Gulf Giants and MI Emirates meet in Dubai in the third match of the ILT20 2025-26. The Giants are hoping for a far better campaign after finishing second from the bottom last time with four wins from ten games. With a fresh-look squad, a playoff place is the first target.
James Vince, last season’s top run-scorer for them with 260 at a strike rate of 138, is again expected to anchor the batting, and Pathum Nissanka, who has 29 fifties and two hundreds in this format, strengthens the top. Azmatullah Omarzai and Rahmanullah Gurbaz add balance in the middle order. In the attack, Blessing Muzarabani took 16 wickets in ten games last year, Mark Adair is another key bowler, and Aayan Khan, Liam Dawson and Moeen Ali add depth.
MI Emirates had a strong season, finishing third in the league stage before going out in the playoffs. Tom Banton was the tournament’s second-highest run-scorer with 493 runs in 11 innings at a strike rate of 152, and Nicholas Pooran added 301 at 160. Andre Fletcher and Muhammad Waseem, who has hit 187 T20I sixes, add firepower. Fazalhaq Farooqi topped the wicket charts with 21 wickets in 11 matches, supported by Muhammad Rohid and AM Ghazanfar.