MI Emirates enter ILT20 2026 with one of the strongest squads in the league, and the 20 player group blends proven match winners with exciting young talent. Nicholas Pooran leads the batting line, Rashid Khan leads the spin attack, and Kusal Perera brings big match experience at the top of the order. The season opens on 21 November 2026, and MI Emirates play the first match of the tournament against Desert Vipers in Dubai.
This guide gives the full MI Emirates squad 2026 list with roles, the key players to watch, the bowling and batting depth, and the fixture list for the league stage. Every player in the squad comes from the official squad list, so the names and roles below match the team that takes the field in November. Fans can use this guide to follow each match, track the stars, and see how MI Emirates plan to win the title in the fifth season.
MI Emirates Squad 2026 Overview
MI Emirates squad 2026 has 20 players, and the balance of the group stands out at once. Seven batters, five allrounders and eight bowlers give the team cover in every part of the game. The batting group has three wicketkeeper batters, so the team can change the keeper role without changing the balance of the side. The bowling group has pace and spin in equal measure, with Fazalhaq Farooqi and Chris Jordan as the pace leaders and Rashid Khan and AM Ghazanfar as the spin leaders. The squad also has strong UAE talent in Muhammad Waseem and Zahoor Khan, and that local core matters in a league where UAE players fill key roles.
MI Emirates won the title in 2024, and the 2026 squad keeps the core of a winning side while adding fresh firepower. Nicholas Pooran and Kusal Perera bring two of the most feared top order batters in world cricket, and Sherfane Rutherford brings the power to change a match in a few overs. The team plays home matches in Abu Dhabi, and the Sheikh Zayed Stadium suits a side with a strong spin attack and big hitters at the top of the order.
- 20 players: seven batters, five allrounders and eight bowlers
- Nicholas Pooran leads the batting and keeps wicket
- Rashid Khan is the key bowling allrounder with leg spin
- Fazalhaq Farooqi leads the pace attack with swing and control
- Season opener on 21 November against Desert Vipers in Dubai
For a look back at the last season, read ILT20 2025 Top Contenders for Final and Key Players Shaping the UAE Tournament.
MI Emirates Squad 2026 Full Players List
The table below gives the complete MI Emirates squad 2026 list with the role of each player. The list covers 20 players, and each name comes from the squad list on ESPNcricinfo. Use the table to check the batting depth, the allrounders and the bowling attack in one place.
| Player | Role | Category |
|---|---|---|
| Ross Adair | Top order Batter | Batter |
| Jonny Bairstow | Wicketkeeper Batter | Batter |
| Muhammad Waseem | Opening Batter | Batter |
| Kusal Perera | Wicketkeeper Batter | Batter |
| Nicholas Pooran | Wicketkeeper Batter | Batter |
| Sherfane Rutherford | Middle order Batter | Batter |
| Asa Tribe | Top order Batter | Batter |
| James Coles | Allrounder | Allrounder |
| Sanjay Krishnamurthi | Allrounder | Allrounder |
| Rashid Khan | Bowling Allrounder | Allrounder |
| Romario Shepherd | Bowling Allrounder | Allrounder |
| Jordan Thompson | Bowling Allrounder | Allrounder |
| Faridoon Dawoodzai | Bowler | Bowler |
| Fazalhaq Farooqi | Bowler | Bowler |
| AM Ghazanfar | Bowler | Bowler |
| Chris Jordan | Bowler | Bowler |
| Mohamed Shafeeq | Bowler | Bowler |
| Wasim Akram | Bowler | Bowler |
| Lizaad Williams | Bowler | Bowler |
| Zahoor Khan | Bowler | Bowler |
MI Emirates Batters 2026
The batting group is the strongest part of the MI Emirates squad 2026, and the seven batters cover every position from opener to finisher. Nicholas Pooran bats in the middle order and can change a match in a few overs with clean hitting. Kusal Perera and Jonny Bairstow bat at the top of the order and give the team fast starts, while Muhammad Waseem brings UAE power at the top. Ross Adair and Asa Tribe add depth to the top order, and Sherfane Rutherford finishes innings with big hits.
The group has three wicketkeeper batters in Bairstow, Perera and Pooran, so the team can change the keeper role without changing the balance of the side. The batters also suit the pitches in the UAE, where the ball comes on to the bat and big scores are common. The group has the right mix of calm and power, and the team can rebuild after early wickets or chase a big total with the same batting order.
Who Are MI Emirates Key Players in 2026?
Nicholas Pooran is the biggest name in the MI Emirates squad 2026, and his record in T20 cricket makes him the player every rival team plans against. Rashid Khan is the other star to watch, because his leg spin can tie batters down in the middle overs and take wickets in a bunch. Kusal Perera brings the experience of a World Cup winner at the top of the order, and Jonny Bairstow brings the same big match quality.
Fazalhaq Farooqi leads the pace attack with swing and control, and Romario Shepherd gives the team a bowling allrounder who can finish games with the bat. Chris Jordan brings death bowling skill and sharp fielding to the side. Together, these players give MI Emirates match winners with bat and ball, and the rest of the squad supports them with depth in every role.
MI Emirates Allrounders and Bowlers 2026
The five allrounders give MI Emirates balance in every match. Rashid Khan and Romario Shepherd bowl in the middle overs and finish games with the bat, while Jordan Thompson brings swing and seam with a handy bat down the order. James Coles and Sanjay Krishnamurthi add depth to the batting and give the captain more bowling choices.
The bowling attack has eight bowlers who cover pace and spin. Fazalhaq Farooqi leads the pace group with the new ball, and Chris Jordan bowls at the death with calm control. AM Ghazanfar brings mystery spin alongside Rashid Khan, and Faridoon Dawoodzai, Mohamed Shafeeq, Wasim Akram and Zahoor Khan give the attack depth for a long season. Lizaad Williams adds pace from South Africa.
MI Emirates Overseas Players 2026
The overseas group in the MI Emirates squad 2026 comes from seven countries. Nicholas Pooran, Romario Shepherd and Sherfane Rutherford come from the West Indies, while Rashid Khan and Fazalhaq Farooqi come from Afghanistan. Kusal Perera comes from Sri Lanka, Jonny Bairstow, Chris Jordan and Jordan Thompson come from England, and Lizaad Williams comes from South Africa. The overseas players fill the key roles in the side, from the captaincy group to the new ball and the death overs.
| Player | Country | Role |
|---|---|---|
| Nicholas Pooran | West Indies | Wicketkeeper Batter |
| Romario Shepherd | West Indies | Bowling Allrounder |
| Sherfane Rutherford | West Indies | Middle order Batter |
| Rashid Khan | Afghanistan | Bowling Allrounder |
| Fazalhaq Farooqi | Afghanistan | Bowler |
| Kusal Perera | Sri Lanka | Wicketkeeper Batter |
| Jonny Bairstow | England | Wicketkeeper Batter |
| Chris Jordan | England | Bowler |
| Jordan Thompson | England | Bowling Allrounder |
| Lizaad Williams | South Africa | Bowler |
MI Emirates Fixtures 2026
MI Emirates open the ILT20 2026 season on 21 November against Desert Vipers at Dubai International Stadium, and the home matches are at Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi. The big dates on the list are 25 November against Abu Dhabi Knight Riders in Abu Dhabi, 26 November against Sharjah Warriorz in Sharjah, 29 November against Gulf Giants in Dubai, 2 and 4 December for the back to back matches against Dubai Capitals in Dubai, and 6 December against Sharjah Warriorz in Sharjah.
The rest of the fixtures are 10 December against Gulf Giants in Dubai, 12 December against Desert Vipers in Sharjah, and 13 December with two matches in one day, against Abu Dhabi Knight Riders in Abu Dhabi and against Dubai Capitals in Sharjah. The playoffs start with Qualifier 1 on 16 December in Abu Dhabi, the Eliminator on 17 December in Dubai, Qualifier 2 on 18 December in Sharjah, and the final on 20 December in Dubai.
| Date | Opponent | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| 21 Nov 2026 | Desert Vipers | Dubai |
| 25 Nov 2026 | Abu Dhabi Knight Riders | Abu Dhabi |
| 26 Nov 2026 | Sharjah Warriorz | Sharjah |
| 29 Nov 2026 | Gulf Giants | Dubai |
| 2 Dec 2026 | Dubai Capitals | Dubai |
| 6 Dec 2026 | Sharjah Warriorz | Sharjah |
| 10 Dec 2026 | Gulf Giants | Dubai |
| 12 Dec 2026 | Desert Vipers | Sharjah |
| 13 Dec 2026 | Abu Dhabi Knight Riders | Abu Dhabi |
| 13 Dec 2026 | Dubai Capitals | Sharjah |
When Does MI Emirates Play First Match in ILT20 2026?
MI Emirates play their first match in ILT20 2026 on 21 November 2026 against Desert Vipers at Dubai International Stadium. The match is the opening game of the season, and the two teams meet again on 12 December in Sharjah. MI Emirates won the title in 2024, so the opener is a big test for a side that knows how to win this league.
Conclusion
MI Emirates enter ILT20 2026 with a squad that has star power, depth and proven winners. Nicholas Pooran is the star of the batting, Rashid Khan is the star of the spin attack, and the group has the right balance to win matches at every venue. The season starts on 21 November against Desert Vipers, and the fans can expect a strong title push from the 2024 champions.
FAQ
MI Emirates squad 2026 has 20 players: 7 batters, 5 allrounders, and 8 bowlers.
The key players in MI Emirates squad 2026 are Nicholas Pooran, Rashid Khan, Kusal Perera, Jonny Bairstow, Fazalhaq Farooqi and Romario Shepherd.
MI Emirates batters in 2026 are Ross Adair, Jonny Bairstow, Muhammad Waseem, Kusal Perera, Nicholas Pooran, Sherfane Rutherford and Asa Tribe.
The overseas players in MI Emirates squad 2026 are Nicholas Pooran, Rashid Khan, Kusal Perera, Jonny Bairstow, Romario Shepherd, Chris Jordan, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Sherfane Rutherford, Lizaad Williams and Jordan Thompson.
MI Emirates play their first match in ILT20 2026 on 21 November 2026 against Desert Vipers at Dubai International Stadium, in the opening match of the season.
MI Emirates matches in ILT20 2026 are at Dubai International Stadium, Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi, and Sharjah Cricket Stadium.
