This clash pits two early pace-setters against each other at Sharjah Cricket Stadium in Sharjah on Friday, December 5, 2025, with the action kicking off at 6:30 PM local time (8:00 PM IST). The pitch here typically balances out nicely, offering early seam movement and bounce before settling into a batting-friendly track with short boundaries that reward aggressive strokeplay—expect scores around 160-180, favoring chases under lights due to dew. Weather looks clear and pleasant, with temperatures hovering between 20-29°C and no rain in sight, though evening dew could make gripping the ball tricky for the second innings.
Both sides head into this unbeaten after strong opening wins, making it a crucial top-table battle to grab early momentum in the tournament. Abu Dhabi Knight Riders sit top with a thumping 39-run victory over Sharjah Warriorz, powered by explosive batting including Liam Livingstone’s 82 off 38 balls in a prior outing, while their bowlers restricted opponents effectively. Desert Vipers chased down Dubai Capitals’ 150 with Andries Gous’ fiery 58 off 36 balls leading the charge, showcasing chasing prowess. Key talking points include the Vipers’ world-class bowling attack testing the Knights’ big-hitting top order, and how dew might tilt the toss toward bowling first.
Head-to-Head Record
The teams have met six times, with Desert Vipers holding a 4-2 edge. Recent meetings underline tight contests: Knights won by 6 wickets chasing 155 last season, but Vipers dominated earlier with a 53-run victory defending 193. Last five: Vipers 3 wins, Knights 2.
ILT20 2025 Match Details
- Match: Desert Vipers vs Abu Dhabi Knight Riders
- Time: 8:00 PM IST (7:30 PM local time)
- Venue: Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai
- Live Broadcast: FanCode app and website, Zee Network
International T20 League Live Streaming Info:
The International League T20 (ILT20) 2025 features 6 teams: Dubai Capitals, Desert Vipers, Gulf Giants, MI Emirates, Abu Dhabi Knight Riders, and Sharjah Warriors. The tournament includes a total of 34 matches.
The competition runs from January 11, 2025, to February 9, 2025. Matches are held at three major venues in the UAE: Dubai International Cricket Stadium in Dubai, Sharjah Cricket Stadium in Sharjah, and Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi.
- India: Live streaming is available on the Zee5 OTT platform; TV coverage is on multiple Zee Network channels, including Zee Cinema and Sony Six.
- Pakistan: Matches are live on the Tapmad platform and TV channels such as PTV Sports, Geo Super, and A Sports.
- Middle East and North Africa (MENA): Abu Dhabi Sports, Dubai Sports, MYCO, and the ILT20 official YouTube channel for live streaming.
- Caribbean: Rush Sports, Flow Sports.
- United Kingdom: BT Sport, Sky Sports, Zee TV, TNT Sports, BBC iPlayer (online free access).
- Australia: Fox Cricket, Channel 9, Stan Sports.
- New Zealand: Sky Sports NZ.
- United States and Canada: Willow TV, ESPNcricinfo, and BBC iPlayer.
- Europe: Samsung TV Plus, Rakuten TV.
- South Africa: SABC Sport, Showmax, DStv Now.
The format is a double round-robin where each team plays the others twice, followed by playoffs including Qualifier 1, Eliminator, Qualifier 2, and the Final. The playoffs start on February 5, with the final scheduled for February 9, 2025, at Dubai International Cricket Stadium.
How to Watch the Match for Free:
YouTube: Search for the ILT20 Official Channel and look for the live stream during match times.
Tamasha: Visit their website or app to find the live streams available for ILT20 matches.
Live Streaming Info:
Sky Cricket will be live: DV vs ADKAR
Live Score Info:
Cricket lovers can watch the Desert Vipers vs Abu Dhabi Knight Riders 4th match live score from this website: www.espncricinfo.com
Desert Vipers vs Abu Dhabi Knight Riders
Playing XI:
Desert Vipers Probable XI: Andries Gous (wk), Fakhar Zaman, Shimron Hetmyer, Tom Bruce, Sam Curran, Wanindu Hasaranga, Vriitya Aravind, Naseem Shah, Lockie Ferguson, Khuzaima Tanveer, David Payne
Abu Dhabi Knight Riders Probable XI: Alex Hales, Michael Pepper (wk), Liam Livingstone, Joe Clarke, Sherfane Rutherford, Sunil Narine, Jason Holder (c), George Garton, Piyush Chawla, Olly Stone, Ibrar Ahmad
Team Analysis
Desert Vipers
Strengths lie in a lethal bowling unit featuring Lockie Ferguson, Naseem Shah, and Wanindu Hasaranga, who can dismantle lineups on abrasive Sharjah surfaces, complemented by all-round firepower from Sam Curran. Weaknesses show in occasional top-order fragility beyond openers like Fakhar Zaman and Gous, but their recent chase highlights middle-order resilience with Shimron Hetmyer adding six-hitting depth. Key players: Gous (recent 58), Naseem (pace threat), Hasaranga (middle-overs control).
Abu Dhabi Knight Riders
Their batting depth, led by explosive stars like Livingstone and Alex Hales, thrives on high-scoring venues, backed by all-rounders such as Sunil Narine and Jason Holder for balance. Bowling remains a weak spot if pacers leak runs in the death overs, though recent form suggests control. Standouts: Livingstone (82 in last outing), Hales (quick starts), Narine (spin variety).