Gulf Giants take on MI Emirates at Sheikh Zayed Stadium on December 23, 2025, in Match 26 of the ILT20 2025–26 season. MI Emirates are flying high in second place with 10 points from eight games, while the Giants sit fourth with six points and fading playoff hopes.
MI Emirates have won four of their last five, powered by Tom Banton (278 runs), Nicholas Pooran (248), and captain Kieron Pollard’s leadership. With the ball, Fazalhaq Farooqi (9 wickets) and young spinner AM Ghazanfar (8 wickets, economy 6.98) have been standouts.
For the Giants, four straight losses have hurt their campaign. Skipper James Vince (255 runs) and explosive opener Pathum Nissanka (243 runs, SR 186.92) remain their best hopes. Azmatullah Omarzai (11 wickets) and Aayan Afzal Khan (7 wickets, economy 6.44) have impressed with the ball.
Both sides have match winners—but only MI Emirates has momentum.
MI Emirates vs Gulf Giants ILT20 Match Preview
Sheikh Zayed Stadium has been great for batters so far in ILT20 2025-26. Teams batting first usually put up around 171, and they’ve won five out of eight games that way. The pitch gives you true bounce and steady pace, so batters can really go after their shots. For the Giants, this game is huge—they have to win to keep their playoff dreams alive.
Fast bowlers get some movement early on, but once the ball loses its shine, batting gets a lot easier. Spinners come into play in the middle overs, especially if the pitch slows down in the second innings. If a team gets 180 or more, that usually puts them in a strong position here.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Match | Gulf Giants vs MI Emirates |
| Date | 23rd December, 2025 |
| Time | 6:30 PM Local / 8:00 PM IST |
| Venue | Sheikh Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi |
| Tournament | International League T20 2025-26 |
Pitch Report
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Pitch Type | Batting-friendly surface with true bounce |
| Average Score | 171 runs in ILT20 2025-26 |
| Favours | Teams batting first |
| Surface | True bounce early, slows down in the second innings |
| Wicket Distribution | Pacers get early movement; spinners are effective later |
| Dew Factor | Mild dew is expected in the second innings |
| Toss Factor | Batting first preferred |
Weather Report
| Condition | Details |
|---|---|
| Temperature | High 23°C / Low 17°C |
| Humidity | 55-60% |
| Wind Speed | Light breeze |
| Rain Chance | 0% (Clear skies expected) |
| Overall | Perfect cricket weather |
Toss Prediction
This season at Sheikh Zayed Stadium, teams batting first have taken control, winning five out of eight games. The pitch really favors batters early on, and scores over 180 keep popping up in those first innings. After the break, things slow down, and spinners come into play. Sure, sometimes dew creeps in during the evening, but honestly, it hasn’t made much difference. So if you win the toss, just go ahead and bat first. Get that 180-plus on the board—that’s how you really put the other side under pressure.
Injury Updates
Gulf Giants: No major injuries reported. James Vince leads a fully fit squad into this crucial encounter.
MI Emirates: No significant injury concerns. Kieron Pollard captains a strong squad with all key players available.
Dream11 Team For MIE vs GG
MI Emirates vs Gulf Giants Head-to-Head Records
These two teams have gone back and forth. In their last five games, the Gulf Giants took three, and MI Emirates grabbed two. When they met earlier this season on December 4, the Giants cruised to a 6-wicket win, finishing with 32 balls to spare. But last season, MI Emirates turned the tables in Qualifier 1, winning by 45 runs. They know each other’s game by now, so you can bet this matchup will be a good one.
Last Five Matches
- Giants won by 6 wickets (with 32 balls remaining), 04-Dec-2025
- MI Emirates won by 5 wickets (with 5 balls remaining), 31-Jan-2025
- Giants won by 2 wickets (with 0 balls remaining), 25-Jan-2025
- MI Emirates won by 45 runs, 14-Feb-2024
- Giants won by 5 runs, 08-Feb-2024
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Top Picks For The Match
| Player | Reason |
|---|---|
| Azmatullah Omarzai (Captain) | 11 wickets in 5 matches at an exceptional strike rate of 10.9, can contribute with the bat too |
| AM Ghazanfar (Vice Captain) | 8 wickets at an excellent economy of 6.98, young Afghan spinner crucial on a slowing pitch |
| K Mayers | Batting All-rounder with an average of 117 for playing with GG |
| Tom Banton | Leading run-scorer for MIE with 278 runs at 30.89 average, consistent opener |
| Nicholas Pooran | 248 runs at 31 average, explosive left-hander who can change games quickly |
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