The last few years have changed the ethics of T20 cricket, as a number of franchise tournaments have been formed globally. But only a few have made their mark, and the International League T20 (ILT20), also known as DP World ILT20, is one of them. Formed in 2023, the ILT20 is operated under the supervision of the Emirates Cricket Board.
The first season of the ILT20 was played in 2023 with a total of six teams: Abu Dhabi Knight Riders, Dubai Capitals, Desert Vipers, Gulf Giants, MI Emirates, and Sharjah Warriors. So far, two seasons have been hosted successfully in this competition. This league is played once every year in the first quarter (January-March).
One of the key reasons that this league has become a top-rated tournament is the big names involved in it. It has attracted some big IPL franchises and top players from the world. So far, two teams have had the glory to lift the ILT20 title. In this article, we will talk about the list of winners for the International League T20 (ILT20) from the first season to the latest.
International League T20 (ILT20) Winner List (2023-2025)
| Season | Winner | Runners |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Gulf Giants | Desert Vipers |
| 2024 | MI Emirates | Dubai Capitals |
| 2025 | Dubai Capitals | Desert Vipers |
1. Gulf Giants – 2023
Owned by Adani Group, Gulf Giants became the champions in the inaugural season of the ILT20 in 2023. Under the captaincy of Colin Munro, Gulf Giants topped the group stage with seven wins in ten games. As a result, they made it to Qualifier 1. In that game, they faced the Desert Vipers and went on to win the game by 19 runs to advance to the final.
Tom Curran scored 29 off 17 and took 4/31, showing his all-round skills in that game. In the final, they faced the Vipers once again. This time, Carlos Brathwaite (3/19) and Qais Ahmed (2/29) bowled a superb spell and restricted the Vipers to 146/8. Chris Lynn slammed an unbeaten 72 off 50, and the Giants won the final by 7 wickets to lift the ILT20 2023 title.
2. MI Emirates – 2024
The second season saw a new team winning the trophy. MI Emirates finished the inaugural season in third place, but this time, they went on to win the title. Led by Nicholas Pooran, MI Emirates ended the group stage at the top with 12 points. Then, they faced the then-defending champion Gulf Giants in Qualifier 1, which they won by 45 runs to advance to the final.
In the final, MI Emirates faced Dubai Capitals. This time captain Nicholas Pooran slammed an unbeaten 57 off 27 to take the team to a 45-run win. That helped the franchise to become the champion and lift the trophy. For MI Emirates, Fazalhaq Farooqi and Waqar Salamkheil took 17 wickets each, which were the most in the tournament.
