The Dubai Capitals will compete against the Abu Dhabi Knight Riders in the Eliminator at the Dubai International Cricket stadium with the winner still contesting for the title. This high-stakes clash will begin on 1st Jan 2026 at 8:00 under lights where handling pressure and smart bowling are at a premium in knockout conditions.

 

Dubai Capitals (DCP)

 

The Dubai Capitals missed a spot in Qualifier 1 because they lost two very important matches against MI Emirates in the league stage. While batters like Alishan Sharafu, Liam Livingstone and Alex Hales scored beyond 200 runs, inconsistency has cost them dearly. Their bowling attack has basically relied on Jason Holder and Ajay Kumar, thus making this game a must-win for both departments to click together.

 

Abu Dhabi Knight Riders (ADKR)

 

Abu Dhabi Knight Riders had their fate in their hands for the last league matches and had secured a spot in the Eliminator following the impressive win over Gulf Giants. Their batting unit has proven its productivity, with Phil Salt, Liam Livingstone, Alex Hales, and Alishan Sharafu each scoring more than 200 runs. However, much like their rivals, their bowling has been heavily dependent on Jason Holder and Ajay Kumar.

 

DCP vs ADKR T20 Match Details

 

DCP vs ADKR ILT20 Match Details
Match	Dubai Capitals vs Abu Dhabi Knigt Riders Eliminator T20 Match
Date and Time	Thursday, January 01; 8:00 p.m. IST
Venue	Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai
Broadcasting and live streaming	TV - Zee Network; Live Stream - Zee App

 

DCP vs ADKR Eliminator T20 Pitch Report

 

Dubai pitch has really become hard for batters due to the highly intense season that has been carried by its lively surface. Approximately 13 wickets, on average, fall per game, while the first-innings scores are sinking to as low as around 155, which is the lowest in four seasons. Among the very first features that pitch conditions show is a 60.5 percent win of teams chasing targets under lights. Spinners have been economical but pacers strike quicker when making the changes.

 

DCP vs ADKR Eliminator Weather Report

 

Weather in Dubai is expected to be warm and clear during the evening hours with temperatures around 22-27°C. There's no rain in forecast, and light winds won't come in the way of play which would allow for a full, uninterrupted match.

 

DCP vs ADKR Head-to-Head Records

 

DCP vs ADKR head-to-head (in T20s) - Last 5 Matches
Won by Dubai Capitals	5
Won by Abu Dhabi Knight Riders	0
Tied	0
No Result	0

 

DCP vs ADKR Eliminator ILT20 Match Probable XI

 

• Dubai Capitals: Sediqullah Atal, Shayan Jahangir (wk), Jordan Cox, Mohammad Nabi (c), Leus du Plooy, James Neesham, Rovman Powell, David Willey, Muhammad Jawadullah, Haider Ali, Scott Currie

 

• Abu Dhabi Knight Riders: Philip Salt (wk), Alex Hales, Alishan Sharafu, Michael-Kyle Pepper, Liam Livingstone, Brandon McMullen, Andre Russell, Jason Holder (c), Sunil Narine, Piyush Chawla, Ajay Kumar

 

Players To Watch Out For In the DCP vs ADKR Eliminator ILT20 Match

 

• Jordan Cox | DCP: Jordan Cox has been the batter who has stood out in Dubai Capitals with his 311 runs averaging 38.87. He is playing very much the anchor role with his strike rate of 124.89 and has scored two half-centuries to prove vital in a pressure knockout match.

 

• Waqar Salamkheil | DCP: He has been phenomenal with the ball and is currently the tournament's leading wicket-taker. At 17 wickets from 10 matches, his average has been impressive at 18.11, with an average strike rate of 13.9 balls per wicket, thus making him a huge threat on the worn-out Dubai surface.

 

• Phil Salt | ADKR: Being one of the most influential batters for ADKR this season, Phil Salt has scored 212 runs in the course of nine matches for his team. With a strike rate of 128.48, Salt is really aggressive in powerplays as well as in chasing under lights.

 

• Jason Holder | ADKR: Captain Jason Holder has taken the leadership role on the ball front, putting up 12 wickets from eight matches, averaging excellently at 16.83. He strikes every 15 balls on average and has also contributed useful runs at the lower end, making a complete match winner out of him.

 

DCP vs ADKR Eliminator T20 Toss Prediction

 

Historical Toss-Winning Stats at the Venue

 

• In the last three T20 matches played at this venue, the teams that won the toss have opted to bowl on all three occasions.

 

Advantages of Bowling First on This Pitch

 

• Out of 157 T20 matches played at this venue, the team batting first has won 58 matches played, while the teams batting second have won 98 games. This trend suggests that teams should prefer to bowl first and focus on restricting their opponents' under-par score.

 

DCP vs ADKR Eliminator Today's Match Scenario

 

Scenario 1

 

• Toss Winner: DCP (opts to bowl first)


• Power-Play Score: 40-45


• ADKR Total: 165-180


• Match Winner: Abu Dhabi Knight Riders

 

Scenario 2

 

• Toss Winner: ADKR (opts to bowl first)


• Power-Play Score: 35-40


• DCP Total: 155-170


• Match Winner: Abu Dhabi Knight Riders

 

Who will win today's DCP vs ADKR Eliminator ILT20 match?

 

Despite being two closely matched teams - this match could well be clinched by bowling depth and calm batting in critical situations. Based on the superior chasing record and slightly better balance, the Abu Dhabi Knight Riders have a narrow edge, while the Dubai Capitals have the potential to surprise if their top order fires.