The International League T20 (ILT20) is the United Arab Emirates’ men’s franchise T20 competition. It began in 2023 with six teams and a 34-match format. The table below covers four completed editions, through Season 4, which finished on 4 January 2026. Season 5 was scheduled for later in 2026, so it has no champion here.
ILT20 history and team changes
The first three editions were played in January and February: 2023, 2024 and 2025. The league then moved Season 4 earlier to avoid the 2026 T20 World Cup. That edition began in December 2025 and ended in January 2026. It is still Season 4, not a separate 2026 edition.
The six inaugural franchises remain the six current teams: Abu Dhabi Knight Riders, Desert Vipers, Dubai Capitals, Gulf Giants, MI Emirates and Sharjah Warriorz. The checked record shows no expansion entrant, replacement franchise or discontinued champion to separate from these identities.
ILT20 winners and runners-up
| Season | Winner | Runner-up |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 |
Gulf Giants
|
Desert Vipers
|
| 2024 |
MI Emirates
|
Dubai Capitals
|
| 2025 |
Dubai Capitals
|
Desert Vipers
|
| 2025–26 |
Desert Vipers
|
MI Emirates
|
Swipe sideways to view the full table.
Completed finals only. Historical names are retained; current franchise marks may be shown.
These are the latest verified completed results as of 16 October 2026 India time / 15 October 2026 UTC.
Most successful ILT20 team
There is no outright leader after four completed editions. Gulf Giants, MI Emirates, Dubai Capitals and Desert Vipers have one title each.
| Team | Titles | Title-winning seasons |
|---|---|---|
|
Desert Vipers
|
1 | 2025–26 |
|
Dubai Capitals
|
1 | 2025 |
|
Gulf Giants
|
1 | 2023 |
|
MI Emirates
|
1 | 2024 |
|
Abu Dhabi Knight Riders
|
0 | — |
|
Sharjah Warriorz
|
0 | — |
Swipe sideways to view all title-winning seasons.
Ranked by championship wins, most to least. Tied teams share the same title total.
Abu Dhabi Knight Riders and Sharjah Warriorz have not won an ILT20 title in the completed editions listed above.
ILT20 FAQs
Who won the first ILT20?
Gulf Giants won the inaugural 2023 ILT20 final, defeating Desert Vipers by seven wickets.
Which team has won the most ILT20 titles?
No team leads outright. Four teams have one title each: Gulf Giants, MI Emirates, Dubai Capitals and Desert Vipers.
Why is one season labelled 2025–26?
The fourth edition moved into an earlier window. It began in December 2025 and its final was played on 4 January 2026. The calendar change did not create a fifth edition.
Who won the ILT20 final played in January 2026?
Desert Vipers won Season 4, the 2025–26 edition, against MI Emirates. No Season 5 winner is included before that edition is completed.
