Desert Vipers beat MI Emirates in the final of the 2025/26 edition to win the ILT20 for the first time. Here is Wisden’s team of the tournament.
Pathum Nissanka (MI Emirates)
M: 6 | 243 runs at 40.50, SR 187, HS: 81, 50s: 3
Among batters who scored more runs than Nissanka in this edition of the ILT20, no one struck at even 155. That demonstrates how well he batted in this tournament.
Andries Gous (Desert Vipers)
M: 6 | 228 runs at 57.00, SR: 174, HS: 120*, 100s: 1, 50s: 1
Like Nissanka, Gous had a short stint in ILT20 2025/26. And just like him, he was explosive at the top, peaking when he smashed the highest individual score in ILT20 history.
Rahmanullah Gurbaz (Gulf Giants) - wk
M: 10 | 246 runs at 24.60, SR: 149, HS: 72, 50s: 2 | Ct: 4, St: 2
Only two half-centuries for Gurbaz in the tournament, but he played several rapid cameos including a string of 30 in 15, 72 in 45, 25 in 11 in consecutive innings.
Jonny Bairstow (MI Emirates)
M: 9 | 246 runs at 30.75, SR 145, HS: 67, 50s: 1
Bairstow began his tournament indifferently before exploding a blaze of quick scores. Like Gurbaz, he adds flexibility to this XI: the top four can bat in any order.
Sam Curran (Desert Vipers) - c
M: 12 | 397 runs at 49.62, SR: 135, HS: 74*, 50s: 3
7 wickets at 42.57, ec 8.51, BBI: 2-17
Curran was the Player of the Tournament in the previous edition as well, but this time the award came alongside the maiden trophy for the Vipers. The leading run-scorer of this season, the tournament-winning captain will lead this side as well.
Rovman Powell (Dubai Capitals)
M: 11 | 269 runs at 38.42, SR 154, HS: 96*, 50s: 1
Powell was in superb form throughout the tournament. His finest innings, the 52 ball 96 not out, was despite him coming to bat after the powerplay, against the Abu Dhabi Knight Riders.
Azmatullah Omarzai (Gulf Giants)
M: 10 | 233 runs at 25.88, SR 137, HS: 43
12 wickets at 21.08, ec 9.37, BBI: 4-32
The leading wicket-taker for the Gulf Giants in ILT20 2025/26, Omarzai also chipped in with the bat and, at times, in both departments. His two highest scores were both accompanied by two-wicket hauls, while his 4-32 and 3-46 came alongside brisk cameos.
Romario Shepherd (MI Emirates)
M: 13 | 117 runs at 39.00, SR 189, HS: 39*
6 wickets at 49.50, ec 9.00, BBI: 2-25
The fastest scorer among the 100-run club, Shepherd hit nine fours and nine sixes: in other words, 76.9 per cent of his runs came in boundaries – the ideal man to send at the death. There was the odd wicket with the ball too.
Haider Ali (Dubai Capitals)
M: 11 | 10 wickets at 20.20, ec 5.94, BBI: 2-13
Bowling with metronomic precision throughout the tournament, Haider went for under a run a ball across 11 matches while picking up the odd wicket. Sticking to the rules of the tournament, is one of two local players of the XI.
Mustafizur Rahman (Dubai Capitals)
M: 8 | 15 wickets at 15.53, ec 8.08, BBI: 3-34
The only bowler to take more than even five wickets at under two overs a wicket, the wily Mustafizur seemed to become more and more unhittable as the tournament progressed.
Ajay Kumar (Abu Dhabi Knight Riders)
M: 12 | 18 wickets at 19.66, ec 7.86, BBI: 3-21
Undoubtedly the find of the tournament, Ajay is the second local player as well as the left-arm seamer of the side. If that seems like overkill, it should suffice that he had the joint-most wickets here.
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