Dubai Capitals vs Abu Dhabi Knight Riders, Sunday, 22 November 2026 — evening session, Dubai
The 3rd match of the DP World ILT20 Season 5 is Dubai Capitals against Abu Dhabi Knight Riders on Sunday, 22 November 2026, in the evening session, at the Dubai International Stadium in Dubai. It is the evening game at a ground hosting 15 matches this season.
This is the third match of the season and the second on Sunday, following Sharjah Warriorz against Gulf Giants in the afternoon. Dubai hosts 15 matches this season, more than any other venue, and the Capitals play their first game in front of their home crowd. The full scorecard will appear on this page once the match is played.
Scorecard
Match yet to begin. The scorecard appears here once the match starts.
How both sides arrive in Season 5
Pre-season — the season starts on Saturday 21 November 2026, so there is no Season 5 form yet. What follows is what each side brings into the tournament.
| Team | Captain | Coach | ILT20 titles |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dubai Capitals | Faf du Plessis | Hemang Badani | 2025 |
| Abu Dhabi Knight Riders | Jason Holder | Dwayne Bravo | no ILT20 title yet |
Faf du Plessis captains the Capitals, with Hemang Badani coaching. The 2025 champions rebuilt around Faf, Phil Salt and a returning Marcus Stoinis, and the squad has the depth of a side that expects to be in the playoffs again. Their opening game is a chance to show the rebuild is ready.
Jason Holder captains the Knight Riders and Dwayne Bravo coaches them, a new leadership pair for a side still chasing its first title. The squad has Kane Williamson and Sunil Narine, and Finn Allen at the top, but the record against the Capitals — two wins from ten — is the first thing this team has to change.
Two points, and the first marker of the season
A win is worth two points, and a no-result is worth one. Each side plays ten league matches, and the top four reach the playoffs.
Two points are on offer, and for the Knight Riders they would mean more than two points: a win in Dubai against the side that has dominated this fixture would change how the rest of the league reads them. For the Capitals, the stakes are simpler — champions do not drop home openers.
The season is ten league matches per side, and the top four reach the playoffs from Wednesday 16 December. A team that wins its opener can afford one slip later; a team that loses it is already looking at its next two games as must-wins. That is the arithmetic both dugouts will know on Sunday evening.
The players who can decide it
Every name below links to that player's profile.
Faf du Plessis captains the Capitals and opens their batting. He has led sides to titles before, and a composed start from him would let Phil Salt and Marcus Stoinis bat with freedom around him.
Phil Salt is the Capitals' most explosive opener, and his powerplay scoring sets the tone for their innings. If he gets going in Dubai, the Knight Riders' attack will be chasing the game from the first six overs.
Jason Holder captains the Knight Riders and gives them balance in both disciplines: height with the ball and power with the bat. Against his former rivals, his own performance will set the standard for his new side.
Kane Williamson anchors the Knight Riders' batting, and his calm at the crease is the counterweight to Finn Allen's aggression at the top. If the Knight Riders are to chase or set a total, Williamson will need to bat deep.
Past meetings between these two sides
Ten meetings, and the Capitals lead 8–2 — the most one-sided record of the opening weekend. The Capitals won both league meetings last season, by 83 runs and by 9 runs, before the Knight Riders finally beat them in the Eliminator on 1 January 2026, by 50 runs. That playoff win is the Knight Riders' only victory in the last four meetings.
Capitals lead the head-to-head 8–2 across 10 past meetings, from the 2023 season to last season.
| Date | Stage | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 7 December 2025 | Match 7 | Dubai Capitals won by 83 runs |
| 13 December 2025 | Match 13 | Dubai Capitals won by 9 runs |
| 1 January 2026 | Eliminator | Abu Dhabi Knight Riders won by 50 runs |
Match information
| Ground | Dubai International Stadium, Dubai |
| Series | DP World ILT20 |
| Season | 2026-27, Season 5 |
| Match number | Match 3 |
| Match Days | Sunday, 22 November 2026 |
| Points | Winner 2, loser 0 |
Evening session — the exact start time has not been published, so this page lists the session only. Match yet to begin — the scorecard will appear on this page after the match.
Frequently asked questions
When does Dubai Capitals vs Abu Dhabi Knight Riders start?
Match 3 is played on Sunday 22 November 2026 at Dubai International Stadium, in the evening session. The exact start time has not been published, so this page lists the session only. It is the second game of Sunday's double-header, after the afternoon match in Sharjah.
Who captains each side in Match 3?
Faf du Plessis captains Dubai Capitals, with Hemang Badani coaching. Jason Holder captains Abu Dhabi Knight Riders, with Dwayne Bravo coaching. Faf leads the 2025 champions, while Holder leads a Knight Riders side still chasing its first title after four seasons.
What is the head-to-head record?
The sides have met ten times, with Dubai Capitals winning eight and Abu Dhabi Knight Riders winning two. The Knight Riders won the most recent meeting, the Eliminator in January 2026. The Knight Riders won the most recent meeting, the Eliminator in January 2026, by 50 runs.
Who are the players to watch?
Faf du Plessis and Phil Salt for the Capitals, and Jason Holder and Kane Williamson for the Knight Riders. Salt's powerplay scoring against Holder's new-ball spell is the early contest to follow. Marcus Stoinis returns for the Capitals, while Sunil Narine opens the Knight Riders' bowling.
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