Dubai Capitals enter ILT20 2026 as the 2025 champions after a famous title win in the 2025 season, and the Dubai Capitals squad 2026 keeps the core of that winning side while adding fresh star power for the title run. The Capitals beat Desert Vipers by four wickets in the final of the 2025 season on 9 February 2025 at Dubai International Stadium, and Rovman Powell sealed the win with an unbeaten 63 off 38 balls. The new squad has 23 players, with eight batters, six allrounders and nine bowlers, and it brings together big overseas names and smart local picks. The ILT20 2025 Top Contenders for Final and Key Players Shaping the UAE Tournament guide set the scene for that title run, and now the focus moves to the fifth season, which runs from 21 November to 20 December 2026 across Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah.
Dubai Capitals Squad 2026 Overview
The Dubai Capitals squad 2026 is built around balance. Faf du Plessis leads the batting group with his long record as a T20 opener, while Phil Salt adds fast scoring at the top of the order and Rovman Powell brings power in the middle order. Marcus Stoinis gives the side a world class allrounder, and the bowling attack mixes left arm pace from Mustafizur Rahman and Luke Wood with the wrist spin of Noor Ahmad. The Capitals play their home matches at Dubai International Stadium, where they lifted the trophy in 2025, and the squad looks ready for another deep run in the tournament.
The 2025 champions kept faith in the group that won the title, and the 2026 squad also adds new faces who can change a match in a few overs. Sediqullah Atal and Max Holden add fresh batting options, while Matthew Potts and Anudeep Chenthamara strengthen the pace attack. The fifth season of the International League T20 starts on 21 November 2026, and Dubai Capitals open their campaign on 22 November against Abu Dhabi Knight Riders at Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi.
Dubai Capitals Squad 2026 Full Players List
The full Dubai Capitals squad 2026 list below shows all 23 players with their roles, as listed on ESPNcricinfo for the 2026 season. The list covers eight batters, six allrounders and nine bowlers, and it shows how the 2025 champions have covered every part of the game. Three of the batters keep wicket, which gives the side options behind the stumps, and the bowling group has pace, swing and spin for every venue in the league.
| Player | Role | Category |
|---|---|---|
| Darwish Rasooli | Top order Batter | Batter |
| Faf du Plessis | Middle order Batter | Batter |
| Max Holden | Top order Batter | Batter |
| Masood Gurbaz | Wicketkeeper Batter | Batter |
| Tom Moores | Wicketkeeper Batter | Batter |
| Rovman Powell | Middle order Batter | Batter |
| Phil Salt | Wicketkeeper Batter | Batter |
| Sediqullah Atal | Opening Batter | Batter |
| Aayan Afzal Khan | Bowling Allrounder | Allrounder |
| Mark Adair | Bowling Allrounder | Allrounder |
| Hassan Khan | Allrounder | Allrounder |
| Karim Janat | Batting Allrounder | Allrounder |
| Dasun Shanaka | Allrounder | Allrounder |
| Marcus Stoinis | Batting Allrounder | Allrounder |
| Anudeep Chenthamara | Bowler | Bowler |
| Haider Ali | Bowler | Bowler |
| Muhammad Arfan | Bowler | Bowler |
| Mustafizur Rahman | Bowler | Bowler |
| Noor Ahmad | Bowler | Bowler |
| Matthew Potts | Bowler | Bowler |
| Usman Najeeb | Bowler | Bowler |
| Luke Wood | Bowler | Bowler |
| Muhammad Zuhaib | Bowler | Bowler |
Who Are Dubai Capitals Key Players in 2026?
Faf du Plessis is the best player in the Dubai Capitals squad 2026, with a long record as a T20 opener and a leader who has played in leagues around the world. The former South Africa captain bats at the top of the order and scores at a high rate, and his calm head under pressure makes him the man the Capitals turn to in big matches. Phil Salt is the other star at the top, and the England wicketkeeper batter can take a match away from the other side inside the powerplay with his fearless stroke play.
Marcus Stoinis gives the side power with the bat and useful medium pace with the ball, and his big match record makes him a key man in the middle overs. Rovman Powell proved his value in the 2025 final with an unbeaten 63 off 38 balls, and the West Indies power hitter can finish an innings with huge sixes. Mustafizur Rahman leads the bowling with his left arm variations at the death, while Noor Ahmad brings left arm wrist spin that can take wickets in the middle overs.
The key players in the Dubai Capitals squad 2026 also include Dasun Shanaka, who has led Sri Lanka in T20 cricket, and Karim Janat, who can hit long balls and bowl steady medium pace. These players give the Capitals depth in both departments, and the mix of youth and experience is one of the strengths of the squad. When the top names fire together, the 2025 champions can beat any side in the league.
- Faf du Plessis leads the batting group
- Phil Salt adds fast scoring at the top
- Marcus Stoinis gives power and medium pace
- Rovman Powell hit an unbeaten 63 off 38 balls in the 2025 final
Dubai Capitals Batters 2026
The Dubai Capitals batters in 2026 are Darwish Rasooli, Faf du Plessis, Max Holden, Masood Gurbaz, Tom Moores, Rovman Powell, Phil Salt and Sediqullah Atal. Sediqullah Atal opens the innings and has scored heavily in recent T20 cricket, while Max Holden and Darwish Rasooli add solid top order options. Three of the eight batters keep wicket, which gives the side great flexibility in team selection.
The batting depth is the biggest strength of the Dubai Capitals squad 2026. Phil Salt and Faf du Plessis can set up a big total at the top, Rovman Powell and Marcus Stoinis can finish with power at the death, and the middle order has the ability to rebuild after early wickets. The Capitals scored big totals on their way to the 2025 title, and the 2026 batting group looks even stronger on paper.
Dubai Capitals Allrounders and Bowlers 2026
The Dubai Capitals allrounders in 2026 are Aayan Afzal Khan, Mark Adair, Hassan Khan, Karim Janat, Dasun Shanaka and Marcus Stoinis. Stoinis is the headline name, while Shanaka and Janat add batting power and steady bowling, and Mark Adair brings pace and lower order hitting. Aayan Afzal Khan adds left arm spin for the UAE conditions, and Hassan Khan gives the side another spin option with useful batting.
The Dubai Capitals bowlers in 2026 are Anudeep Chenthamara, Haider Ali, Muhammad Arfan, Mustafizur Rahman, Noor Ahmad, Matthew Potts, Usman Najeeb, Luke Wood and Muhammad Zuhaib. Mustafizur Rahman and Luke Wood lead the pace attack with left arm swing, Matthew Potts adds right arm pace, and Noor Ahmad gives the side a wicket taking wrist spinner. The nine bowlers give the captain options for every pitch in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah.
Dubai Capitals Overseas Players 2026
The overseas players in the Dubai Capitals squad 2026 come from eight countries and bring a huge amount of T20 experience. Faf du Plessis flies the flag for South Africa, while Phil Salt, Tom Moores, Matthew Potts, Luke Wood and Max Holden come from England. Marcus Stoinis represents Australia, Rovman Powell comes from the West Indies, Mustafizur Rahman comes from Bangladesh, and Noor Ahmad, Sediqullah Atal, Darwish Rasooli and Karim Janat come from Afghanistan. Mark Adair comes from Ireland and Dasun Shanaka comes from Sri Lanka.
The overseas group also brings title winning experience to the Dubai Capitals squad 2026. Faf du Plessis and Marcus Stoinis have played in the biggest T20 leagues in the world, Rovman Powell won the 2025 final for the Capitals with the bat, and Mustafizur Rahman has bowled in pressure overs for many years. The mix of overseas stars and local talent is the formula that took the Capitals to the title in 2025, and the same mix can take them deep again in 2026.
| Player | Country | Role |
|---|---|---|
| Darwish Rasooli | Afghanistan | Batter |
| Faf du Plessis | South Africa | Batter |
| Max Holden | England | Batter |
| Tom Moores | England | Batter |
| Rovman Powell | West Indies | Batter |
| Phil Salt | England | Batter |
| Sediqullah Atal | Afghanistan | Batter |
| Mark Adair | Ireland | Allrounder |
| Karim Janat | Afghanistan | Allrounder |
| Dasun Shanaka | Sri Lanka | Allrounder |
| Marcus Stoinis | Australia | Allrounder |
| Mustafizur Rahman | Bangladesh | Bowler |
| Noor Ahmad | Afghanistan | Bowler |
| Matthew Potts | England | Bowler |
| Luke Wood | England | Bowler |
Dubai Capitals Fixtures 2026
The Dubai Capitals fixtures in 2026 start on 22 November against Abu Dhabi Knight Riders at Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi, and the league run continues with 10 league matches across the three venues. The Capitals face Desert Vipers on 24 November in Dubai, Gulf Giants on 27 November in Dubai, and Sharjah Warriorz on 29 November in Sharjah. The home stretch in Dubai brings two matches against MI Emirates on 2 December and 4 December.
The second half of the Dubai Capitals fixtures in 2026 takes the side to Abu Dhabi for matches against Gulf Giants on 8 December and Abu Dhabi Knight Riders on 11 December, before the final two league matches on 13 December against Sharjah Warriorz in Dubai and MI Emirates in Sharjah. Five of the 10 league matches are in Dubai, three are in Abu Dhabi and two are in Sharjah. The playoffs follow from 16 December, with Qualifier 1 in Abu Dhabi, the Eliminator in Dubai on 17 December, Qualifier 2 in Sharjah on 18 December and the final in Dubai on 20 December.
| Date | Opponent | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| 22 Nov 2026 | Abu Dhabi Knight Riders | Abu Dhabi |
| 24 Nov 2026 | Desert Vipers | Dubai |
| 27 Nov 2026 | Gulf Giants | Dubai |
| 29 Nov 2026 | Sharjah Warriorz | Sharjah |
| 2 Dec 2026 | MI Emirates | Dubai |
| 4 Dec 2026 | Desert Vipers | Dubai |
| 8 Dec 2026 | Gulf Giants | Abu Dhabi |
| 11 Dec 2026 | Abu Dhabi Knight Riders | Abu Dhabi |
| 13 Dec 2026 | Sharjah Warriorz | Dubai |
| 13 Dec 2026 | MI Emirates | Sharjah |
When Does Dubai Capitals Play First Match in ILT20 2026?
Dubai Capitals play their first match in ILT20 2026 on 22 November 2026 against Abu Dhabi Knight Riders at Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi. The match is the second match of the season, one day after the opener between Desert Vipers and MI Emirates on 21 November in Dubai. The Capitals then return home to Dubai International Stadium for their second match against Desert Vipers on 24 November, and a strong start in the first two matches will set the tone for another title run.
Conclusion
Dubai Capitals enter ILT20 2026 as the 2025 champions with a strong 23 player squad that has batting power, allround depth and a varied bowling attack. Faf du Plessis, Phil Salt, Marcus Stoinis and Rovman Powell give the side match winners in every department, while Mustafizur Rahman and Noor Ahmad lead a bowling group that can defend any total. The fixtures give the Capitals five home matches in Dubai, and a good start on 22 November against Abu Dhabi Knight Riders can set up another title run. The 2026 season runs from 21 November to 20 December, and the Capitals have the squad to lift the trophy again.
FAQ
The Dubai Capitals squad 2026 has 23 players. The squad has eight batters, six allrounders and nine bowlers, and three of the batters keep wicket.
The key players in the Dubai Capitals squad 2026 are Faf du Plessis, Phil Salt, Marcus Stoinis, Rovman Powell, Mustafizur Rahman and Noor Ahmad. Faf du Plessis leads the batting group, while Mustafizur Rahman and Noor Ahmad lead the bowling attack.
The Dubai Capitals batters in 2026 are Darwish Rasooli, Faf du Plessis, Max Holden, Masood Gurbaz, Tom Moores, Rovman Powell, Phil Salt and Sediqullah Atal. Phil Salt, Tom Moores and Masood Gurbaz also keep wicket.
The overseas players in the Dubai Capitals squad 2026 include Faf du Plessis, Phil Salt, Marcus Stoinis, Rovman Powell, Mustafizur Rahman, Noor Ahmad, Tom Moores, Matthew Potts, Luke Wood, Max Holden, Mark Adair and Dasun Shanaka. The overseas group covers South Africa, England, Australia, the West Indies, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, Ireland and Sri Lanka.
Dubai Capitals play their first match in ILT20 2026 on 22 November 2026 against Abu Dhabi Knight Riders at Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi.
Dubai Capitals matches in ILT20 2026 are played at Dubai International Stadium, Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi and Sharjah Cricket Stadium. Five of the 10 league matches are in Dubai, three are in Abu Dhabi and two are in Sharjah.
