MI Emirates vs Desert Vipers, Saturday, 28 November 2026 — afternoon session, Abu Dhabi
The 9th match of the DP World ILT20 Season 5 is MI Emirates against Desert Vipers on Saturday, 28 November 2026, in the afternoon session, at the Zayed Cricket Stadium in Abu Dhabi. It is the first match of the day at a ground hosting 11 matches this season.
This is the ninth match of the season and the first of two on Saturday, with Gulf Giants against Dubai Capitals following in the evening in Dubai. Abu Dhabi hosts 11 matches this season, and this is the second of them. The full scorecard will appear on this page once the match is played.
Scorecard
Match yet to begin. The scorecard appears here once the match starts.
How both sides arrive in Season 5
Pre-season — the season starts on Saturday 21 November 2026, so there is no Season 5 form yet. What follows is what each side brings into the tournament.
| Team | Captain | Coach | ILT20 titles |
|---|---|---|---|
| MI Emirates | Nicholas Pooran | Mark Boucher | 2024 |
| Desert Vipers | Babar Azam | James Foster | 2025-26 |
Nicholas Pooran captains MI Emirates, with Mark Boucher coaching, and the home side will want this game more than most: they lost last season's final to these opponents, and the return fixture comes just a week after the season opener between the two sides. Rashid Khan and Fazalhaq Farooqi lead an attack that has to find a way past Babar Azam.
Babar Azam captains the defending champions, and the Vipers arrive in Abu Dhabi knowing this fixture has gone their way lately: they won Qualifier 1 by 45 runs and the final by 46 runs last season, after MI Emirates had won the last league meeting by 4 wickets. James Foster's side will expect to win again.
Two points, and the first marker of the season
A win is worth two points, and a no-result is worth one. Each side plays ten league matches, and the top four reach the playoffs.
Two points are on offer, and for MI Emirates they would be worth more than that: a win here levels the early season series and proves the new coaching set-up can beat the champions. For the Vipers, a win would make it three victories in a row over MI Emirates and keep the title defence on track.
By the second Saturday the table will have a clear shape, and the sides at the top will be the ones that won their return fixtures. Each team plays ten league matches, and the top four reach the playoffs from 16 December. Neither side can afford to drop a game against a direct rival for those places.
The players who can decide it
Every name below links to that player's profile.
Nicholas Pooran captains MI Emirates and bats at the heart of their order. He has the power to win this game on his own, and the Vipers will plan their middle overs around keeping him from facing too many balls.
Fazalhaq Farooqi leads the MI Emirates pace attack with the new ball. Against a Vipers top order built around Babar Azam and Fakhar Zaman, an early wicket from him would change the whole shape of the innings.
Babar Azam captains the defending champions, and his record in this fixture is part of the Vipers' recent dominance. MI Emirates will test him with Rashid Khan in the middle overs, and his answer will decide the Vipers' total.
Shadab Khan gives the Vipers a leg-spinning all-rounder in the middle order, and his four overs against MI Emirates' powerful batting are the spell the champions will build their defence around.
Past meetings between these two sides
Ten meetings before Season 5, and the Vipers lead 6–4. The recent run belongs to the Vipers: they won Qualifier 1 by 45 runs and the final by 46 runs last season, after MI Emirates had won the last league meeting by 4 wickets on 21 December 2025.
Vipers lead the head-to-head 6–4 across 10 past meetings, from the 2023 season to last season.
| Date | Stage | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 21 December 2025 | Match 24 | MI Emirates won by 4 wickets |
| 30 December 2025 | Qualifier 1 | Desert Vipers won by 45 runs |
| 4 January 2026 | Final | Desert Vipers won by 46 runs |
Match information
| Ground | Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi |
| Series | DP World ILT20 |
| Season | 2026-27, Season 5 |
| Match number | Match 9 |
| Match Days | Saturday, 28 November 2026 |
| Points | Winner 2, loser 0 |
Afternoon session — the exact start time has not been published, so this page lists the session only. Match yet to begin — the scorecard will appear on this page after the match.
Frequently asked questions
When does MI Emirates vs Desert Vipers start?
Match 9 is played on Saturday 28 November 2026 at Zayed Cricket Stadium in Abu Dhabi, in the afternoon session. The exact start time has not been published, so this page lists the session only. It is the first of two matches on Saturday, and Abu Dhabi hosts 11 matches this season.
Who captains each side in Match 9?
Nicholas Pooran captains MI Emirates, with Mark Boucher coaching. Babar Azam captains Desert Vipers, with James Foster coaching the defending champions. Pooran leads MI Emirates at home in Abu Dhabi, while Babar leads the defending champions in his first ILT20 season as captain.
What is the head-to-head record before this season?
The sides had met ten times before Season 5, with Desert Vipers winning six and MI Emirates winning four. The Vipers won the last two meetings, Qualifier 1 and the final last season. The Vipers won the last two meetings, Qualifier 1 and the final last season, by 45 runs and 46 runs.
Who are the players to watch?
Nicholas Pooran and Fazalhaq Farooqi for MI Emirates, and Babar Azam and Shadab Khan for the Vipers. Pooran against Shadab in the middle overs is the contest that could decide it. Jonny Bairstow opens for MI Emirates, while Naseem Shah leads the Vipers' attack with the new ball.
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