Dubai Capitals vs Gulf Giants Prediction & Match Preview – ILT20 2025-26
Match summary
Our preview of Dubai Capitals vs Gulf Giants in the ILT20 2025-26: opening-game form, probable XIs, pitch and weather in Dubai, and expected scores.
Match details
| Match | Dubai Capitals vs Gulf Giants, 5th Match |
|---|---|
| Series | International League T20 2025-26 |
| Date | 6 Dec 2025 |
| Start time | 02:30 pm GMT / 06:30 pm local |
| Venue | Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai |
| Status | Played |
| Our pick | Dubai Capitals |
| Toss pick | Gulf Giants |
Matches in this series
Match preview
Dubai Capitals and Gulf Giants meet in the 5th match of the International League T20 2025-26 at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Saturday, 6 December, with an evening start.
The Capitals began poorly, losing to Desert Vipers. Their innings never gathered momentum and finished on 150/8, a total the Vipers chased down with an over to spare. Dasun Shanaka is named as captain in the probable XI, which includes Jordan Cox, Rovman Powell, Mohammad Nabi, David Willey and Waqar Salamkheil.
Gulf Giants made a strong start, beating MI Emirates by six wickets. They reached 164 in just 14.4 overs, with Pathum Nissanka hitting 81 off 42 balls. The likely XI is led by Moeen Ali and includes Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Azmatullah Omarzai, Liam Dawson and Tabraiz Shamsi.
Dubai’s surface usually starts with good pace and true bounce, with dew making chasing a little easier as the night goes on. Both sides have power hitters, so par scores here tend to be in the high 170s. Giants carry the momentum, though we lean towards the Capitals to bounce back.
The Dubai International Cricket Stadium usually offers a fair balance between bat and ball. Pacers can find seam and bounce early under lights, the pitch becomes more predictable for batters later, and spinners get some help in the middle overs. Dew can make the ball slippery in evening games, which gives chasing teams a slight edge.
The evening is expected to be warm and calm at about 26°C, with clear to slightly hazy skies, a light breeze, moderate humidity and no threat of rain.
Expected scores
| Innings | Predicted | Actual |
|---|---|---|
| First innings | 165–185 | – |
| Second innings | 155–175 | – |
Dubai Capitals
The Giants have the momentum after a six-wicket win, but our preview leans towards the Capitals to recover from their opening defeat.
Toss pick: Gulf Giants
FAQ
How did the two teams start the ILT20 2025-26 season?
Dubai Capitals lost to Desert Vipers after scoring 150/8, while Gulf Giants beat MI Emirates by six wickets.
Who was Gulf Giants’ star in the opener?
Pathum Nissanka made 81 off 42 balls as the Giants chased 164 in 14.4 overs.
Does dew matter in Dubai?
Light dew often appears in evening matches, which makes the ball harder to grip and tends to help the chasing side.
Probable XIs
Expected line-ups from our preview. c = captain, wk = wicketkeeper.
Dubai Capitals
- Sediqullah Atal
- Shayan Jahangir
- Jordan Cox
- Rovman Powell
- Dasun Shanaka
- Mohammad Nabi
- David Willey
- Gulbadin Naib
- Haider Ali
- Waqar Salamkheil
- Muhammad Jawadullah
Gulf Giants
- Rahmanullah Gurbaz
- Asif Khan
- Pathum Nissanka
- Moeen Ali
- Gerhard Erasmus
- Azmatullah Omarzai
- Liam Dawson
- Matthew Forde
- Haider Razzaq
- Tabraiz Shamsi
- Nuwan Thushara