Sharjah Warriorz vs MI Emirates – ILT20 2025 Match Preview (December 7, 2025)

Match Details

• Date: Wednesday, 7th December 2025
• Venue: Sharjah Cricket Stadium
• Time: 10:00 AM GMT | 03:30 PM IST | 02:00 PM Local

Team Form and Performance

Sharjah Warriorz:

• Began their ILT20 2025 campaign with a 39-run loss to the Abu Dhabi Knight Riders.
• Despite the loss, Tim David and Dwaine Pretorius showcased explosive batting, while Adil Rashid and Saurabh Netravalkar were standout performers with the ball.
• The team has shown resilience in previous encounters, with 2 wins out of 5 in head-to-head clashes against MI Emirates.

MI Emirates:

• Suffered an unexpected defeat to the Gulf Giants, losing by 6 wickets with 32 balls to spare.
• Kieron Pollard and Jonny Bairstow were their best performers with the bat, while AM Ghazanfar was the only bowler to deliver a match-changing performance.
• MI Emirates holds a 3-2 edge in their last 5 meetings against Sharjah Warriorz, but they'll be looking to bounce back from their opening loss.

Key Players to Watch

Sharjah Warriorz:

• Tim David – The Australian all-rounder has been in scintillating form this year, scoring 1101 runs at an average of 40.77 and a strike rate of 178.15.
• Dwaine Pretorius – A dual threat with the bat and ball, Pretorius averages 25.2 with the bat and has taken 28 wickets at a strike rate of 145.66.
• Adil Rashid – The leg-spinner has been a match-winner for the team, taking 31 wickets at an average of 23.93 in 2025.

MI Emirates:

• Kieron Pollard – With 932 runs at an average of 46.6 this year, Pollard remains a key anchor and finisher for the side.
• Jonny Bairstow – The English wicketkeeper has contributed 753 runs at an average of 32.73, offering stability and explosive finishes.
• AM Ghazanfar – The Pakistani pacer has been a consistent wicket-taker, claiming 34 wickets at an average of 25.82.

Venue Insights – Sharjah Cricket Stadium

• Average first innings score (2022–2025): 169.15
• Win percentage when chasing: 55.3%
• Wickets per innings: ~6.5
• Economy rates:
  • Fast bowlers: 8.38
  • Spinners: 6.96
• The surface is typically flat and batsman-friendly, favoring teams with aggressive openers and deep batting line-ups.

Match Predictions – Pre-Play Analysis

• Toss Prediction: MI Emirates
• Match Winner: Sharjah Warriorz
• Top Batsman (Runs): Tim David (Sharjah) & Jonny Bairstow (MI Emirates)
• Top Bowler (Wickets): Adil Rashid (Sharjah) & AM Ghazanfar (MI Emirates)
• Most Sixes: Tim David & Kieron Pollard
• Player of the Match: Tim David (Sharjah Warriorz)
• Team Scores (Batting First):
  • Sharjah Warriorz: 170+
  • MI Emirates: 160+

Key Tactical Insights

• For Sharjah Warriorz:

  • Tim David’s ability to clear the boundary at will will be crucial for a strong start.
  • Adil Rashid and Saurabh Netravalkar are expected to exploit the middle overs, where Rashid takes 82% of his wickets.
  • The top order, led by Tom Kohler-Cadmore, needs to stabilize after the Powerplay.

• For MI Emirates:

  • Andre Fletcher, the most expensive buy of the season, is expected to anchor the innings and provide structure.
  • AM Ghazanfar and Naveenul Haq offer a potent pace attack, with Ghazanfar maintaining a 25.82 average in 2025.
  • Chris Woakes and Shakib Al Hasan add all-round balance to the side.

Final Verdict

This is a crucial match for both teams as they look to recover from their opening defeats. Sharjah Warriorz have the advantage of home conditions, with a surface that typically favors batting. However, MI Emirates possess a well-balanced squad and have historically fared better in this fixture.

While the toss is predicted to go to MI Emirates, the Sharjah Warriorz are tipped to win the match, with Tim David likely to be the standout performer with bat and ball.

Prediction: Sharjah Warriorz by 6-8 runs
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