ADKR aim to start strong as they clash against the Desert Vipers in their first game of ILT20 2025 | ADKR vs DV Match Preview
The Abu Dhabi Knight Riders will start their ILT20 2025 season by facing the Desert Vipers at the iconic Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium in Abu Dhabi. After a terrific season last year where they finished 3rd on the points table, ADKR will set their sights on winning their maiden ILT20 title this time around. With blockbuster signings like Phil Salt, Jason Holder, Kyle Mayers, ADKR have bolstered their squad with versatile players. Apart from the new additions, ADKR also have pivotal players like Sunil Narine, Andre Russell, David Willey, whom they have retained from their last squad. ADKR have created a strong and dynamic squad for this year’s tournament and they also have the formidable West Indies Legend, ‘Champion’ DJ Bravo as their head coach this year. As they start afresh, ADKR will back themselves to go all the way this time around and create history.
HEAD-TO-HEAD
ADKR & DV shared a hard fought 2-2 scoreline when it comes to head-to-head comparison. However, ADKR have come out on top in the last 2 games contested between the two sides. These recent performances will fill ADKR with confidence to pull off a hattrick of wins over the Vipers and start their campaign with a victory.
PLAYERS TO WATCH OUT FOR
Sunil Narine
The Mamba King as he is fondly called, will be back with ADKR for his 3rd season and will be looking forward to delivering outstanding performances. His role as a leader, frontline spinner & attacking batter is extremely crucial for the side. Over the years, Narine has been known for turning games on his own and he will be aiming to do the same in ADKR’s first match up against DV.
Andre Russell
Andre Russell is regarded as one of the most important players in any T20 setup and he has established himself as one of the best all-rounders in the world. Dre-Russ adds a lot of balance to any side he plays for with his tremendous hitting ability and wicket-taking bowling skills. Russell has been a pivotal part of Knight Riders franchises around the globe and he will be aiming to deliver a performance which helps ADKR get the win and start the season on a high.
Phil Salt
For the first time ever, Phil Salt will feature in ADKR colours in the ILT20. The English opener is known for his swashbuckling style of batting and aggressive approach at the top of the order. Salt has created quite the name for himself in the global T20 circuit and he will be looking forward to taking this new challenge heads on, in order to help ADKR start the tournament with a win.
All in all, ADKR look all set to make a winning start in ILT20 2025. The whole squad will be aiming to contribute towards the team’s success and help the team start off in a strong way. An incredible game awaits us at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi, with ADKR aiming to get the bandwagon started with a formidable performance.