After coming up short in 2024, Dubai Capitals were crowned winners of the DP World ILT20’s third season after being Desert Vipers by four wickets in Dubai on Sunday. Set a target of 190, the Capitals crossed the finish line in the final over of a pulsating final with Sikandar Raza not out 34 off 12 balls having hit four and six to clear the dugout. 

This also gave Capitals a distinguished record this ILT20 season –  that of having won all four matches against Desert Vipers in 2025. The franchise won both of their league stage matches against Vipers, then entered the final having won Qualifier 1, and finally in the summit clash Sam Billings and his team once more put one past them.

Heartbreak for Vipers, who topped the league stage and looked worthy contenders for the ILT20 title, and jubilation for Capitals who were a very consistent team this year. 

Chasing 190, Capitals slipped to 31/3 as Mohammad Amir nipped out Billings and the in-form Gulbadin Naid, but Shai Hope’s measured 43 off 39 deliveries steadied the innings. When Sam Curran dismissed Hope to end an 80-run partnership with Rovman Powell, the equation for Capitals was 79 runs from 6.3 overs. That came down to 65 off five overs after Powell raised his half-century in 30 balls, and helping push the chase towards a climactic end was Sri Lankan allrounder Dasun Shanaka who clubbed 21 off just 10 deliveries. 

Powell ended up smashing 63 off 38 balls with seven fours and three sixes, and the man of the moment turned out to be Raza who ended up hitting the winning runs as Capitals won with four deliveries left in the match. The Zimbabwean allrounder struck Amir for a six and four in the 20th over to get Capitals across the line and crowned ILT20 champions. 

Earlier, Englishman Max Holden’s innings of 76 off 51 balls had formed the anchor for Vipers before Curran finished a strong campaign with 62 not out from 33 balls, helping his team to 189/5 in their 20 overs. Holden’s strong touch helped Vipers end the Powerplay on 53/2 and he reached his fifty off 32 balls. After the exit of Dan Lawrence for 10 in a partnership of 41, Holden combined with skipper Curran to put on 67 in 29 deliveries. Curran needed just 28 balls for his half-century, hitting five fours and three sixes, while Azam Khan provided a late flurry of boundaries by hitting 27 off 13 deliveries. 

Brief scores: Dubai Capitals 191/6 in 19.2 overs (Rovman Powell 63, Shai Hope 43, Sikandar Raza 34*) beat Desert Vipers 189/5 in 20 overs (Max Holden 76, Sam Curran 62*, Azam Khan 27) by four wickets