Vipers vs DC, Final at Dubai, ILT20, Feb 09 2025 - Match Result

So the Dubai Capitals players proceed to take the trophy and celebrate together under the night floodlights, with fireworks all around the pitch. That concludes the play from today's match here as well. Thank you for tuning in. I hope you liked the thrilling grand finale of the DP World ILT20 2025 season. This is Rashad signing off on behalf of Vairavan and the rest of the ESPNCricinfo team. Goodnight and farewell.

Captain of Dubai Capitals Sam Billings: "Phenomenal! What a game of Cricket! A few of us can watch down in the dressing room for a while, but yeah, both teams, played some really good cricket throughout the tournament. And yeah, thankfully, the guys got the job done tonight. A couple of incredible knocks to get us across the line where the game was pretty much gone. Phenomenal team effort. I thought, again, we did a lot of really good stuff. I thought, Max Holden had shown his class and played beautifully, put us under early pressure, and then, obviously, the guys towards the back end, Sam Curran, the way he's playing at the moment is one of the best players in the world, I believe. We knew that they were gonna put us under pressure at different points and look. You can always overanalyze it, but sometimes you can say some really good batting, allowed us kind of to make those mistakes, but I think pretty much carbon copy both teams a little bit. Yeah, some quality striking at different times. I mean to have the quality, like, someone likes Sikandar Raza at number seven, and then obviously Scott Kuggeleijn at eight, and then Qais as well can strike it really well at nine. So it was obviously a lot of conversations over the last couple of days. How we wanted to balance our side out, having kind of bowling options also in your top seven batting options gives me a lot of flexibility as a captain. Really nice, balanced side. (Owners) Oh, huge man! 16-17 years, their first trophy. Two incredible human beings, Kiran and Richa. They gave me my first opportunity at the IPL in 2015, but a lot of the guys have played for them in other competitions as well. Two just incredibly genuine people. Very, very kind and very, very calm as well. A lot of the owners can kind of get involved, but they're very, very calm. This is as much for them as it is for everyone. They deserve it more than anyone. (Sikandar Raza) Quality cricketer and three-dimensional of course. When you win a tournament, it's not just down to one person. It's down to a huge squad and the senior players stepping up at different times as he showed tonight. That's why he's such a big signing all around the world, so. Yeah, high-pressure moments come in, and playing that knock is pretty special. So huge credit to him. (Flight Tomorrow) I think I moved it a little bit later, so the babysitter Jerry's down there. Hopefully, we'll have a good party tonight and enjoy it, because obviously, this is why you play the game. Winning trophies is what it's all about so very, very special. It's a brilliant facility, played a lot of cricket here now and, when it's full, it's one of the loudest Stadium I have played in. Thanks to obviously the huge popularity over the last three years. I think you've seen it grow and grow in this region, and it's such a great sign for the game all around the world. Keep growing the game of cricket. So many people love it. So, to see a packed house tonight and to give them a game that was worthy of it was great!"

Red Belt (Most Valuable Player) & Captain of Desert Vipers Sam Curran: "I'm obviously reasonably flat right now, but I guess there was an amazing game, it's a small accolade, and it probably is tough to take when you lose a tournament like that. But yeah, thoroughly enjoyed my season with the Vipers, probably one of the most favorite seasons I've had in franchise Cricket. Professional setup and such a great bunch of guys. Sorry to the Vipers fans and everyone, and hopefully next time we'll be the one better. It's about a game where they probably came to the Vipers. There's a lot of coaching stuff there, and people I knew and real clarity and stuff like that. It's been really exciting, and just taking on those roles in the middle order, with the Bat and being adapted with the balls. So I guess, a thoroughly enjoyable season. The Capitals have had a few wins over us in the group stage, and we felt really confident had a great win in Sharjah the other evening, but I thought we had a really good score on the board tonight. And you can look into so many different ways, which we're probably slightly going wrong, but I'm extremely proud of everyone, and the team and the coaching staff and everyone. So I guess, Congrats to the Capitals. (Vipers Franchise) I guess it's just the consistency. Obviously, I came for a couple of games last season, and it's just the professionalism and the family feel towards it, and obviously, you can see down there. There are so many families involved in the whole group. think we've got to really be proud of what we achieved this season, and hopefully go one better next time.

Player of the Match Rovman Powell: "Yeah, it feels really good. Halfway in the competition, not a lot of opportunities, but I just keep believing knowing that when it's crunch time, crunch players come to the party. We have done a lot of work back home, and we have done a lot of work during the three weeks that we've been accredited have to be given to the coaching staff and the guys, we build a fantastic camaraderie in the group. I think that carries us all the way. Obviously, you need a little bit of luck. You're gonna get some luck early out. Yeah, but I think it was, it was controlled in a sense where I tried to get the boundaries, and once I got the boundaries I just rode to it. It's important to go as long as possible. (What still drives you?) Yeah, a lot of things. I'm the captain of my country. There are a lot of guys looking at me for inspiration and just the background from where I'm from. I'm from a humble beginning. So, to be here in Dubai, playing in a DP World final, it's a privilege."

DP World Dispatch of the Season: Shai Hope

The Cycle Hub Catch of the Season: Luke Wood and David Payne

White Belt (Best Bowler): Fazalhaq Farooqi

Green Belt (Best Batter): Shai Hope

Blue Belt (Best UAE Player): Mohammad Waseem

Post Match Presentation Ceremony coming up shortly.

Dubai Capitals Batting Coach Ian Bell: "It's been a fantastic tournament through the highs and lows. There are some brilliant teams, brilliant players, world-class all the way through. So, to get over the line in a competition like that is a credit to all the players. The calmness they showed there under pressure at the back end was fantastic. As Sikandar said, we back all the players in through the highs and lows, and the quality showed at the end there. Yeah, I think from a coaching point of view, we wanted to be as calm as possible and not put any pressure on the players. If we can take as much off, so, look, I thought, today, and through the competition we've managed to do that as a batting unit, we've dovetailed all the way through. Guys have stood up at the right moments. As the candidate today and Rovman as well. Have a massive shout to him, he's moved up and down the batting order at times and been selfless for the team, and then today came out on the final and did what he did today and got back in the game, which is amazing. So, like I said, you trust the players. I think that's, that's important. The way the Desert Vipers are batting, particularly put us under a lot of pressure, and good teams can do that. I think sometimes in big games like this, you accept that other teams are allowed to play well, but it's just great that under pressure again as we talked, and I kind of talked to Sikandar at training trying to have guys have clarity. So when this moment comes, you can go and enjoy it and show off your talent to the world."

GC: "Raza says "I have an early morning flight so I will celebrate in Zimbabwe. We have a series versus Ireland" Thank you for such commitment. "

Sikandar Raza: "I think certainly, you feel really proud and amazing and humble at the same time. Because we have grafted it for three years and we didn't build this success overnight, we have had our Eliminator that we got knocked out in the first season. Then they lost the final as well. So suddenly, the lessons we learned from the last final certainly sort of helped us to win this final. So really happy, but I think the real feeling will sink in in a few hours. (Performing in the crunch moment) I think the beauty about this culture and everybody, whether we are players or the technical staff, is even though I wasn't having such a great tournament, at no point did anybody doubt my ability, or the skills that I had everybody backed me with the bat and with the ball and in the field, even when Sam Billings came. I was named as a deputy as well, because of the confidence and management has in me on and off the park as well. So, all those things once you have all those confidence in the changing room, the culture we're building the changing room suddenly. This wasn't just about skill. It was about character and confidence certainly, that we built in the changing room. I think there are two reasons personally. For me, everybody's different. One thing is clarity because at no point did the management or my team lose any confidence in my ability, even though I wasn't having such a great tournament. I think the expectations from last year's, but having said that, we moved up and down the order, to manage everybody. And I think this team has certainly been selfless, but apart from that, emotions sort of give me energy and power, and I try and fuel that and channel that in the right direction, and it's not in anger or desperation or anything like that. It is motivation. So, all those emotions, if I'm asked to open the inning or bat at seven, it doesn't really bother me. Whatever the role that's been assigned to me, we have played so much cricket and the way we train as well. We practice for all the roles that could come our way. At one point, I was supposed to bat at number five. We had a partnership, I was told to bat at six. We had another partnership, I was told to bat at seven, so you remain calm because of the clarity of the roles and the fact that we have trained and with a purpose for those who all suddenly become easier to control those emotions as you mentioned. (Where's the party tonight) Well, I've got an early morning flight, so I'll probably celebrate in Zimbabwe. We've got an ODI game against Ireland on the 14th, so I've got to get home early, enjoying the team as quickly as possible, but I will certainly be joining my teammates for an hour or so at least."

David Warner: "Look, the most important thing here is this about the GMR family. I think here, I had a couple of games off, I had a bit of a back spasm. It's an opportunity for us to give that trophy to the GMR, who have fought long and hard. We've lost a lot of finals, but this is a special one for them. (Turning moment) Especially the knock from Rovman. I think the way that Shai has performed this whole entire tournament, was cool, calm, and composed. We knew we could lock up one end and then Rovman and the rest of the boys to come out and play their knock. But I think that momentum shifted after the first couple of wickets. I think in the middle period we backed ourselves to sort of take it deep. We knew they only had five bowling options, so I think the guys took advantage of maybe the spin overs. But I think the key to it all staying nice and still, and we've had some practice on this wicket. And we've posted some good totals, and we've chased some good totals. So, look, it's a fantastic effort by the guys.

Scott Kuggeleijn: "I'm stoked. I've been in a few finals the last few years as well. They haven't gone our way, so no, I'm stoked. And yeah, yeah, still sinking in (Laughter).Well, it's been all around the board, so there's a lot of confidence in everyone on the side. I mean, I've only played three games this tournament, but there's a serious amount of form with our middle to lower order with the bat, and our bowlers have done a hell of a job. So now, I did have a lot of confidence, but on finals day, you never know."

Rovman Powell: I'm feeling elated. We have worked extremely hard over the last three weeks or so. Credit has to be given to the guys in the dressing room. I think even when we lost three games in a row, we felt some pressure. We stayed calm. (Second Chance) I think the innings were just a matter of belief, if the competition it's been very, very silent. For me, I haven't gotten the opportunity that I really wanted. Today is a final, and I always know that in our final big player stand-up, I was disappointed that I didn't get some bat on the ball down the leg side. But in cricket, you need a little bit of luck at times. I think I've done a lot of work at home. Over Christmas, the festive season, I've done a lot of work. When I come here, I use the facilities wisely. Every day, I keep tapping up on my skills knowing that it will, the crunch game will come, and I as one of the players will have to stand up and deliver. It means a lot. I've been in a lot of finals. We've been in a final last year and lost, but a lot of credit has to be given to our owners. It's 17 years. They haven't won a title, and it goes as a testament to how good they have been as individuals a lot of credit to Kiran and the GMR family."

The Dubai Capitals won their inaugural International League T20 (ILT20) title with a stunning four-wicket victory over the Desert Vipers in the final. This is the GMR Group's first franchise tournament championship; earlier, its teams finished second in the Women's Premier League (WPL) and Major League Cricket. The Dubai Capitals maintained their domination over the Desert Vipers, winning their fourth game against them this season and retaining an unbeaten streak in their head-to-head meetings. This final victory not only secured the Capitals' first ILT20 title, but also solidified their lead over the Vipers during the tournament. The Capitals suffered an early loss when they lost their opener David Warner in the second over. Shai Hope and Rovman Powell, on the other hand, stabilised the innings, with Powell leading the way with his power hitting. Hope performed an important anchoring role, responding well to the game's conditions. Dasun Shanaka scored 21 runs off ten balls, capitalising on Rahmanullah Gurbaz's dropped catch attempt. Azam Khan made a critical error behind the stumps as he failed to properly collect the ball while trying to stump Rovman Powell. His error transformed a potential stumping expulsion into a no-ball, giving Powell a lifeline. Powell seized the chance and went on to knock a match-winning 63 off 38 balls, playing an important part in Dubai Capitals' victorious chase. This squandered opportunity cost the Desert Vipers dearly in the high-stakes finale. After Powell left for a well-made 63 off 38 balls, Sikandar Raza took over, slamming 34 runs off only 12 balls to lead the Capitals to victory with four balls to spare. The Vipers' fielding issues, which included dropped catches and stumping opportunities, were costly in this high-stakes game. Mohammad Amir and David Payne each grabbed two wickets, with Sam Curran and Nathan Sowter taking one each. This victory not only ensures the Dubai Capitals' first ILT20 title, but also ends the GMR Group's run of close calls in franchise cricket finals.

GC: "As a Zimbabwean I am happy for our captain Raza. He showed how good he is especially when under pressure. He has bailed Zimbabwe out of similar or situations many times before. What a complete player!"

NKR Jr.: "Sikandar Raza, one of the finest all-rounders in contemporary cricket playing a blistering knock at the most crucial juncture of the final. Take a bow!"

From Sampath: Two of the top four biggest chases in T20 finals have come in space of three days - 195 in BPL on Friday and 190 in ILT20 today.

4-0 record against a team in a men's T20 tournament:

CSK vs SRH, IPL 2018

Gladiators vs Zalmi, PSL 2019

MI vs CSK, IPL 2019

MI vs DC, IPL 2020

Scorchers vs Sixers, BBL 2021-22

Capitals vs Vipers, ILT20 2025

Srinath : "Don't care if Billings is captaining this game!! Raza is the captain of our hearts!! What a champion!!! "

Dubai Capitals won the match by 4 wickets

This is Sikandar's highest score of the season, and what a time to play it!

9 runs needed from 6 balls, Khuzaima against Sikandar

Amir to bowl the penultimate over, 24 off 12

37 runs needed from 18 balls, here's Sowter to bowl the 18th over

Sikandar Raza in at number 7

Zain: "Gotta feel for Azam, like if that over Curran gives up 8-9 runs, takes a wicket - his team wins, but he gave up 16 runs. Lots of blame outside Azam (Shanaka dropped on 1!!)" Desert Vipers' fielding has been quite bad throughout the campaign.

Over the wicket