Abu Dhabi Knight Riders (ADKR) go into Season 5 of the DP World ILT20 still chasing their first title, but with the momentum of their best season so far. Last season they reached the playoffs, beat Dubai Capitals by 50 runs in the Eliminator, and fell one game short of the final.
Sunil Narine, Jason Holder and Finn Allen lead a squad that also adds Moeen Ali, Colin Munro, Gulbadin Naib and Andre Fletcher. The Knight Riders play five home matches at Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi, plus a sixth game there against MI Emirates, between 22 November and 14 December 2026. Tickets are on sale now on Platinumlist, from AED 10.
This page has the full ADKR squad with auction prices, all 10 fixtures with India timings, the home-game calendar and how to book tickets. For every team’s fixtures, see the full ILT20 2026 schedule.
In this post, we will see the Abu Dhabi Knight Riders squads, schedule, and ticket booking details
ADKR at a glance
| Full name | Abu Dhabi Knight Riders |
| Short name | ADKR |
| Owners | Knight Riders Group (also owns Kolkata Knight Riders, Trinbago Knight Riders and LA Knight Riders) |
| Home ground | Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi |
| Season 5 captain | To be announced (Jason Holder captained in Season 4) |
| Head coach | To be announced (Dwayne Bravo coached in Seasons 3 and 4) |
| ILT20 titles | None yet |
| Season 4 result | 4th in league, won Eliminator, lost Qualifier 2 |
| Season 5 auction spend | About $1.55 million |
| First match | vs Dubai Capitals, 22 Nov, Dubai, 8:00 PM IST |
| First home match | vs MI Emirates, 26 Nov, Abu Dhabi, 8:00 PM IST |
| Tickets | Check on ADKR Tickets Page |
How ADKR have done in the ILT20
The Knight Riders are one of two teams, with Sharjah Warriorz, that have never won the ILT20. Season 3 (2025) was their low point: three wins from 10 matches and bottom of the table, even with Andre Russell and Narine in the side.
For Season 4 they made Jason Holder captain in place of Narine and brought in Liam Livingstone, Alex Hales and Sherfane Rutherford. They finished fourth with four wins, then beat Dubai Capitals by 50 runs in the Eliminator on 1 January 2026. Michael Pepper top-scored with 72, and Narine was Player of the Match. Their run ended in Qualifier 2, where MI Emirates beat them to reach the final.
UAE spinner Ajay Kumar was the find of Season 4. He made his T20 debut that season and shared the tournament’s wicket lead with 18.
ADKR squad for ILT20 2026
The Knight Riders kept four players before the auction and bought 18 more on 1 October 2026.
| # | Player | Country | Role | Price (USD) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sunil Narine | West Indies | All-Rounder | PRE-SIGNED |
| 2 | Jason Holder | West Indies | All-Rounder | PRE-SIGNED |
| 3 | Finn Allen | New Zealand | Batter | PRE-SIGNED |
| 4 | Matthew Tromp | USA | All-Rounder | PRE-SIGNED |
| 5 | Alishan Sharafu | UAE | Batter | 110,000 |
| 6 | Amshi De Silva | USA | All-Rounder | 100,000 |
| 7 | Muhammad Rohid | UAE | Bowler | 95,000 |
| 8 | Moeen Ali | England | All-Rounder | 80,000 |
| 9 | Arab Gul | Afghanistan | Bowler | 80,000 |
| 10 | Usman Tariq | Pakistan | Bowler | 80,000 |
| 11 | Gulbadin Naib | Afghanistan | All-Rounder | 75,000 |
| 12 | Ibrar Ahmed | UAE | Bowler | 46,000 |
| 13 | Andre Fletcher | West Indies | Batter | 40,000 |
| 14 | Ajay Kumar | UAE | Bowler | 40,000 |
| 15 | Colin Munro | New Zealand | Batter | 40,000 |
| 16 | Michael Pepper | England | Wicket Keeper | 40,000 |
| 17 | Qais Ahmad | Afghanistan | Bowler | 38,000 |
| 18 | Jakeem Pollard | West Indies | Bowler | 10,000 |
| 19 | Abdul Mannan Ali | Saudi Arabia | Batter | 10,000 |
| 20 | Ravija Sandaruwan | Kuwait | Batter | 10,000 |
| 21 | Abdullah Tarakhail | Afghanistan | All-Rounder | 10,000 |
| 22 | Lorcan Tucker | Ireland | Wicket Keeper | 10,000 |
Teams can still add one wildcard player for up to $250,000, so this list may grow before 22 November.
Squad analysis
Batting. Finn Allen and Andre Fletcher give the Knight Riders two aggressive openers, with Colin Munro and Michael Pepper as further top-order options. Pepper’s 72 in last season’s Eliminator showed he can handle big games. Alishan Sharafu, the UAE’s best young batter, and Lorcan Tucker add depth in the middle order.
All-rounders. This is the squad’s strength. Narine, Holder, Moeen Ali and Gulbadin Naib can all bat and bowl, which gives the captain plenty of ways to balance the XI around the UAE player rule.
Bowling. Spin is the main weapon on the slower Abu Dhabi pitch: Narine, Qais Ahmad, Usman Tariq, Moeen and last season’s joint top wicket-taker Ajay Kumar. Holder leads the seam attack with UAE quick Muhammad Rohid. With Andre Russell and Liam Livingstone gone, the death bowling and late-order hitting are the main questions.
Who’s gone. Andre Russell, Phil Salt (now at Dubai Capitals), Liam Livingstone (Gulf Giants), Alex Hales and Brandon McMullen (Sharjah Warriorz) are not in the Season 5 squad.
Players to watch
- Sunil Narine. Captained the team for its first three seasons and was Player of the Match in last season’s Eliminator. Still the key figure with bat and ball.
- Jason Holder. Took 17 wickets and scored 126 runs at a strike rate of 180 in Season 3, then captained the side to the playoffs in Season 4.
- Finn Allen. One of the fastest-scoring openers in T20 cricket, and new to ADKR this season.
- Alishan Sharafu. The Knight Riders’ most expensive buy at this auction ($110,000), and a regular in their XI for three seasons.
- Ajay Kumar. The UAE spinner who came from nowhere to share the Season 4 wicket lead with 18.
ADKR schedule for ILT20 2026
Sunday, 22 Nov
Dubai Capitals8:00 pm–
Abu Dhabi Knight RidersBuy tickets Thursday, 26 Nov
Abu Dhabi Knight Riders8:00 pm–
MI EmiratesBuy tickets Sunday, 29 Nov
Abu Dhabi Knight Riders3:30 pm–
Sharjah WarriorzBuy tickets Monday, 30 Nov
MI Emirates8:00 pm–Abu Dhabi Knight RidersBuy tickets Wednesday, 2 Dec
Abu Dhabi Knight Riders3:30 pm–
Desert VipersBuy tickets Thursday, 3 Dec
Gulf Giants8:00 pm–Abu Dhabi Knight RidersBuy tickets Saturday, 5 Dec
Abu Dhabi Knight Riders8:00 pm–Gulf GiantsBuy tickets Wednesday, 9 Dec
Sharjah Warriorz8:00 pm–Abu Dhabi Knight RidersBuy tickets Saturday, 12 Dec
Desert Vipers8:00 pm–Abu Dhabi Knight RidersBuy tickets Monday, 14 Dec
Abu Dhabi Knight Riders8:00 pm–Dubai CapitalsBuy tickets No matches for this team here.
No results yet.
No matches for this team here.
| Match | Date | Opponent | Venue | Time (GST) | Time (IST) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sun, 22 Nov | Dubai Capitals | Dubai (away) | 6:30 PM | 8:00 PM |
| 2 | Thu, 26 Nov | MI Emirates | Abu Dhabi (home) | 6:30 PM | 8:00 PM |
| 3 | Sun, 29 Nov | Sharjah Warriorz | Abu Dhabi (home) | 2:00 PM | 3:30 PM |
| 4 | Mon, 30 Nov | MI Emirates | Abu Dhabi | 6:30 PM | 8:00 PM |
| 5 | Wed, 2 Dec | Desert Vipers | Abu Dhabi (home) | 2:00 PM | 3:30 PM |
| 6 | Thu, 3 Dec | Gulf Giants | Dubai (away) | 6:30 PM | 8:00 PM |
| 7 | Sat, 5 Dec | Gulf Giants | Abu Dhabi (home) | 6:30 PM | 8:00 PM |
| 8 | Wed, 9 Dec | Sharjah Warriorz | Sharjah (away) | 6:30 PM | 8:00 PM |
| 9 | Sat, 12 Dec | Desert Vipers | Dubai (away) | 6:30 PM | 8:00 PM |
| 10 | Mon, 14 Dec | Dubai Capitals | Abu Dhabi (home) | 6:30 PM | 8:00 PM |
Gate times are UAE time, as listed on the official ticket site. If ADKR qualify, Qualifier 1 is in Abu Dhabi on 16 December, the Eliminator in Dubai on 17 December, Qualifier 2 in Sharjah on 18 December and the final in Dubai on 20 December.
What stands out in the ADKR schedule
- Seven games in Abu Dhabi. Five are home games, plus the 30 November match, an MI Emirates “home” game that is also played at Zayed Cricket Stadium.
- Two back-to-backs. ADKR play on 29 and 30 November, and again on 2 and 3 December, the second with a trip to Dubai. That’s four games in six days, so squad rotation will matter.
- National Day match. On 2 December, UAE National Day, the Knight Riders host the defending champions Desert Vipers in the afternoon.
- Fast finish. The last two games, away to Desert Vipers and home to Dubai Capitals, could decide whether ADKR make the top four.
- Both afternoon games are at home. The 29 November and 2 December matches start at 3:30 PM IST, which suits viewers in India.
ADKR home matches at Zayed Cricket Stadium
| Date | Opponent | Start (local) |
|---|---|---|
| Thu, 26 Nov | MI Emirates | 6:30 PM |
| Sun, 29 Nov | Sharjah Warriorz | 2:00 PM |
| Wed, 2 Dec (National Day) | Desert Vipers | 2:00 PM |
| Sat, 5 Dec | Gulf Giants | 6:30 PM |
| Mon, 14 Dec | Dubai Capitals | 6:30 PM |
The sixth Abu Dhabi game, MI Emirates vs ADKR on 30 November, is listed as an MI Emirates fixture but is also played at Zayed Cricket Stadium.
Zayed Cricket Stadium has the biggest outfield of the league’s three grounds, and its slower pitches suit spinners, which plays to the Knight Riders’ strength.
ADKR ticket booking details
Tickets for all DP World ILT20 Season 5 matches, including every Knight Riders game, are on sale now on Platinumlist, the official ticketing partner. The league’s own ticket address, tickets.ilt20.ae, takes you to the same ILT20 ticket page on Platinumlist.
| Ticket type | Price | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| General admission | From AED 10 | Free seating in any stand. E-ticket emailed 48 hours before the match |
| Family tickets | Price to be confirmed | Children aged 5 and above need their own ticket |
| VIP hospitality | Price to be confirmed | Hospitality packages, details on ilt20.ae and Platinumlist |
| Children under 5 | Free | Must sit on an adult’s lap, one child per adult |
How to book:
- Go to ilt20.platinumlist.net, or type tickets.ilt20.ae in your browser.
- Filter by Abu Dhabi or by Abu Dhabi Knight Riders, and choose your match, e.g. ADKR vs MI Emirates, 26 November.
- Click Buy, pick your ticket type and the number of tickets (maximum 10 per person per match day).
- Pay online. The e-ticket arrives by email 48 hours before the match.
- Show the e-ticket on your phone at the gate. Gates open two hours before evening games (4:30 PM) and afternoon games (12:00 PM) in Abu Dhabi.
Good to know before you buy:
- Refunds. You get a full refund only if the match is cancelled before the toss, or moved to a different date or venue. There are no refunds for a change of plans, a late arrival or a match that finishes early.
- Buy only from the official site. Tickets not bought through the official portal are not eligible for a refund and may not be accepted.
- Ticket limit. Each buyer can get up to 10 tickets per match day. Orders above that may be cancelled.
- Children. Under-5s get in free on an adult’s lap; bring photo ID for proof of age if asked.
For every team’s matches and prices, see our ILT20 2026 tickets guide.
Where to watch ADKR matches
In India, every ADKR match is shown on Zee network TV channels and streamed on the ZEE5 app. Evening matches start at 8:00 PM IST and afternoon matches at 3:30 PM IST. For other countries, see the where-to-watch section of our ILT20 2026 guide.
FAQ
Who is the captain of Abu Dhabi Knight Riders in ILT20 2026? Not announced yet. Jason Holder captained the side in Season 4 and has been retained.
Who owns Abu Dhabi Knight Riders? The Knight Riders Group, which also owns Kolkata Knight Riders in the IPL.
What is ADKR’s home ground? Zayed Cricket Stadium in Abu Dhabi.
When is ADKR’s first match in ILT20 2026? Against Dubai Capitals in Dubai on Sunday, 22 November 2026 at 8:00 PM IST.
How many home matches do ADKR play? Five at Zayed Cricket Stadium, plus a sixth game there as the away side against MI Emirates on 30 November.
Have ADKR ever won the ILT20? No. Their best run so far was Season 4, when they won the Eliminator and reached Qualifier 2.
Who was ADKR’s most expensive buy at the 2026 auction? Alishan Sharafu, at $110,000.
How do I buy ADKR tickets? On Platinumlist at ilt20.platinumlist.net (or via tickets.ilt20.ae). General admission starts at AED 10.
How much are ADKR tickets? General admission starts at AED 10 for every match. Family and VIP hospitality prices are still to be confirmed.
Do children need a ticket? Children aged 5 and above need a ticket. Under-5s get in free if they sit on an adult’s lap.
