 PMDubaiGulf GiantsGGDesert VipersDV157/7 (20.0)158/2 (16.5) Vipers won by 8 wickets (with 19 balls remaining)
14 Dec - 08:00 PMDubaiDubai CapitalsDCDesert VipersDV166/4 (20.0)171/5 (19.4) Vipers won by 5 wickets (with 2 balls remaining)
16 Dec - 08:00 PMAbu DhabiAbu Dhabi Knight RidersADKRDesert VipersDV181/5 (20.0)180/6 (20.0) KnightRiders won by 1 run
20 Dec - 08:00 PMDubaiSharjah WarriorsSWDesert VipersDV90/10 (17.5)91/6 (13.5) Vipers won by 4 wickets (with 37 balls remaining)
21 Dec - 08:00 PMDubaiDesert VipersDVMI EmiratesMIE124/7 (20.0)128/6 (17.3) MI Emirates won by 4 wickets (with 15 balls remaining)
26 Dec - 08:00 PMSharjahSharjah WarriorsSWDesert VipersDV140/7 (20.0)144/5 (19.3) Vipers won by 5 wickets (with 3 balls remaining)
30 Dec - 08:00 PMAbu DhabiDesert VipersDVMI EmiratesMIE233/1 (20.0)188/7 (20.0) Vipers won by 45 runs
Completed matches at Zayed Cricket Stadium
Teams
Date
Bat First
Bat Second
Inning 1
Inning 2
Winner
09 Dec - 08:00 PMDesert VipersDVMI EmiratesMIE159/4 (20.0)158/9 (20.0) Vipers won by 1 run
11 Dec - 08:00 PMAbu Dhabi Knight RidersADKRMI EmiratesMIE122/10 (19.3)123/3 (13.5) MI Emirates won by 7 wickets (with 37 balls remaining)
13 Dec - 08:00 PMDubai CapitalsDCAbu Dhabi Knight RidersADKR196/5 (20.0)187/8 (20.0) DC won by 9 runs
14 Dec - 03:30 PMSharjah WarriorsSWMI EmiratesMIE174/3 (20.0)168/5 (20.0) Warriorz won by 6 runs
16 Dec - 08:00 PMAbu Dhabi Knight RidersADKRDesert VipersDV181/5 (20.0)180/6 (20.0) KnightRiders won by 1 run
18 Dec - 08:00 PMGulf GiantsGGAbu Dhabi Knight RidersADKR165/7 (20.0)167/6 (19.2) KnightRiders won by 4 wickets (with 4 balls remaining)
20 Dec - 03:30 PMMI EmiratesMIEAbu Dhabi Knight RidersADKR187/4 (20.0)152/7 (20.0) MI Emirates won by 35 runs
22 Dec - 08:00 PMAbu Dhabi Knight RidersADKRSharjah WarriorsSW134/9 (20.0)135/6 (20.0) Warriorz won by 4 wickets (with 0 balls remaining)
23 Dec - 08:00 PMGulf GiantsGGMI EmiratesMIE141/6 (20.0)142/2 (16.3) MI Emirates won by 8 wickets (with 21 balls remaining)
27 Dec - 08:00 PMDubai CapitalsDCMI EmiratesMIE122/8 (20.0)126/2 (16.4) MI Emirates won by 8 wickets (with 20 balls remaining)
30 Dec - 08:00 PMDesert VipersDVMI EmiratesMIE233/1 (20.0)188/7 (20.0) Vipers won by 45 runs
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