The fourth edition of the DP World International League T20 (ILT20) returns to the UAE this winter. This tournament that exhibits some great T20 cricket has got plenty of buzz off the field thanks to news of Ravichandran Ashwin’s post-IPL ambitions and an intriguing clash of calendars with South Africa’s SA20.
Will Ashwin play ILT20?
Just days after closing the chapter on his glittering IPL and international career, 38-year-old Ravichandran Ashwin is set for a fresh adventure. It could quite possibly be the ILT20 auction on September 30 in Dubai.
With registration closing September 10, Ashwin confirmed he’s in talks with tournament organisers, hoping to make his first overseas league appearance. If picked, Ashwin will join Ambati Rayudu, Robin Uthappa, and Yusuf Pathan as the only Indian cricketers to feature in the ILT20 so far. Given his pedigree of 221 IPL matches, 187 wickets, fifth all-time in IPL history, Ashwin is expected to draw serious attention in the auction, perhaps as a player-cum-coach exploring avenues like Major League Cricket and The Hundred after the UAE.
However, it would be interesting to see if he chooses ILT20 over the Big Bash League (BBL) after fresh reports emerged of Ashwin being in contact with Cricket Australia (CA). Simultaneously with ILT20 and SA20, BBL will also be played in December.
SA20 vs ILT20
ILT20’s 2026 season runs from December 2 to January 4, overlapping with the highly rated SA20, which begins December 26. For roughly the last two weeks of the ILT20, both tournaments will compete for audience and player availability, with ILT20’s grand finale arriving January 4 while SA20 continues for 21 more days. It’s not rare for two franchise leagues to collide so directly. Players need to pick their priorities.
Full Schedule: ILT20 2026
Here’s the complete match list for the upcoming ILT20:
| Date | Match | Venue | Time (local) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 Dec (Tue) | Dubai Capitals vs Desert Vipers | Dubai | 6:30pm |
| 3 Dec (Wed) | Sharjah Warriorz vs Abu Dhabi Knight Riders | Sharjah | 6:30pm |
| 4 Dec (Thu) | Gulf Giants vs MI Emirates | Dubai | 6:30pm |
| 5 Dec (Fri) | Desert Vipers vs Abu Dhabi Knight Riders | Sharjah | 6:30pm |
| 6 Dec (Sat) | Dubai Capitals vs Gulf Giants | Dubai | 6:30pm |
| 7 Dec (Sun) | Sharjah Warriorz vs MI Emirates | Sharjah | 2:00pm |
| 7 Dec (Sun) | Dubai Capitals vs Abu Dhabi Knight Riders | Dubai | 6:30pm |
| 8 Dec (Mon) | Desert Vipers vs Gulf Giants | Dubai | 6:30pm |
| 9 Dec (Tue) | MI Emirates vs Desert Vipers | Abu Dhabi | 6:30pm |
| 10 Dec (Wed) | Gulf Giants vs Sharjah Warriorz | Dubai | 6:30pm |
| 11 Dec (Thu) | Abu Dhabi Knight Riders vs MI Emirates | Abu Dhabi | 6:30pm |
| 12 Dec (Fri) | Gulf Giants vs Desert Vipers | Dubai | 6:30pm |
| 13 Dec (Sat) | Abu Dhabi Knight Riders vs Dubai Capitals | Abu Dhabi | 6:30pm |
| 14 Dec (Sun) | MI Emirates vs Sharjah Warriorz | Abu Dhabi | 2:00pm |
| 14 Dec (Sun) | Desert Vipers vs Dubai Capitals | Dubai | 6:30pm |
| 15 Dec (Mon) | Sharjah Warriorz vs Gulf Giants | Sharjah | 6:30pm |
| 16 Dec (Tue) | Abu Dhabi Knight Riders vs Desert Vipers | Abu Dhabi | 6:30pm |
| 17 Dec (Wed) | Dubai Capitals vs MI Emirates | Dubai | 6:30pm |
| 18 Dec (Thu) | Abu Dhabi Knight Riders vs Gulf Giants | Abu Dhabi | 6:30pm |
| 19 Dec (Fri) | Sharjah Warriorz vs Dubai Capitals | Sharjah | 6:30pm |
| 20 Dec (Sat) | MI Emirates vs Abu Dhabi Knight Riders | Abu Dhabi | 2:00pm |
| 20 Dec (Sat) | Desert Vipers vs Sharjah Warriorz | Dubai | 6:30pm |
| 21 Dec (Sun) | Gulf Giants vs Dubai Capitals | Sharjah | 2:00pm |
| 21 Dec (Sun) | Desert Vipers vs MI Emirates | Dubai | 6:30pm |
| 22 Dec (Mon) | Abu Dhabi Knight Riders vs Sharjah Warriorz | Abu Dhabi | 6:30pm |
| 23 Dec (Tue) | MI Emirates vs Gulf Giants | Abu Dhabi | 6:30pm |
| 24 Dec (Wed) | Dubai Capitals vs Sharjah Warriorz | Dubai | 6:30pm |
| 25 Dec (Thu) | Rest Day | ||
| 26 Dec (Fri) | Sharjah Warriorz vs Desert Vipers | Sharjah | 6:30pm |
| 27 Dec (Sat) | MI Emirates vs Dubai Capitals | Abu Dhabi | 6:30pm |
| 28 Dec (Sun) | Gulf Giants vs Abu Dhabi Knight Riders | Dubai | 6:30pm |
| 29 Dec (Mon) | Rest Day | ||
| 30 Dec (Tue) | Qualifier 1 (Team 1 vs Team 2) | Abu Dhabi | 6:30pm |
| 31 Dec (Wed) | Rest Day | ||
| 1 Jan (Thu) | Eliminator (Team 3 vs Team 4) | Dubai | 6:30pm |
| 2 Jan (Fri) | Qualifier 2 (Loser Q1 vs Winner Eliminator) | Sharjah | 6:30pm |
| 3 Jan (Sat) | Rest Day | ||
| 4 Jan (Sun) | Final (Winner Q1 vs Winner Q2) | Dubai | 6:30pm |
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