In the International League T20, Gulbadin Naib played a fantastic knock and led his team, Dubai Capitals, to victory. Gulbadin Naib scored a blistering 78 runs off 51 balls, including 5 sixes and 3 fours. Thanks to Gulbadin Naib’s explosive batting, Dubai Capitals chased down the target with ease.
The Capitals chased down a modest target of 140 with ease, thanks to a stellar performance by Gulbadin Naib, who was named Player of the Match for his outstanding all-round contribution. Dubai Capitals triumphed over Desert Vipers by six wickets in a riveting contest at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, securing a much-needed win in Match 13 of the International League T20 2025.
Pitch Report and Toss
Pitch Report: This is a used surface which will play the same way throughout the 40 overs. The spinners will be in play if they vary their lengths and pace. Dubai has a bigger ground as well so batters need to be calculative about their strokes and target the shorter boundary.
Toss : Dubai Capitals skipper Sikandar Raza won the toss and chose to bowl with couple of changes in the playing XI. Desert Vipers skipper Lockie Ferguson batting first decided to go with the same winning combination.
Desert Vipers finish at 139 as bowlers delivers stellar performance for Dubai Capitals
After opting to bowl first, the Capitals’ bowlers made an immediate impact, restricting the Desert Vipers to a below-par total of 139. The Vipers struggled to build partnerships as wickets fell at regular intervals.
Alex Hales top-scored with 34 runs off 31 balls, hitting two fours and two sixes. Sherfane Rutherford contributed a valuable 27 off 24, including one four and three sixes, while Dan Lawrence chipped in with 24 runs. However, the rest of the batting lineup failed to capitalize, with Sam Curran, Azam Khan and Tanish Suri unable to make significant contributions.

Batting first, the Vipers made a brisk start, reaching 48/1 at the end of the powerplay. Fakhar Zaman set the tone early, smashing a six and a four before being bowled by Dushmantha Chameera in the second over. Dan Lawrence, coming in at number three, matched Zaman’s intent, while Alex Hales anchored the innings from the other end.
However, the Capitals took control in the middle phase despite a 58-run stand between Hales and Lawrence. The Vipers suffered a triple blow in quick succession, losing Hales, Lawrence, and Sam Curran across three overs. Haider Ali dismissed Hales for 34 in the tenth over, followed by Lawrence’s 24-run effort being curtailed by Gulbadin Naib. Curran was then stumped off Sikandar Raza for three runs, leaving the Vipers struggling at 80/4 in 11.3 overs.

The collapse continued as the Vipers were bowled out for 139 in 20 overs. Brief contributions from Azam Khan and Wanindu Hasaranga ended with both falling to Zahir Khan. Sherfane Rutherford provided a glimmer of hope, striking three sixes in his 27 runs off 24 balls, but Chameera struck for the third time in the penultimate over to halt his charge.
The Capitals’ bowlers delivered a disciplined performance. Zahir Khan and Dushmantha Chameera were the standouts, taking three wickets each. Zahir Khan, though slightly expensive, broke key partnerships, while Chameera’s late strikes wrapped up the innings efficiently. Haider Ali, Obed McCoy, Sikandar Raza and Gulbadin Naib each chipped in with a wicket to keep the pressure on the Vipers.
Gulbadin Naib 78* takes Dubai Capitals home with an emphatic win over 6 wickets
The Capitals started their chase shakily, losing early wickets as Ben Dunk, Shai Hope and Khalid Shah departed cheaply. At 42/3, the chase looked precarious, but Gulbadin Naib anchored the innings with a scintillating knock.
Gulbadin Naib smashed 78 not out off 51 balls, featuring three fours and five towering sixes, showcasing both composure and aggression. Gulbadin Naib’s partnership with Raza, who contributed 24 off 26, steadied the innings and took the game away from the Vipers. Najibullah Zadran provided a calm finish with 10 runs off 10. The Capitals reached the finish line in 17.4 overs with 6 wickets in hand.
Despite the low first innings total, skipper Lockie Ferguson kept the Vipers in the scheme of things with a sizzling opening spell. Ferguson picked up Ben Dunk and Khalid Shah in the second over to leave the Capitals in trouble at 17/2.

Though the run rate was on track, opener Shai Hope was run out for eight runs, following a mix-up with Gulbadin Naib in the sixth over Gulbadin Naib, who was also dropped for two runs earlier in the innings, redeemed himself in the very next over as he took down Nathan Sowter for three sixes, bringing the required run rate to less than six runs an over.
With Sikandar Raza at one end, Gulbadin Naib blitzed his way to a 31-ball half-century, including two fours and three sixes. The pair brought up a 50-run stand for the fourth wicket in as little as 36 balls. As a result, at the 14-over mark, the Capitals were well entrenched in the driver’s seat needing 32 runs in 36 balls.

Raza, who had taken few chances so far, was caught off Mohammad Amir’s shorter one for 24 runs in 26 balls in the 15th over. Najibullah Zadran joined Gulbadin Naib as the latter continued to dominate the Vipers’ bowling attack. Gulbadin Naib launched two more sixes as the Capitals scaled the target in 17.4 overs.
For the Vipers, Lockie Ferguson was the pick of the bowlers, claiming two wickets for 29 runs in his four overs. Mohammad Amir bowled with precision, taking one wicket for 31 runs in 3.4 overs. Despite their efforts, the total proved too small to defend.
Presentations and Road Ahead
Sikandar Raza the winning DC skipper said : We never doubted ourselves. Last year we made it to the finals after losing three in a row and then winning four in a row. Really happy with our effort today, we were good in the field and with the ball. We thought the wicket was a lot tackier and greener. Thought there’s a bit of moisture, as long as the ball stayed new, it would grip and turn.
After the 15th over, we realised the turn was starting to go away and it got flatter. We felt Gulbadin is in good form, so many good power hitters in the team, we’ve tried to shuffle the order to try and utilize everyone’s form. Want to players in good form to face majority of the balls. Felt we caught very well today.
Lockie Ferguson the losing DV skipper said : Tough one. Probably a few runs short. The way we started with the ball, we had some chances but they didn’t go to hand. I think they bowled well, it spun, probably could’ve taken it a little bit deeper. Quick turnaround, the boys have been playing well, back them to come good. We have a day off tomorrow, will make sure we’re nice and refreshed for the next game.
Gulbadin Naib Player of the Match for his 78* said : We are at the bottom, we are just looking for momentum after three losses. Luckily today we won. Still a long way to go. It’s not easy facing this kind of quality bowling, luckily I gave time to myself, during the break coaching staff came and said you’re looking good so I took on the bowling after that.
Just wanted to go after the loose balls and back my strengths. We are lucky we face Rashid Khan, Sowter is a good quality spinner. I said sorry to Hope, it’s a part of the game. I told myself I will finish the game after that (run-out).
The Desert Vipers’ undefeated streak finally met its match on Monday, as the Dubai Capitals delivered a stunning six-wicket victory at the Dubai International Stadium in the ongoing International League T20 2025 season.
A fantastic day out in the office for the Capitals. They get a win they needed quite badly. They were good with the ball earlier and restricted the Vipers to just 139 and then they came out and chased it down without any real hiccups. Gulbadin Naib was the star of the show as he finished unbeaten on 78 off just 51. He was dropped very early in his innings and he made the most of it.
The Vipers weren’t quite switched on the field either. Couple of chances went begging and it cost them. While the Capitals lost three wickets inside the powerplay, they didn’t panic. Gulbadin Naib and Raza were able to steady the ship and they sailed through with relative ease thereafter as Gulbadin Naib found some great form.
Desert Vipers batted first and put up 139 runs, with Hales top-scoring 34 runs from 31 balls, including 2 fours and 2 sixes. However, Dubai Capitals’ bowlers dominated, with Chameera and Zahir Khan taking 3 wickets each, helping dismiss Desert Vipers before the end of the 20th over. Gulbadin Naib’s brilliant innings proved that even though he was unsold at the IPL 2025 auction, he can still be a match-winning player. The Capitals leapfrog up to fourth place after that win. The Vipers, meanwhile, remain at the top of the charts despite the loss.