Abu Dhabi Knight Riders vs Sharjah Warriorz Prediction & Match Preview – ILT20
Match summary
Abu Dhabi Knight Riders meet Sharjah Warriorz at Sheikh Zayed Stadium in ILT20 2025-26. Our preview covers form, XIs, pitch, weather and a verdict.
Match details
| Match | Abu Dhabi Knight Riders vs Sharjah Warriorz, 25th Match |
|---|---|
| Series | International League T20 2025-26 |
| Date | 22 Dec 2025 |
| Start time | 2:30 pm GMT / 6:30 pm local |
| Venue | Sheikh Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi |
| Status | Played |
| Our pick | Abu Dhabi Knight Riders |
| Toss pick | Sharjah Warriorz |
Matches in this series
Match preview
Abu Dhabi Knight Riders face Sharjah Warriorz at Sheikh Zayed Stadium in the 25th match of ILT20 2025-26.
The Knight Riders will look to Alishan Sharafu, Philip Salt, Liam Livingstone, Brandon McMullen, Sherfane Rutherford and Andre Russell for runs. McMullen top-scored in their previous game with 64 off 49, and Alex Hales added 40 off 27, but the rest of the line-up struggled and the side lost by 35 runs. Ajay Kumar, Olly Stone, Sunil Narine, Russell and Jason Holder lead the bowling, and Holder and Piyush Chawla took a wicket each last time.
The Warriorz rely on Tom Kohler-Cadmore, Johnson Charles, Sikandar Raza, Tom Abell and James Rew. Their last match went badly, as they were bowled out for 90 in 17.5 overs, with Abell’s 35 off 36 the only real resistance. Wasim Akram, Taskin Ahmed, Harmeet Singh, Dwaine Pretorius and Raza will try to provide breakthroughs, and Taskin was the pick of the bowlers last time with 2 for 20.
On a true surface with a fast outfield, sides batting second have often chased competitive totals at Abu Dhabi if momentum is kept. Our preview picks the Knight Riders.
Sheikh Zayed Stadium typically offers a balanced contest. Pacers enjoy some bounce and movement in the first few overs before the surface settles and becomes good for stroke-play, with a smooth outfield rewarding batters who spend time in the middle. Spinners do not get dramatic turn but can control the middle overs. The wicket is reliable, and teams often feel comfortable chasing unless it slows later in the evening.
Conditions should be pleasant and mostly dry, with temperatures around 21–22 °C at sunset, partly cloudy to clear skies and a very low chance of rain. Winds are expected to be light to moderate.
Expected scores
| Innings | Predicted | Actual |
|---|---|---|
| First innings | 165–180 | – |
| Second innings | 160–175 | – |
Abu Dhabi Knight Riders
The Knight Riders have more depth with Salt, Livingstone, Russell and Narine, while the Warriorz were bowled out for 90 in their last game.
Toss pick: Sharjah Warriorz
FAQ
Where is Abu Dhabi Knight Riders vs Sharjah Warriorz played?
The 25th ILT20 match is at Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi on 22 December 2025.
Who does our preview pick?
We back Abu Dhabi Knight Riders, whose squad has greater depth in both batting and bowling.
Which phases will decide the game?
The powerplay and the death overs, where quick runs and yorkers or slower balls can swing the match.
Probable XIs
Expected line-ups from our preview. c = captain, wk = wicketkeeper.
Abu Dhabi Knight Riders
- Philip Saltwk
- Alishan Sharafu / Alex Hales
- Liam Livingstone
- Brandon McMullen
- Sherfane Rutherford
- Andre Russell
- Sunil Narine
- Jason Holderc
- Piyush Chawla
- Ajay Kumar
- Olly Stone
Sharjah Warriorz
- Tom Kohler-Cadmore
- Johnson Charles
- Tom Abell
- James Rew
- Sikandar Razac
- Ethan D’Souza
- Dwaine Pretorius
- Harmeet Singh
- Adil Rashid
- Wasim Akram
- Taskin Ahmed
- Dinesh Karthikwk
Head-to-head
Earlier meetings of Abu Dhabi Knight Riders and Sharjah Warriorz that we covered.