MI Emirates stand between Desert Vipers quest for a maiden ILT20 with an MI franchise – men or women – never losing a T20 Final since 2010.
Serial winners MI Emirates stand between well-rested Vipers and a maiden ILT20 title.
MI Emirates and Desert Vipers. The ILT20 season’s top two teams will square off once more on Sunday in the final in Dubai. After defeating MI Emirates in Qualifier 1 in Abu Dhabi on December 30, Vipers have had four days to relax. To set up a rematch with Vipers, MI Emirates flew to Sharjah and defeated the Abu Dhabi Knight Riders on January 2.
A five-match winning streak put MI Emirates in “dangerous territory,” according to captain Kieron Pollard, who expressed concern that it would work against them in the run-up to knockout 1. However, they regrouped and dominated ADKR in Qualifier 2 after losing to Vipers, with Pollard leading the way.
He started the bowling with two spinners and gave Afghanistan’s mystery spinner AM Ghazanfar the freedom to attack hitters by positioning himself at slip, short leg, or silly point. The other Afghan mystery spinner, Arab Gul, was hard to dismiss despite going wicketless. Prior to the more seasoned Fazalhaq Farooqi, Pollard also included Muhammad Rohid, a left-arm seamer from the United Arab Emirates, in the assault. The local kid reacted with a first-ball wicket.
Only Rahmanullah Gurbaz (20) has hit more sixes this season than Pollard (15), who is still an explosive batter at 38. Pollard has performed brilliantly for MI Emirates, while Nicholas Pooran left the ILT20 to play for MI Cape Town in the SA20.
Sam Curran has also set the standard for Vipers. Lockie Ferguson, their customary captain, was out by injury for the majority of the tournament and is now out of the Big Bash League as well, but Curran’s all-around performances have ignited their campaign.
Even if he has been costly in the final overs, his comeback as a batsman is encouraging for the Vipers and possibly the Rajasthan Royals in the 2026 Indian Premier League.
Curran and Vipers’ director of cricket, Tom Moody, won the Hundred at Oval Invincibles last August. Can they help Vipers win their first ILT20 championship? Or will Pollard reject them and motivate MI Emirates to win a second championship?