Desert Vipers vs Abu Dhabi Knight Riders: The 9th match of the International League T20 2025 features the Desert Vipers and the Abu Dhabi Knight Riders at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on January 18, 2025.

Head-to-Head Record:

• Total Matches Played: 3
• Desert Vipers Wins: 2
• Abu Dhabi Knight Riders Wins: 1

Pitch Characteristics

The pitch at Dubai International Cricket Stadium is known for its consistent bounce and true nature, making it favorable for stroke play. Batsmen can play their shots with confidence, especially during the middle overs. Spinners often find assistance as the game progresses, with the pitch offering turn and bounce, making them crucial in the latter stages of the innings.

Boundaries

The stadium features relatively short straight boundaries, which can lead to high-scoring matches, particularly in T20 formats. Batsmen who can play straight drives and lofted shots over the long-on and long-off regions often find success here.

Weather Conditions

Dubai’s climate is typically hot and dry, with temperatures soaring during the day and cooling down in the evening. Humidity levels can be high, especially during the summer months, but evening matches often benefit from cooler temperatures, making it conducive for a full T20 match without significant interruptions.

Toss Impact

In T20 domestic matches at Dubai International Cricket Stadium, the team batting second has a higher win rate. Out of 136 matches, the batting first team has won 54 times, while the batting second team has won 81 times, with 1 tie. The average score for the team batting first is 158 runs. This suggests that chasing teams have a slight advantage, possibly due to the dew factor in the evening, which can make batting easier in the second innings.

Key Pitch Insights

• For Batters: The pitch offers consistent bounce, allowing batsmen to play their shots with confidence. The short straight boundaries favor aggressive stroke play, especially during the middle overs.
• For Bowlers: Seamers can expect early assistance with movement, particularly under lights. Spinners often find turn and bounce as the game progresses, making them crucial in the middle and death overs.

Desert Vipers vs Abu Dhabi Knight Riders Predicted Playing XIs

Desert Vipers:

Fakhar Zaman, Alex Hales, Daniel Lawrence, Sam Curran, Sherfane Rutherford, Tanish Suri (wk), David Payne, Wanindu Hasaranga, Ali Naseer, Lockie Ferguson (c), Luke Wood

Abu Dhabi Knight Riders:

Philip Salt (wk), Kyle Mayers, Joe Clarke, Michael-Kyle Pepper, Alishan Sharafu, Andre Russell, Laurie Evans, Sunil Narine (c), Jason Holder, David Willey, Shahid Iqbal Bhutta

Probable Best Players of the Match

Desert Vipers

Best Batter: Alex Hales

Reason: Alex Hales has been in exceptional form, amassing 314 runs in 10 matches at an average of 31.4 and a strike rate of 131.93. His consistent performance at the top of the order makes him a key player for the Desert Vipers.

Best Bowler: Wanindu Hasaranga

Wanindu Hasaranga has been exceptional with the ball, taking 11 wickets in 7 matches at an economy rate of 5.96 and a strike rate of 14.72. His leg-spin has been instrumental in controlling the middle overs and providing crucial breakthroughs.

Abu Dhabi Knight Riders

Best Batter: Kyle Mayers

Reason: Kyle Mayers has been a consistent performer, contributing significantly with the bat. His ability to anchor the innings and accelerate when needed makes him a key player for the Knight Riders.

Best Bowler: David Willey

Reason: David Willey has been effective with the ball, taking 10 wickets in 10 matches with an economy rate of 7.08 and a strike rate of 21.6. His skill in containing runs and picking up wickets makes him a crucial part of the bowling attack.

Session Predictions & Tips

First Innings Powerplay (Overs 1-6):

• Batting First Team: Expect to score between 40-50 runs with the loss of 1-2 wickets. The pitch offers swing and bounce with the new ball, providing assistance to seamers. However, batsmen can capitalize on the conditions as the innings progresses.
  Sporting News

First 10 Overs:

• Batting First Team: If the top order performs well, anticipate a total of 80-90 runs or more. The average first innings score in T20 matches at this venue is around 158 runs, indicating favorable conditions for batters.
  SportsF1

Death Overs (Overs 16-20):

• Batting First Team: Aim for 60-70 runs through aggressive hitting, especially from lower-order power hitters. The shorter square boundaries facilitate boundary scoring during the final overs.

Desert Vipers vs Abu Dhabi Knight Riders: Match Prediction

• Scenario 1: Desert Vipers Bat First
  • Projected Score: The Vipers are expected to post a total between 170-180 runs. Their batting lineup, featuring Alex Hales and Sherfane Rutherford, has been in excellent form, with consistent contributions from the top order. The Knight Riders’ bowlers, including Sunil Narine and Andre Russell, will need to be at their best to restrict the Vipers.
• Scenario 2: Abu Dhabi Knight Riders Bat First
  • Projected Score: The Knight Riders are expected to score between 160-170 runs. Their batting lineup, featuring Laurie Evans and Joe Clarke, has shown promise, with contributions from the top order. The Vipers’ bowling attack, led by Lockie Ferguson and Wanindu Hasaranga, will aim to contain the Knight Riders’ batsmen.

Powerplay Predictions

• Desert Vipers: Expected to score 50-55 runs for the loss of 1-2 wickets.
• Abu Dhabi Knight Riders: Expected to score 45-50 runs for the loss of 1-2 wickets.