Zee swings for six as ILT20 Season 4 lines up stars for winter showdown

MUMBAI: If winter needed warming up, the ILT20 has tossed the first spark and it comes wrapped in power-hitters, wildcard surprises and a broadcast blitz from Zee. Season 4 of the DP World International League T20 kicks off on 2 December 2025, with defending champions Dubai Capitals clashing with the Desert Vipers at the Dubai International Stadium, setting the tone for a month-long cricket carnival running till 4 January 2026.

What makes this season spicier than usual is the unmistakable Indian flavour. For the first time, the league will see established homegrown names take on UAE’s winter turf. Dinesh Karthik joins the Sharjah Warriorz, while Piyush Chawla and Unmukt Chand bring seasoned flair to the Abu Dhabi Knight Riders, adding a layer of familiarity for Indian fans tuning in from home.

Across Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah, six franchises are gearing up for 34 matches, split across afternoon and evening fixtures, a tight cricket calendar that promises no dull days and even fewer dull overs. Teams can continue to bolster their squads with reinforcements or injury replacements as the season unfolds, keeping strategies fluid and line-ups unpredictable.

Zee, which holds exclusive broadcast rights, is positioning Season 4 as its most ambitious offering yet. The tournament will air live across &Pictures SD, Zee Cinema HD, Zee Action, Zee Thirai SD, Zee Cinemalu, and stream on Zee5, with Zee5 Hindi offering free-to-view access ensuring cricket finds every screen it can.

“Season 4 marks another big leap for ILT20,” said Zee Entertainment head of advertisement revenue, broadcast & digital Laxmi Shetty. “With global stars and the electric energy of Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah, it has become a serious destination for fans who want high-quality cricket and a world-class viewing experience.”

And the squads don’t disappoint.
Abu Dhabi Knight Riders boast heavy hitters like Sunil Narine, Andre Russell, Alex Hales, and wildcard pair Jason Holder and Piyush Chawla, joined by Unmukt Chand.
The Desert Vipers counter with Sam Curran, Lockie Ferguson, Fakhar Zaman, Naseem Shah, and wildcard Shimron Hetmyer.
The Dubai Capitals return with Rovman Powell, Gulbadin Naib, James Neesham, Tymal Mills, plus wildcards David Willey and Leus du Plooy.
Gulf Giants field a well-rounded unit featuring Moeen Ali, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Tabraiz Shamsi, James Vince, and wildcards Kyle Mayers and Matthew Forde.
MI Emirates stack their roster with Jonny Bairstow, Shakib Al Hasan, Andre Fletcher, Naveen-ul-Haq, and wildcards Kieron Pollard and Nicholas Pooran.
And the Sharjah Warriorz, led by India’s ever-reliable Dinesh Karthik, pack in Sikandar Raza, Tim David, Tim Southee, Taskin Ahmed, Nathan Sowter, plus wildcards Adil Rashid and Tom Abell.

With power-hitters, mystery spinners, wildcard firecrackers and Indian veterans all lining up under the Gulf lights, ILT20 Season 4 looks ready to serve a cricketing feast, one that begins with a bang on 2 December and ends with a champion crowned on 4 January 2026.

If you’d like, I can create a shorter version, tweak the pun, or make it even breezier.