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Very rarely at the halfway mark do you get two teams with exactly the same campaign. This is one such time. MI Emirates and the Abu Dhabi Knight Riders both started off with a loss, won the second, lost the third and have now won the fourth with ease.&nbsp;They’re set to clash at home, our shared home in Abu Dhabi in the first of back-to-back games. It’s a wonderful rivalry this where we enjoy the upper hand. It’s the perfect time for us to gain some momentum in the tournament as we head into the second half.&nbsp;&nbsp;What: Abu Dhabi Knight Riders vs MI Emirates&nbsp;When: January 21, 2025 | 18:30 GST, 20:00 ISTWhere: Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi&nbsp;What to expect: This is a chasing ground. Also, this should be fun battle of the West Indians with Nicholas Pooran, Kieron Pollard, Akeal Hosein and Alzarri Joseph on the MI Emirates side squaring off against Andre Russell, Sunil Narine, Kyle Mayers and Jason Holder. There’s always spice when such bragging rights are at stake.&nbsp;&nbsp;

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Match 5 | ADKRvMIE preview: Both teams with L,W,L,W campaigns looking to break the jinx

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Paras Mhambrey, Bowling Coach has a nice ring to it. He’s no stranger to the #OneFamily, having been an integral part of the Mumbai Indians coaching setup from 2010-2017. He’s back in 2025 after stints with the National Cricket Academy in India and of course, the Indian Bowling Coach in the Rahul David-led regime that saw Rohit Sharma and Co. lift the T20 World Cup after sixteen long years.&nbsp;He’s back in the Blue and Gold, and while we might have to wait a few more months to see him at the Wankhede chalking out plans of bringing home IPL title #6, he’s here in the UAE, as the Bowling Coach of MI Emirates, indulging in an exclusive chat with miemirates.com. Excerpts..&nbsp;&nbsp;Back in the Blue and Gold family after eight years! Could you put your finger on a couple of moments or memories from your days in the MI setup that still make you smile?A lot of good memories. In 2010, in my first season with MI even though we didn’t cross the line, we qualified for the final for the first time. The level at which we played gave a lot of personal satisfaction. Just that one Final shouldn’t define the way we played. The semis was a tough game, overcoming that hurdle. In the final, you had Sachin Tendulkar who had stitches in his webbing, he couldn’t hold a bat. So many good memories of that game. The first year was special, getting a feel of the franchise, the IPL, was very special.&nbsp;&nbsp;You’re coming off a very successful stint with the Indian team which ended in the World Cup win. Having had the time to reflect now, what would be the proudest moments in that tenure?We got that T20 World Cup in the West Indies and we partied over there, but when we landed in India, that’s when it hit us. That’s when we realized what it meant to the people. When we landed at the airport, the crowd out there, the way everyone was welcomed was amazing. Then we went on a drive from Marine Drive to Wankhede. It was phenomenal. It showed what it meant to the people of our country. To be able to live that moment and contribute to the dreams of a billion people was special. The distance must have been just 200 meters, but it took us two hours. We could see lakhs of people. It was a very special moment.&nbsp; &nbsp;Maybe I’ll go back a little bit. For me, in all the years as Coach, we won against Australia and England, and those are special victories, but for me, it is the 2023 50-over World Cup. Even though we didn’t win the final, the way we played from the first game to the final, everyone contributed. It was a team decision on how we wanted to approach the World Cup, led by the captain and everyone putting themselves on the line. It was fabulous even though we didn’t win the World Cup. It was a special memory purely for the environment in the team, the challenges we faced and the way we overcame that. After the final, when I walked into the dressing room and saw the faces, I could see they were all physically and mentally drained.&nbsp;&nbsp;At MI Emirates now, you’re set to join hands with Robin Singh, whom you’ve worked with as a Coach in the past and Vinay Kumar, whom you’ve worked with in the past as a player. A word reuniting with the 2017 MI winning cast.&nbsp;I go back a long way with Robin. When I came into my first year in the IPL, Robin was there. He is very passionate about the game. You can make out his involvement from the conversations. It’s nice getting back. As a player, Vinay has given everything for his franchise. That’s the respect he commands for just the way he went about. We share a great atmosphere in the team, in the setup, the communications are good. There is respect for everyone and everyone gives everyone space.&nbsp; &nbsp;You were around when Bumrah came into the MI setup as a young raw talent. You worked closely with him in his starting days at MI and then saw his growth into becoming a match-winner as the Bowling Coach with the Indian team. What do you think makes him the best in the world?&nbsp;I think if you just look back at the journey he’s had, it’s a phenomenal journey. As a rookie he was picked up at the IPL and he wasn’t known at all. That’s where the MI setup comes in, in terms of support staff and the scouts having an eye for a player like this. John (Wright) was the guy who had a look at him and suggested his name to the management. It speaks a lot about the team that works here. Obviously the skills were there. It is important for a young guy coming in, it is important to give him the best of physios, trainers, having the right people to guide you, senior players.&nbsp;You have to give credit to Bumrah in the way he has evolved as a player. He is so focused. He is aware of his game. He has a constant need to improve. That’s why he is number one. He’s the best in the world in all three formats. Don’t judge players by the number of games he’s played, but also on the impact he’s made in all three formats. Very few bowlers in the world create that impact in all three formats. His numbers in T20s, ODIs and Tests speak about his work ethics. He’s one of the few guys who enjoys playing Test cricket. He just doesn’t leave the ball. He has taken a liking to captaining the team as well, and I am very happy about it. He doesn’t just focus on his game, he is very inclusive. He understands his role is also about grooming, assisting others, which he has taken to very nicely. Others in the team recognize and acknowledge that. For me that is good to see. It’s not just winning games for the country. It’s about leaving an impact on everyone.&nbsp;&nbsp;And how much better do you think he can get from here?I don’t think he’s a guy who looks at numbers. Just being able to win and contribute to the team’s success is what he’ll be looking at. Fingers crossed, I just hope his body supports him here. His action saps up a lot of energy. My worry will always be the longevity of this individual. We have got to take care of him. It is easy to get away from the goal. He needs to be around for Indian cricket. I’m sure he wants to play, but we have to be smart on how to use him. On a personal front, I think he would just want to be doing what he is doing. You look at him on the ground and you know he is enjoying himself. When you sit in the dressing room thinking, ‘oh this is what he should be doing now’, invariably, he does exactly that the next ball. You understand he is thinking. He is reading the batters very well. You feel one of the fielders should have been deeper, boom, he moves it. Super fun sitting outside and watching him. It is a treat. I just hope I get to watch it for the next five years.&nbsp;&nbsp;Personally, you’ve been a coach at the NCA, the under-19s, the national team, and now in a franchise like MI Emirates where you have a mix of youth and experience from all over the world. What are some of the coaching mantras you swear by?At that level, it is more about understanding what their requirement is, how I can be helpful to them. Because obviously, the experience is there, the skill is there. It is just one odd thing that you could change. It is just having that conversation with them and telling them, ‘see this is my observation, are you happy with what you’re doing’ and stuff. Just giving them that suggestion. Because a player is so engrossed in the game at that moment, small things get overlooked. That’s my job then to kind of point it out and address it with them. It’s important for me to keep pushing them and honestly suggest things. It’s important to create that trust with the player. He knows my intent is the team’s and the player’s benefit.&nbsp;&nbsp;With nine overseas players allowed in the playing XI, how different is coaching at MI Emirates in the ILT20 compared to other leagues?&nbsp;You need to understand that every individual out here has come in from a different dressing room and that all of them have been playing different roles for their teams. It will take a while. You can’t go in and stamp someone’s role. It is important for me to understand each individual and create a link amongst us. We need to understand how everyone fits in. At MI Emirates, we have a mix of quality fast bowlers and mystery spinners as well. It’s good as a captain to have those options available. You can also feel what MI Emirates means for the players. The credit has to go to the guys working in the team to feel that environment.&nbsp;

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Interview | Bowling Coach Paras Mhambrey on ILT20, Bumrah, the 2010 IPL season, T20 World Cup…

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He fought, and then had fun while he conquered this chase. Tom Banton, after turning his innings around and putting on that fine show, was at the post-match press-conference. Excerpts..&nbsp;Thoughts on his inningsThe first 25 balls, I did find tough. In the past I probably would have given it away, but now I feel I have got the responsibility. Nicholas Pooran speaks a lot about that to take it deep if it is your day. In the first ten balls or so, I was still on nought. It’s funny how cricket can change so quickly. I gave myself a chance and it came off.&nbsp;On the conversation with Kusal Mendis in the last overHe said, ‘you are two hits away’. I told him you’re too kind. But I told him at one point to finish this off quickly. Luckily I had two balls where I hit two sixes which was a great feeling. It’s a special day and something I’ll remember for the rest of my life.Whether he rates this as his best inningsI’d probably say so. I just want to contribute to the team wherever I am playing. I never say it is easy. Cricket is such a funny game. I was struggling at the start of my innings. I just told myself to stay calm. You are 2-3 balls from getting to a strike rate of 100 and you can go from there. We had one win in three and we had to win.&nbsp;Whether he’s been changing his batting approachI don’t think too far into that stuff. My job is to push pressure on the bowlers and score as quickly as I can, look to take my matchups when I can. It was a great day for me. We have to move on now and get ready for the next game.&nbsp;On facing Tim Southee and Adam MilneTim Southee and Adam Milne are probably two of the greatest bowlers the game has ever seen. Adam Milne bowled superbly upfront. You have to respect good bowling when there are world class bowlers. They are not going to put it on a plate for you. I kind of tried but it didn’t come off, but it was a good day.&nbsp;

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“Probably would have given it away in the past”: Banton on being 0 off 9 to getting 101 off 55

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We were in for a Sharjah treat, an absolute batting masterclass. Tom Banton, who’d already lit up the tournament a couple of games earlier, was in the mood to blaze it this afternoon in the desert. Let’s relive proceedings..&nbsp;The genius that is Fazalhaq FarooqiOn a pitch that is a batting beauty, in an innings where the rest of the bowlers are going at a minimum of nine run an over, this guy goes at six. And takes four wickets doing so. He struck in the second over of the match, dismissing the dangerous Jason Roy, then came back later to get rid of Johnson Charles who was batting on 59, before blowing over a couple more in the 18th over, ensuring that the Sharjah Warriorz ended up with a seemingly under-par 176 in their 20 overs.&nbsp;Kusal Perera Joins the partyThe signs were pretty evident in the previous game of him having found his rhythm. And in the company of Tom Banton here, he was happy to play second fiddle, taking his time and playing some risk-free cricket in his 42-ball knock of 56.&nbsp;Oh Tom Banton, the showman!102 runs | 55 balls | 10 fours | 6 sixes. And he got MI Emirates home in a canter. There was a point when getting to a century seemed a tad difficult, but he was simply in the zone, belting out sixes for fun, and with 13 runs left for victory, he found both with a couple of maximums off Dilshan Madushanka. To think he took nine balls to get off the mark!&nbsp;So we’ve jumped up to second spot on the points table with this win. Oh, it feels great. Now to win two on the bounce as we head home to Abu Dhabi.&nbsp;

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SWvMIE report: Tom Banton, Top Batting!

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A heartbreaking loss, a comprehensive win and a hard-fought loss. It’s been an up and down campaign thus far for the MI Emirates. We’re sitting somewhere in the middle in the points table, and have another game to knock off on the road before we head back home.&nbsp;The Sharjah Warriorz are in fact coming off an impressive 201-run chase against the Dubai Capitals. We have a mission to accomplish of getting back on the winning track. They seem to be high on confidence. Fazalhaq Farooqi and Tim Southee are set to battle it out for the pace bragging rights. Avishka Fernando and Kusal Perera have the Lankan dressing room bragging rights at stake. There’s Jason Roy vs Muhammad Waseem, Adil Rashid vs Allah Ghazanfar. Sharjah, a venue that has produced some of the most iconic matches in cricket history is set to play host. The desert is only getting hotter!&nbsp;What: Sharjah Warriorz vs MI Emirates&nbsp;When: January 19, 2025 | 14:00 GST, 15:30 IST&nbsp;Where: Sharjah Cricket Stadium, Sharjah&nbsp;What to expect: Runs, runs and more runs. After all, it’s a ground where 201 was chased without even going into the final over.&nbsp;

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Match 4 | SWvMIE: Time to move up the ladder in run-filled Sharjah

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Dan Mousley, with a couple of brilliant caught-and-bowled dismissals brought MI Emirates back firmly in the game. But with the dew coming down, it was always going to be hard work restricting the batters in the second innings. He talks about the conditions and the total that MIE posted in the post-match press interview. Excerpts..On the total at the halfway stageIt was one of those games where we were I thought 10-15 runs below par. For a bowling group, you have to scrap as much as you can. Zaman played beautifully with the bat and Sam Curran also had a really good knock. For us it was just about taking it as deep as we could with both bat and ball and see how it ended up. It finished in the last over and we took it as deep as possible.&nbsp;Thoughts on how the conditions changed in the second innings&nbsp;It’s one of those with the dew. It comes down and makes the wicket a lot better. We got just 160 when we could have gotten 170-175. We actually bowled pretty well with the ball.&nbsp;On being a player from England playing in the ILT20I love coming here. It is my third year in this competition and we have a great bunch of lads in the dressing room. It’s nice to get away from England with the cold weather. It’s a great competition with international superstars and we love coming here.&nbsp;On what dew does to bowlersAlmost does less when the dew comes down. The ball stops doing anything and comes on nicely. Batting second today looked easy. Some of the shots they were playing were a little bit easy with dew on the wicket.&nbsp;

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“We took it deep but were 10-15 runs below par”: Dan Mousley 

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Twist after twist. Turn after turn. But it wasn’t to be. While we fought hard, both with bat and ball, to come back from behind, sadly, the result wasn’t in our favour. Let’s relive the proceedings, shall we..&nbsp;KP gets us off to a KP-kind-of startAfter a couple of slightly quiet games, he Kusal Perera was back to doing what he’d done superbly in the previous season – getting us off to a solid start, first with Muhammad Waseem as the two got to 48 for no loss in the powerplay, and then with Tom Banton, to finish with five fours in his knock of 33.&nbsp;Pollard battles it out amidst a mini collapse&nbsp;With Nicholas Pooran and Tom Banton falling in quick succession and MI Emirates being in a spot of bother at 86/4 inside the 13th over, The Llord took over in typical style. He was happy to take it slow at first, before taking the game deep and exploding in the end for a very useful 23-ball 36.&nbsp;Romario gives it the finishing touches&nbsp;20 runs came off the 20th over, 14 came off the 19th, and MI Emirates had just the finish they needed to get to a par total of 159. That’s thanks largely to Romario Shepherd’s eight-ball 16, which included two massive sixes he hit off David Payne.&nbsp;From 62/0 to 71/3, our bowlers hit back&nbsp;Fakhar Zaman and Alex Hales got the Desert Vipers off to a solid start, but through Dan Mousley and Waqar Salamkheil, the brakes were put on their innings. Despite another partnership coming up, Zahoor Khan came strongly and opened the game up once again in the 19th over.&nbsp;Sadly, Rutherford finishes it off&nbsp;13 runs were needed off 11 balls. Both set batters in Zaman and Sam Curran were dismissed. But Sherfane Rutherford, courtesy a cheeky dab in the same over got the equation down to under a-run-a-ball, and then sealed it for the Vipers with a pull over backward square leg off the first ball of the 20th over.&nbsp;It might end up as an L against our name, but it was truly hard fought. We’ll be up against the Sharjah Warriorz next on the road on a hot Sunday afternoon, and we cannot wait to get our campaign back on the winning road.&nbsp;

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DVvMIE report: We claw back hard, but Rutherford’s cameo snatches it

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It’s always a spectacle when numbers one and two clash. MI Emirates are coming off a proper heartbreak in a one-run defeat against the Dubai Capitals, followed by a quick avenging of the same in the return fixture at home with a pretty comprehensive win. The Desert Vipers have aced two chases against the Abu Dhabi Knight Riders and the Gulf Giants in their two games. It promises to be mouth-watering as the two clash in Dubai. Check the temperatures, people. IT’S GOING TO GET REAL HOT!It’s been a tournament for the pacers so far, with the pitches having good carry and seam movement. How’s this for some prospective head-to-head: Kusal Perera vs Mohammad Amir, Fakhar Zaman vs Fazalhaq Farooqi, Nicholas Pooran vs Sam Curran, Kieron Pollard vs Lockie Ferguson. Oh, we cannot wait. Absolute fire awaits.What: Desert Vipers vs MI Emirates&nbsp;When: January 16, 2025 | 18:30 local time, 20:00 ISTWhere: Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai&nbsp;What to expect: This is a pretty intense rivalry with some real close encounters. We have gotten our caravan on the winning track, and we are all set to keep rolling and bringing home the points.&nbsp;&nbsp;

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Match 3 | DVvMIE preview: Clash of the table-toppers 

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A nice happy day for the MI #OneFamily with two comfortable wins at Cape Town and in Abu Dhabi. Tom Banton, one of the architects of MI Emirates’ 26-run win over the Dubai Capitals, with his 52-ball 74, was at the post-match press conference sharing his thoughts. Excerpts..&nbsp;On acing the conditions tonightI felt like I live here (laughs). It is a good wicket tonight, I realized that early. I also realized I had to give myself a chance which I didn’t do the other night. We just spoke about taking it deep and keep rotating the strike, and put it away when the ball is in your area. It is still T20 cricket at the end of the day and you have to take risks. Some days you put it away and some days you don’t. But a good day for MI Emirates.&nbsp;Discussions while batting with PooranHe just said keep taking it deep. He spoke to me this morning and just said, ‘go do your thing’. I have played a lot of T20 cricket now and have a better understanding of how I want to approach my innings.&nbsp;Thoughts on the wicket on offerThe wicket was beautiful tonight. Probably one of the best I have played on in a long time. It’s been a good day and hopefully it continues.&nbsp;On the ILT20 and the different players playingIt’s great to get guys from all over the world come together. MI Emirates have had such a good team which is why they won last year. You meet new people, new culture, new experiences, you are learning all the time. The dressing room is good. I am new to it so I am a bit quiet at the moment. But everyone is very welcoming and it is a great franchise to play for.&nbsp;Whether Shai Hope’s century made the team nervousIt could have gone either way. Shai Hope played beautifully and he was unlucky to not be on the winning side. That (Fazalhaq) Farooqui over where he took two wickets and went for just one or two runs really changed the game. Everyone did really well.&nbsp;On the few missed catches on the field&nbsp;Sometimes the game fades away slightly. It is something we speak about and pride ourselves in. We are going to keep training hard and hopefully it changes.&nbsp;

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“Pooran told me this morning to ‘just do my thing’”: Tom Banton

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The 1-run heartbreak from the other night has successfully been avenged, in style. It’s courtesy a complete performance, with a good batting start, a solid target, a clinical bowling performance. Our 2025 campaign, in a déjà vu to 2024, is off and running. Let’s go over some big moments..&nbsp;The 109-run entertainment&nbsp;Tom Banton and skipper Nicholas Pooran were having their share of fun. Banton was the more measured of the two, happy to play a bit of a second fiddle, but still amassing a 52-ball 74. Nicky P was being Nicky P. He was on a rampage, with two fours and six sixes in his 29-ball knock of 59. Despite a slight late collapse, MI Emirates did well to get to 187/7 in their 20 overs.&nbsp;The Hope-filled show for the CapitalsIt was a chase of two halves for the Dubai Capitals. Shai Hope alone got 101 off 59 balls, smashing a wonderful century and at one point looking like taking the game away from us. The rest of the batters along with the extras could only get 60 off 61 balls. That’s where our bowlers were excellent right through, refusing to ease up on the pressure.&nbsp;The stuff of dreams – Farooqui and his yorkers&nbsp;The Capitals needed 51 runs to win off 24 balls. Seven wickets remained Enter Fazalhaq Farooqi. With two pin-point yorkers right at the base of off-stump, Sikandar Raza and Dasun Shanaka were sent packing, and MI Emirates firmly had the game in their kitty.&nbsp;Right then, we’re officially on track and among the points. Let’s keep bringing them home..

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MIEvDC report: Banton, Pooran, Farooqi put us on the winning train

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It’s the perfect fixture we could’ve asked for at this point. After travelling to Dubai and ending up on the wrong side of the result in the last-ball finish over the Capitals, we have the opportunity to fix things immediately. An opportunity to put the heartbreak behind us.&nbsp;We are in Abu Dhabi, welcoming the Dubai Capitals this time around. Result aside, the game last night was a proper thriller. It had everything, from top class bowling courtesy Fazalhaq Farooqi, to some serious counter-attacking from Nicholas Pooran, to a rearguard act by Akeal Hosein, to Kieron Pollard nearly, so very nearly, finishing it off in style. Let’s hope for something similar, only, with us being on the right side of the result at the end.&nbsp;What: MI Emirates vs Dubai Capitals&nbsp;When: January 13, 2025 | 18:30 GST, 20:00 ISTWhere: Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi&nbsp;What to expect: Another fair contest between bat and ball. With the temperatures on the lower side and the ball nipping around, expect our seamers to continue calling the shots.&nbsp;

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Match 2 | MIEvDC preview: An immediate return fixture! Let’s avenge the 1-run heartbreak

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The pain is real. A brilliant fifer in the opening game of the season, but a tough loss at the end. Fazalhaq Farooqi ended the match against the Dubai Capitals with mixed feelings. He came out to speak to the media in the post-match press conference, and spoke about his skills, his bowling plans, the conditions. Excerpts..&nbsp;On his brilliant bowling spellFirstly, I’d like to thank God. I had a good start to the tournament, but sadly we lost the game. We will come back strong. My target isn’t to only take wickets. I look at the wicket first and then look to attack the stumps accordingly. My plan was simple, to bowl as many dot balls as possible. I got success just doing that.&nbsp;On everyone backing Kieron Pollard to finish the game&nbsp;We were hoping for the same. Such is cricket, sometimes people don’t defend even 20 runs, sometimes they defend even six runs. But we will come back.&nbsp;On his bowling plans at the startWhen Akeal Hosein bowled the first over, I asked him if it was swinging, and he said yes. When I bowled the first ball, it swung, and then I just looked to keep it simple. I just looked to swing the ball.&nbsp;Thoughts on the target for MI Emirates at the halfway markI knew it wouldn’t be easy. The wicket wasn’t easy and even good batters in their side couldn’t score runs easily. I knew we could win the game if we played sensibly. Unfortunately, we lost four wickets in the powerplay.&nbsp;On playing in Abu DhabiThe conditions in January in the UAE tend to help swing bowlers. So my focus is just to look for support and back my skills to perform well for my team. &nbsp;

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“This is cricket…but we will come back strongly”: Farooqi on last-ball loss after brilliant spell

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Kieron Pollard couldn’t believe it. He just stood, stunned. MI Emirates, after a tough start, had fought back superbly to the chase under control, before the Capitals pulled it back a bit to leave it at six runs being needed off the final ball to win. Farhan Khan ran in, big Polly swung, hard, over mid-wicket like he usually does, and found the gap as well perfectly. Alas, the elevation wasn’t quite there, with the ball falling just short of the boundary ropes.&nbsp;Sadly, it slips awayIt's a tough loss to take. We really had the game in control with Nicholas Pooran and Pollard batting out there and the equation coming down to 19 runs being needed off 18 balls. Pooran them smashed a boundary off the Gulbadin Naib’s second ball in the 18th over to bring it under a-run-a-ball. But he fell next ball, Alzarri Joseph fell a couple of balls later, Olly Stone bowled a brilliant 19th over where he gave away just one run, leaving Polly too much to get in the final over. He tried, he fought, but it wasn’t to be.&nbsp;Nicky P leads the recovery in Nicky P styleHe walked in with the team in trouble at 17/3. It soon became 22/4. But he counter-attacked. Not only did he stick around, he did it with runs scored at a quick clip with a 40-ball 61. He found good company in Akeal Hosein, who was happy to play second fiddle. Together, they put MI Emirates in control and got the chase on track.&nbsp;Farooqi leads the parade!The match, and indeed the season, were off to a perfect start, with a maiden over bowled by Akeal. Fazalhaq Farooqi then took over, never allowed the Dubai Capitals’ batters to settle, and kept plugging away, ending up with stunning figures of 5/16, while keeping the Capitals down to 133 in their 20 overs.Don’t worry, folks. This is just the start. Remember, in 2024 as well, we lost our first game. Surely you don’t need reminding of what happened after that. While it might be a difficult pill to swallow, let’s quickly move on .. &nbsp;

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DCvMIE report: INCHES SHORT, LITERALLY!! Oh, a 1-run heartbreak! 

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It’s been a year already! We’ve held the trophy in our cabinet with pride, and we are all set to bring it back in 2025. Season three of the ILT20 has arrived and MI Emirates are here to defend the crown.&nbsp;2024 was a dream season. We went on a winning roll, were supremely clinical through the season, and just didn’t stop until we lifted the coveted silverware. Nicholas Pooran and Co. couldn’t be more motivated to repeat the heroics once again. A large part of last year’s core is still here this time along as well, along with some fresh new blood, making this ILT20 a delicious combo.&nbsp;We start off on the road, in Dubai, in the arena where we became Champions, with a repeat clash of last year’s Finale against the Dubai Capitals. There really could be no better way than giving all our fans a moment to rejoice that victory moment all over again, and kick off this year’s campaign in style.&nbsp;What: Dubai Capitals vs MI Emirates &nbsp; When: January 11, 2025 | 18:30 GST, 20:00 IST Where: Dubai International Stadium, Dubai&nbsp; What to expect: Runs, runs, and more runs. This is the middle of the season in the UAE and pitches are expected to be fresh and good for stroke-making. We have the firepower. Let’s set the desert on fire, shall we!What they said: “He’s a big blow for us but we wish him the best for South Africa. The opportunity is there for the other players. There is the opportunity for Rohid, Zahoor and the other UAE guys and we hope they can step up,” – Nicholas Pooran on missing Trent Boult this year.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

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ILT20 season 3 | DCvMIE preview: Let’s bring it home, once again! 

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A fresh season, a renewed and refreshed side, and our new exciting stripes!&nbsp;The Blue and Gold that the MI Emirates would don for the third season of the ILT20 has been launched, and boy, we cannot stop loving it. It’s the colour and the thread of defending champions. With under a month to go until action kicks off in the desert, this is the perfect Christmas present we needed.&nbsp;Habibi, it’s time to paint Abu Dhabi in the colours of MIE!

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Habibi, the MI Emirates 2025 JERSEY is here! 

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The defending ILT20 Champions have appointed Paras Mhambrey and Carl Hopkinson as the Bowling and Fielding Coaches ahead of the 2025 season.&nbsp;Mhambrey was recently appointed Mumbai Indians’ Bowling Coach for IPL 2025, and has been a long-standing member of the #OneFamily, winning IPL 2023 and two Champions League T20s with the team. He’s coming in on the back of the high of winning the T20 World Cup with the Indian Men’s team as the Bowling Coach.&nbsp;Hopkinson, also recently named MI Fielding Coach, comes in with a pool of experience, leading the fielding unit of the England men’s cricket team for the past seven years. He played an instrumental role in their triumphant ODI World Cup 2019 and T20 World Cup 2022 campaigns. “Hoppo” was also Three Lions’ Fielding Coach for the ICC Under-19 World Cup 2022, where they finished as the runners-up after reaching the final for the first time since 1998.They’ll be joining forces with Robin Singh and Vinay Kumar, who continue in their roles of the Head Coach and the Assistant Coach respectively.We bid goodbye to Mitchell McClenaghan and James Franklin, two loyal soldiers of the Mumbai Indians over the years, and wish them all the best. Thank you for all the memories in the desert!&nbsp;

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ANNOUNCED: Paras Mhambrey as Bowling Coach and Carl Hopkinson as Fielding Coach

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This was coming, we knew that, but it still feels weird. Dwayne Bravo, our Champion, having hung up his boots, won't be playing in the third edition of the ILT20.&nbsp;His slower dipping yorker, which after 20 years of being first seen, still remains one of the biggest unsolved mysteries for batters, and it will officially now remain unsolved. His big sixes, with the bat coming down off that massive backlift, won't enthrall cricketing fans all over the world. And neither will his acrobatic flying saves by the boundary.&nbsp;They'll go down in history with a trademark stamp of a Champion. The Champion that was DJ Bravo. Happy retirement!&nbsp;

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Thank you for all the memories, Champion DJ Bravo

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West Indian quick, one of the best bowlers in modern-day cricket, Alzarri Joseph is all set to join the MI Emirates setup for the 2025 season of the ILT20, where we are all set to go all guns to defend our title.&nbsp;Alzarri – an old member of the MI #OneFamily, having made his place in record books with his spell of 6/12 against Sunrisers Hyderabad in the 2019 season of the IPL – is all set to join forces with his West Indian team-mates, Nicholas Pooran, Kieron Pollard, Akeal Hosein, Romario Shepherd and Andre Fletcher. With the likes of Mohammad Rohid and Fazalhaq Farooqi for company, our pace battery looks all set to conquer the desert.&nbsp;Welcome back to the Blue and Gold, Alzarri! Let’s break some records here too!&nbsp;

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FIRE ALERT!! Alzarri Joseph all set to join MI Emirates

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The final picks are done. The squad is set. Our title-defence is ready. The International League T20 season 3 Player Selection Process was held in Dubai on Wednesday (December 4), with each team picking up two UAE players in a Draft format.&nbsp;Let’s say hello to the newest members of the MI Emirates squad:Zahoor Khan: Well, first things first, he’s no newcomer. A veteran pacer and an MI Emirates pro over the last two seasons, he returns to the Blue and Gold, where he’s had many fond memories of bowling the tough overs and winning games for us. This Faisalabad-born, experienced warhorse has a bunch of tricks under his sleeve, and in 2017, bagged a haul of 6/34 in an ODI – the best bowling figures by an Emirati bowler.&nbsp;Aryan Lakra: UAE’s captain at the 2020 under-19 World Cup, he’s been earmarked as the future of UAE cricket. Born in Haryana, India, this spin-bowling all-rounder has made waves in the recent ILT20 Development Programme, marking a steady rise in his stocks. With the likes of Nicholas Pooran and Kieron Pollard by his side, he’s all set for a steep learning curve!

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Veteran Zahoor Khan and young Aryan Lakra picked up at UAE Player Selections

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We are the reigning champions, and we are back to defend our crown! Season three is here, well, almost, and we can officially mark our calendars.&nbsp;The Dubai International Cricket Stadium is all set to play host to a repeat of the 2024 Final clash on January 11, 2025 between the Dubai Capitals and MI Emirates to kick the 2025 season off. We then move to our home, to the Skeikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi for the reverse fixture. In a format similar to last year, each team is set to play each other twice in the league, before the playoffs, and Dubai will play host to the grand finale, on Sunday, February 9.&nbsp;“We are set for a bigger and better edition of the DP World International League T20 as we unveil the schedule for Season 3 with the first ball to be bowled at our iconic Dubai International Stadium on Saturday, 11 January with the defending champions MI Emirates hosted by the Dubai Capitals in what would be a rematch of Season 2’s grand finale. Our six teams have gathered a line-up of world-class T20 stars besides the best of the UAE talent who will combine to provide rich entertainment to cricket fans during the 34-match tournament,” said David White, CEO, DP World ILT20.&nbsp;“The DP World ILT20’s glittering trophy is one of the most sought-after prizes in the cricket calendar and we expect fierce battle between the global superstars who will be giving it their all for their respective franchise."Here’s our full schedule:&nbsp;<figure class="table"><table><tbody><tr><td>Home Team</td><td>Away Team</td><td>Date</td><td>Time (GST)</td></tr><tr><td>Dubai Capitals</td><td>MI Emirates</td><td>11 Jan 2025</td><td>6:00pm&nbsp;</td></tr><tr><td>MI Emirates</td><td>Dubai Capitals</td><td>13 Jan 2025</td><td>6:30pm</td></tr><tr><td>Desert Vipers</td><td>MI Emirates</td><td>16 Jan 2025</td><td>6:30pm</td></tr><tr><td>Sharjah Warriorz</td><td>MI Emirates</td><td>19 Jan 2025</td><td>2:00pm</td></tr><tr><td>AD Knight Riders</td><td>MI Emirates</td><td>21 Jan 2025</td><td>6:30pm</td></tr><tr><td>MI Emirates</td><td>AD Knight Riders</td><td>24 Jan 2025</td><td>6:30pm</td></tr><tr><td>MI Emirates</td><td>Gulf Giants</td><td>25 Jan 2025</td><td>6:00pm</td></tr><tr><td>MI Emirates</td><td>Desert Vipers</td><td>27 Jan 2025</td><td>6:30pm</td></tr><tr><td>Gulf Giants</td><td>MI Emirates</td><td>31 Jan 2025</td><td>6:30pm</td></tr><tr><td>MI Emirates</td><td>Sharjah Warriorz</td><td>2 Feb 2025</td><td>2:00pm</td></tr></tbody></table></figure>Three iconic venues. Six iconic teams. Intense rivalries. One month of breakneck cricket in the desert. Bring it on! &nbsp;&nbsp;

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SCHEDULE IS LIVE! MI Emirates to kickstart ILT20 2025!!

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From the Caribbean, to England, to Afghanistan, to planting the cricketing flag in Italy, MI Emirates’ new signings are all set to add a variety of flavours to our squad. As we gear up to defend our crown, it’s time to meet the latest additions to our squad. Let’s welcome them into the Blue and Gold with all the song and dance. Habibi, welcome to Abu Dhabi..&nbsp;<ol><li>Romario Shepherd (West Indies): A big-hitting all-rounder, proven customer in franchise cricket, and an experienced member of our #OneFamily</li><li>Fareed Ahmad (Afghanistan): The wily old seamer with a bunch of variations coming back to conditions he’s played a lot of cricket in</li><li>Tom Banton (England): Long levers, long sixes, and a destructive young batter&nbsp;</li><li>Thomas Draca (Italy): An upcoming quick, out there to put Italy right on the cricketing map, coming off an impressive T20 season in Canada &nbsp;</li><li>Ben Charlesworth (England): A batting prodigy coming up the ranks in English cricket&nbsp;</li></ol>&nbsp;They will be joining our retained players from the 2024 season – Nicholas Pooran, Kieron Pollard, Akeal Hosein, Andre Fletcher, Daniel Mousley, Dwayne Bravo, Fazalhaq Farooqui, Jordan Thompson, Kusal Perera, Rohit Khan, Muhammad Waseem, Nosthush Kenjige, Vijayakanth Viyaskanth and Waqar Salamkheil. The third season of the ILT20 is all set to begin on January 11, 2025, and the desert is all set to turn into a carnival!&nbsp;

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Meet MI Emirates’ five new signings for ILT20 2025

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We have news. With the six month countdown to the third season of the ILT20 having begun, aka the six month countdown to MI Emirates defending their crown, it’s time for the retention-release news.&nbsp;Fourteen of our players from the Champions squad of 2024 have been retained ahead of the next season. Nicholas Pooran, the star and leader on and off the field, along with the Blue and Gold legend in Kieron Pollard will continue leading us to bigger glories in 2025. BJ Bravo, with his wily deliveries, Akeal Hosein, with his super-accurate new ball stuff, and Andre Fletcher, with his destructive starts, will ensure the Caribbean flavor in the MI Emirates camp stays intact.&nbsp;As per the league rules, franchises had the option of retaining a maximum of two UAE players. There was no limit on the overseas retentions. Our hugely impressive local core of Muhammad Waseem and Muhammad Rohid, the young find of the previous ILT20 season, are all set to take their game up a notch further. There will be a Player Acquisition Window to sign new players. &nbsp;Full list of Retained Players:<ol><li>Kieron Pollard</li><li>Dwayne Bravo</li><li>Nicholas Pooran</li><li>Andre Fletcher&nbsp;</li><li>Jordan Thompson</li><li>Akeal Hosein</li><li>Kusal Perera</li><li>Viyaskanth Vijayakanth</li><li>Waqar Salamkheil</li><li>Nosthush Kenjige</li><li>Fazalhaq Farooqi</li><li>Muhammad Waseem</li><li>Muhammad Rohid</li><li>Daniel Mousley</li></ol>This also is an opportunity for us to thank the rest of the winning cast of 2024, who have been released for the next season. This includes the players who came in as replacements for during the season, and made sure the winning momentum never stopped. We wish them well for the future.&nbsp;Full list of Released Players:<ol><li>Ambati Rayudu</li><li>Asif Khan</li><li>Corey Anderson</li><li>Bhanuka Rajapaksa</li><li>Christopher Benjamin</li><li>McKenny Clarke</li><li>Monank Patel</li><li>Odean Smith</li><li>Trent Boult</li><li>Reece Topley</li><li>Tim David&nbsp;</li><li>Will Smeed</li><li>Zahoor Khan</li></ol>The third season of the ILT20 is all set to begin on 11 January, 2025, with the final set to be played on 9 February, 2025. Let's bring the cup back home, shall we?

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BREAKING: Pollard, Pooran, Bravo headline 14-player retained list for ILT20 2025

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It’s the perfect way to get into 2025, with some cricket, and the opportunity for us to defend our crown! The third season is here, and it’s time to start the party in the desert again, the one that ended in season 2 with the MI Emirates lifting the title in front of a packed house at the Dubai International Stadium.&nbsp;The 34-game extravaganza across the three grounds in the United Arab Emirates, will begin on Saturday, January 11, 2025, and will run on for nearly a month, with the final set to be played on Sunday, February 9, 2025.&nbsp;“We are delighted to confirm the window for DP World International League T20 Season 3. The window has been finalised after discussions with our stakeholders. We have begun our preparations for Season 3 with an aim of making the league even bigger and better,” said David White, CEO of DP World ILT20.&nbsp;“Season 2 was a massive success in terms of all relevant metrics’ and helped further strengthen the league’s reputation, making it one of the most sought after T20 leagues for players, fans and broadcasters from around the world. Having considered all aspects, the January-February window for Season 3 has turned out to be the most suitable,” he added.&nbsp;“The DP World ILT20 is also proving to be a successful platform for the development of the UAE players as seen in their recent outstanding performance in the ACC Premier Cup in Oman which helped them qualify for the prestigious Asia Cup (2025, T20 format) for the first time in eight years. Most of the players who excelled in Oman had gained invaluable experience and exposure in Season 2. &nbsp;“The cricket fans in the UAE and those who travel to our wonderful destinations Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Sharjah from across the globe will have a lot to look forward to in Season 3. We have a series of exciting announcements lined-up as our six world-class franchises and their coaching staff put their heads together for retention of players while eyeing new local and international talent for Season 3 signings.”&nbsp;So mark your dates, and see you in the stadium, as MI Emirates go all out to make it two in a row!&nbsp;

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ILT20 SEASON 3 IS HERE! Mark the dates - 11 Jan 2025 to 9 Feb 2025

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It’s a beast of a trophy. And it’s ours. We aren’t done gushing over Nicholas Pooran. Here he is, at the post-match press conference, walking in with his toddler daughter, and answering a whole range of questions. In this last one month, he’s given us memories to last us a lifetime. Excerpts..First thoughts on winning the championshipThe guys have been brilliant. This journey started last year for us when we lost in the eliminator. We got some different personnel, but the core stuck through. You see (Muhammad) Waseem or (Mohammad) Rohid or Waqar (Salamkheil) taking that opportunity and becoming match-winners. From day one, the objective was to win.&nbsp;On playing a captain’s inningsIt’s always important being the captain. Regardless of if I am the captain or not, I see myself as a leader and want to lead from the front. But in a tournament like this, everyone has to step up.&nbsp;To whom would he dedicate this winJust to the MI franchise. They are the most successful cricket franchise. This is their tenth win. Regardless of whether they have a strong team or not, their target is to win. This win is dedicated to them. They are very passionate. Really happy we could be the ones winning it for them.&nbsp;On the six dropped catchesThat was just one of our strategies to win (laughs). But I don’t want to comment too much on it. Maybe we could have won the game by a bigger margin. But at the end of the day, we got home.&nbsp;Thoughts on stepping up on the big nightFor me, it is all about stepping up. I believe if you want something in life, you have to go get it. Yes, finals is pressure, MI is a big franchise. I have lost a lot of games in my career so far and have learnt a lot. I could convert 20s into 30s, 30s into match-winning innings. Especially being not out as well in some innings. It is a big box for me to tick. Happy that all the all the hard work I have put in over the years is showing rewards, especially winning titles because that is big for me.&nbsp;On losing the toss and having to bat firstWe always wanted to bat today and I said it at the toss. Actions speak louder than words. It is exactly how we wanted to play the game.&nbsp;On Muhammad Waseem’s stellar formI expect franchises to take notice. Yes, he is a UAE player but he is very good. He is very aggressive, he has a lot to offer. He is young. I expect him to continue to perform and improve.&nbsp;Whether nervousness crept inChasing 208 was always going to be difficult, and thankfully we have a lot of senior players in the team. Even when Sam Billings was batting superbly, Bravo came up and said, ‘let’s make him hit over mid-off. Hopefully he can chip it’. Really nice to see it come off. You can’t buy experience. These guys have been in that situation. Even for myself, I have been captain for West Indies. I have had bad days and have made bad decisions. At this point, I have learnt a lot. It has helped me make better cricketing decisions. When you have really good quality players, you cannot ask for anything else. Akeal was bowling 2-3 overs in the powerplay for 10 runs. My job was easy.&nbsp;Summing up the ILT20 tournamentWe really wanted this win, and we got it. From the management to the physios, coaches, everyone, owner, director, works hard. The tournament is challenging. We played a game in Dubai, drive down and play a game in Abu Dhabi the next day.&nbsp;On being a part of the MI #OneFamilyI have said it before, I am a son of the T20 format and franchise cricket. The Mumbai franchise are one of the best in the world. That level of professionalism here is a good opportunity for every young player to interact with the legends as well. I had this opportunity when I was 20 years old in the IPL to come to Mumbai Indians and I got the opportunity to interact with Mahela Jayawardene, Sachin Tendulkar. Really happy to be involved and winning is just the icing on the cake.&nbsp;On the backing of the senior playersThe support was really important. Getting all the senior players to buy in and trust me 100%. Lucky to have them as teammates. We are building a relationship where most of the times I make a decision and they try and execute that plan 100%. As a young captain, support is really key. Boult, Bravo giving me that respect helped me a lot.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

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“This one is for the MI Family. They are the best in the world”: Nicholas Pooran

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On the big night, at the biggest stage of them all, stand the champions – MI Emirates. After absolutely bossing the league stage in the second season of the ILT20, finishing on top of the points table, winning the first qualifier to ensure a direct entry into the final, and then totally bossing the big night, with a thumping win to cap off what has been an equally thumping campaign.&nbsp;CLT20 2011. IPL 2013. CLT20 2013. IPL 2015. IPL 2017. IPL 2019. IPL 2020. WPL 2023. MLC 2023. ILT20 2024.&nbsp;Let’s relive the big night!Another day, another massive opening standIf you were worried after a couple of quiet games where Muhammad Waseem and Kusal Perera weren’t quite hitting the sweet spot together, well, look no further. They stepped up to the task on the big night, and how! Waseem had a 24-ball 43 to his name, Perera a 26-ball 38, and together, MI Emirates had 77/0 in 6.3 overs. Proper carnage.&nbsp;Another final in the Blue and Gold, another Nicky P specialThe platform was set, and it was time for the explosion. And well, who better than our very own pocket dynamo, our skip, our leader, our man in form, Nicholas Pooran, to go berserk. With Andre Fletcher at the other end, they just went after everything, and Pooran finished with 57 off 27 balls with two fours and six sixes. MI Emirates had 208 on the board, and in all likelihood, the match in the bag.&nbsp;Another first over, another Akeal Hosein strikeHis inswingers have a fanbase of their own. And his strikes in the powerplay have been consistent all through the league. With the second ball, he trapped Dubai Capitals’ star from the previous innings, Leus du Plooy LBW. The Capitals just couldn’t recover. With the asking rate mounting and the rest of our bowlers striking regularly, the end was only a matter of time.&nbsp;Okay, here’s a fun fact: MI Emirates dropped at least half a dozen catches in the second innings, with the dew making fielding rather difficult. Still not for a second, did we look worried or under any pressure. That’s the sign of a team high on confidence. That’s the sign of a champion team. That’s what MI Emirates are tonight – CHAMPIONS OF ILT20 2024! &nbsp;

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