Sam Curran vs Gulbadin Naib (Source: @TheDesertVipers/X.com, @Dubai_Capitals/X.com)
It's time to be tough as we enter the knockout stage of ILT20 2025, where Desert Vipers (DV) will be striding out to face Dubai Capitals (DC) in the Qualifier 1, to be played at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium. This exciting showdown will be played on 5th February from 8:00 PM IST.
Desert Vipers
Desert Vipers, led by Lockie Ferguson, have only lost three games this season during the group stage. They earned victories in seven of their matches after participating in ten contests and were able to manage 14 points with a healthy NRR of +0.141.
Vipers faced Dubai Capitals in the last face-off of the group stages, where they lost the encounter by a margin of nine wickets with 17 deliveries to spare. No one from the batting lineup except Dan Lawrence (44) played decently, as they could only manage 137 on the board while getting bowled out inside 20 overs. David Payne was the only one to pick a wicket for 29 runs in his four-over spell.
Dubai Capitals
Conversely, Dubai Capitals had a topsy-turvy campaign, where they won five of the last six matches to qualify for the playoffs. Losing just one in the six games and ended up defeating the Vipers to progress to Qualifier 1. From ten matches played in the season, they have six victories and have managed to put 12 points on the board with an NRR of -0.234.
In the victory over Vipers, the Capitals side bowled exceptionally well, with Qais Ahmed taking four wickets for 25 runs, while Obed McCoy was outstanding with his spell of three wickets for 22 runs in his respective four overs. From the batting department, Shai Hope (52) and Gulbadin Naib (55) staged a brilliant 96-run partnership for the second wicket to seal the fixture for their side in 17.1 overs.
Dubai International Cricket Stadium - Pitch Report for Qualifier 1 Of ILT20 2025
The pitch at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium has been pretty much balanced throughout the season, with both batters and bowlers getting equal opportunities. Pacers get early movement, whereas batters find it easy to play their shots once they settle in. Moreover, the dew factor could play a significant role here since it's an evening contest. There is expected to be dew, so spinners might go for runs in the latter half of this game. Adding to this, 9 out of 13 matches have been won by the team chasing the target. Therefore, the team winning the toss will likely opt to bowl first, considering batting gets a bit easier when dew is present.
Top 3 Captain and Vice-Captain Picks For DV vs DC:
3. Shai Hope
Why Will Shai Hope Be A Good Choice As The Captain Or Vice-Captain?
Dubai Capitals' Shai Hope is the name of consistency, with 467 runs in this year's ILT20 from 10 matches, where he averages 66.71. He has struck runs at an impressive strike rate of 126.90. Adding to this, he has three half-centuries and 1 century under his belt.
Hope usually gives the Capitals a favourable start, with his batting being sensible and highly effective in tricky conditions. Having a plethora of experience, he has amassed 3,976 runs from 156 T20 career matches, averaging 29.45 while striking at 129.42. The right-hander is an excellent player of spin, plus he can act as the X-factor when his side needs him to.
2. Sam Curran
Why Will Sam Curran Be A Good Choice As The Captain Or Vice-Captain?
An all-rounder of the highest quality, England's Sam Curran has done wonders in this season of ILT20, with 267 runs to go along with six wickets in 10 matches he has featured in so far. His batting average is 44.50, while his strike rate is 121.91. Curran can be as reliable as any other batter in the side, while he can be as much efficient with the ball as any other premier bowler in the team.
He can win matches from any situation with both bat and ball, whereas the left-armer also has the ability to dominate the opposition considerably, which makes him a valuable asset. Curran can be really critical for Desert Vipers moving ahead in the competition, as the all-rounder can be a vital cog when they play the knockouts. In his overall career, he has scored 3,951 runs and has managed to pick up 253 wickets playing around the globe.
1. Gulbadin Naib
Why Will Gulbadin Naib Be A Good Choice As The Captain Or Vice-Captain?
Number one on this list is Afghanistan's Gulbadin Naib, who has been one step ahead of Sam Curran, as he has scored 314 runs while picking up nine wickets in 10 matches this season. Naib has been highly explosive with the bat, scoring runs at a strike rate of 158.58 while averaging 44.85. Conversely, his bowling average is 18.66 this year. And to go along with all that, he has also surpassed 50+ scores 3 times in this competition.
Just in the last encounter against the Vipers, he smashed a brilliant 55* to take his side home comfortably. The all-rounder is known to soak in the pressure and perform at crucial junctures, where his expertise comes in handy. His exposure of playing in different conditions and his vast skills make him a great option to be made captain or vice-captain of the side.