Sam Billings hails collective effort after Dubai Capitals win their maiden ILT20 title

Dubai Capitals captain Sam Billings lauded the collective effort of the team after they registered a four-wicket win against Desert Vipers in the final of the ILT20 2025 at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai on Sunday.

Desert Vipers posted a competitive total of 189 runs on the board after they were put into bat by Billings. Max Holden and Sam Curran scored 76 and 62 runs respectively to help their team post a fighting score.

On the other hand, Dubai Capitals had their backs against the wall as they were reeling at 31-3 after 4.5 overs. However, two West Indies’ batters – Shai Hope and Rovman Powell added 80 runs to steady the ship.

Hope and Powell scored 43 and 62 runs respectively whereas the finishing touches were added by Sikandar Raza, who scored a fine cameo of 12-ball 34.

Sam Billings said in the post-match presentation, “To have the quality of someone like Raza at 7 and Scotty Kuggeleijn at 8 and even Qais at 9, who can strike it. Lots of conversations and to have bowling and batting options gave us a lot of flexibility.”

Billings showered praise on Sikandar Raza for his blistering knock towards the fag end.

He added, “He is a quality cricketer, three-dimensional. When you win a tournament, it is not down to one person and it is down to the squad. High pressure moments and to do it in a final is such a big thing.”

Meanwhile, Rovman Powell was awarded Player of the Match for his match-winning knock in the summit clash.

Powell said, “It feels really good. Did not get many chances earlier but I keep believing, when it is crunch time, crunch players come to the party. We have done a lot of work back home, credit to the coaching team, we have a fantastic camaraderie in the group. You need to have a little bit of luck and I got it. It is about control and I got the boundaries. I’m captain of my country and lots of guys look up to me. I’m from a humble background and to be playing a final in Dubai is a privilege.”