There is no ILT20 match today. The next fixture is the Season 5 opener on Saturday 21 November 2026: defending champions Desert Vipers vs MI Emirates at Dubai International Stadium, 6:30 PM UAE time. Bookmark this page. From 21 November to 20 December it carries every matchday’s toss, playing XIs and live ball-by-ball score through the final on 20 December. The full ILT20 2026 schedule lists all 34 matches.

Next match: the Season 5 opener

Desert Vipers vs MI Emirates
Saturday 21 November 2026, Dubai International Stadium, Dubai
First ball: 6:30 PM UAE time (7:30 PM Pakistan, 8:00 PM India, 2:30 PM UK)

The defending champions open their title defence against last season's runners-up, a repeat of the Season 4 final that the Vipers won by 46 runs. Babar Azam leads the Vipers in his first ILT20 season after his $80,000 auction move, while MI Emirates arrive with the league's record signing, Fazalhaq Farooqi ($380,000), and new head coach Mark Boucher.

How this page works during the season

From 21 November to 20 December, this page updates every matchday:

• Morning: today's fixture card with venue, start time in UAE, Pakistan, India and UK times, and head-to-head record.
• Toss time: toss result and both playing XIs the moment they are announced.
• During the game: live ball-by-ball score embedded right here.
• Evening: result, scorecard summary, player of the match, and the updated points table. Planning ahead? See tomorrow's ILT20 match.

Season 5 at a glance

34 matches across three venues: Dubai International Stadium (15 matches), Zayed Cricket Stadium in Abu Dhabi (11) and Sharjah Cricket Stadium (8). Six teams play 10 league games each, the top four reach the playoffs, and the final is on Sunday 20 December in Dubai. Defending champions: Desert Vipers.

Opener head-to-head: Desert Vipers vs MI Emirates

The last time these two sides met, the Vipers lifted the trophy with a 46-run win in the Season 4 final on 4 January 2026. That makes the opener a revenge fixture for MI Emirates and a statement game for the champions. MI Emirates have rebuilt aggressively since: a league-record $380,000 for Fazalhaq Farooqi, $300,000 for Romario Shepherd, and Mark Boucher taking over as head coach. The Vipers answered with Babar Azam ($80,000) as captain under coach James Foster, keeping the core that won them the title. On paper MI Emirates own the deeper squad; the Vipers own the winning habit. The new-ball battle between Farooqi and Babar could decide it.

Season 5 key dates

• 21 November: opener, Desert Vipers vs MI Emirates, Dubai
• 22 November: Super Sunday doubleheader (Sharjah and Dubai)
• 16 December: Qualifier 1, Abu Dhabi
• 17 December: Eliminator, Dubai
• 18 December: Qualifier 2, Sharjah
• 20 December: the final, Dubai

How to follow every ball

Three ways to stay with the game. The live score page updates ball by ball and is free. The live streaming guide lists TV channels and streaming apps by country. And if you want to be inside the stadium, ILT20 tickets are expected on sale in late October. Set a reminder: the full schedule page lists every fixture with UAE, Pakistan, India and UK times.

Players to watch in the opener

Babar Azam (Desert Vipers, captain). The biggest batting name in Season 5. Bought for $80,000 at the auction, this is his first ILT20 season, and he walks straight into a final rematch against the league's most expensive bowler. His form decides the Vipers' ceiling.
Fazalhaq Farooqi (MI Emirates). The $380,000 record signing and the most expensive player in ILT20 auction history. Left-arm swing with the new ball; his first three overs against Babar will set the tone for the whole season.
Romario Shepherd (MI Emirates). A $300,000 all-rounder who finishes innings with the bat and bowls the hard overs at the death. Exactly the kind of player who wins tight T20 openers.
Mark Boucher (MI Emirates, head coach). His first competitive game in charge. How he uses Farooqi and Shepherd with the new ball is the tactical subplot of the night.

Dubai International Stadium: what to expect

The opener is under lights at Dubai International Stadium, the league's flagship ground. It hosts 15 of the 34 matches including the final, more than any other venue. Evening games here usually favour the chasing side: dew settles in the second innings and the ball skids on under lights, so captains winning the toss in Dubai often bowl first. The stadium holds around 25,000, and a full house for the final-over finish is the best atmosphere in the league. The venues guide has the full breakdown of all three grounds, including seating maps and travel tips.

Season 5 format refresher

Six teams, 34 matches. Each team plays 10 league games across Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah. The top four reach the playoffs: Qualifier 1 (1st vs 2nd) on 16 December in Abu Dhabi, the Eliminator (3rd vs 4th) on 17 December in Dubai, Qualifier 2 on 18 December in Sharjah, and the final on 20 December in Dubai. Win Qualifier 1 and you go straight to the final; lose, and you get one more chance in Qualifier 2.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is there an ILT20 match today?

No. The next ILT20 match is the Season 5 opener on Saturday 21 November 2026, Desert Vipers vs MI Emirates in Dubai at 6:30 PM UAE time.

What time does today's ILT20 match start?

During the season, evening matches start at 6:30 PM UAE time (7:30 PM Pakistan, 8:00 PM India, 2:30 PM UK). Afternoon matches on doubleheader days start at 2:00 PM UAE time.

Where can I watch today's ILT20 match live?

See our ILT20 live streaming guide for TV channels and streaming options by country, including ZEE5 in India.

When is the toss for today's ILT20 match?

The toss takes place 30 minutes before the first ball: 6:00 PM UAE time for evening matches and 1:30 PM UAE time for afternoon matches on doubleheader days. The result and both playing XIs appear on this page right after the toss.

Where can I buy tickets for today's match?

Through the league's official partners only. See our ILT20 tickets guide for the expected sale date, official sellers and the Season 4 price reference.

Where is today's ILT20 match being played?

Check the fixture card at the top of this page on matchdays, or the full schedule for venues of all 34 matches.

Who won the last ILT20 match between these two teams?

Desert Vipers beat MI Emirates by 46 runs in the Season 4 final on 4 January 2026 in Dubai. That is why the Season 5 opener is framed as a revenge fixture.

What happens if today's match is rained off?

Rain is rare in the UAE in November and December. If weather or any other reason stops play, the league announces the reserve arrangements and this page carries the official update.