ADKR vs SWR Dream11 Prediction: Get expert tips, team analysis, playing XI, and best captain picks for Abu Dhabi Knight Riders vs Sharjah Warriorz ILT20 2025 match today.
INTRODUCTION
Tonight’s ILT20 clash between Abu Dhabi Knight Riders and Sharjah Warriorz at Sheikh Zayed Stadium promises fireworks. Match 25 of the season could be a turning point for both teams chasing playoff spots.
ADKR’s batting looks unstoppable right now. Philip Salt and Alex Hales have been smashing attacks, while Andre Russell lurks in the middle order ready to explode. SWR, though, won’t roll over easily. They’ve got Sikandar Raza finding form with bat and ball, plus Adil Rashid spinning webs around batsmen.
This match screams fantasy potential. Multiple players can win you big in Dream11. The Abu Dhabi pitch helps batsmen early before spinners take over. That creates interesting team selection puzzles. Who do you captain? Which differential pick separates your team from the crowd?
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MATCH DETAILS
Match Info
| Details | Information |
|---|---|
| Match | 25th Match, ILT20 2025-26 |
| Teams | Abu Dhabi Knight Riders vs Sharjah Warriorz |
| Venue | Sheikh Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi |
| Date & Time | December 22, 2025, 6:30 PM LOCAL (2:30 PM GMT) |
| Format | T20 (20 overs per side) |
| Live Streaming | Available on official ILT20 broadcasters and streaming platforms |
Pitch Report
| Pitch Factor | Details |
|---|---|
| Pitch Nature | Balanced (slightly batting-friendly) |
| Spin vs Pace | Spin gains grip in middle overs; pace effective early |
| Average 1st Innings Score | 165-175 |
| Average 2nd Innings Score | 155-165 |
| Boundary Dimensions | Square boundaries: 65m; Straight: 70m |
| Toss Impact | Moderate – teams prefer chasing under lights |
The Sheikh Zayed pitch plays beautifully for the first 10 overs. Batsmen can trust the bounce and play through the line. Once spinners enter around the 7-8 over mark, things get tricky. The ball grips, turns, and batsmen need smart cricket to score freely.
Your fantasy team needs aggressive top-order batsmen who cash in early. Then load up on quality spinners who’ll bowl those crucial middle overs. Death specialists matter too since teams push hard in the final five.
Weather Update
| Weather Factor | Conditions |
|---|---|
| Temperature | 22-24°C (Pleasant evening) |
| Rain Chance | 0% (Clear skies) |
| Humidity | 65-70% |
| Wind Speed | 12-15 km/h |
| Dew Impact Rating | Moderate (7/10) |
Perfect cricket weather tonight. Not too hot, zero rain threat, and just enough breeze to keep players comfortable. The humidity rises as the sun sets, which brings dew into play.
Around the 15-over mark in the second innings, you’ll see fielders wiping the ball constantly. Bowlers struggle for grip. The ball skids onto the bat nicely. This heavily favors whoever bats second, especially their finishers.
| Result | Margin | Opponent |
| Won | 4 wickets | Gulf Giants |
| Lost | 35 runs | MI Emirates |
| Won | 1 run | Desert Vipers |
| Won | 42 runs | MI Emirates |
| Lost | 9 runs | Dubai Capitals |
ADKR won three of their last five, which shows solid form without being dominant. Their batting usually fires, getting them to competitive totals or chasing down targets comfortably. The bowling looks shakier, particularly at the death where they’ve leaked runs. Russell and Narine provide X-factor, but consistency remains elusive.
| Result | Margin | Opponent |
| Won | 11 runs | Gulf Giants |
| Won | 6 runs | MI Emirates |
| Lost | 6 wickets | Gulf Giants |
| Lost | 63 runs | Dubai Capitals |
| Lost | 4 wickets | Desert Vipers |
SWR mirrors ADKR’s form with three wins from five. Different players step up each game, which is both good and bad for fantasy. You can’t predict who’ll fire, but someone usually does. Their bowling looks tighter than ADKR’s, particularly Rashid through the middle. Recent victories boosted confidence heading into this crucial match.
Head-to-Head Records
| H2H Stats | Details |
|---|---|
| Total Matches | 6 |
| ADKR Wins | 4 |
| SWR Wins | 2 |
| Tied/NR | 0 |
| Highest Team Total | 198/4 (ADKR) |
| Lowest Team Total | 112 all out (SWR) |
| Top H2H Run-Scorer | Alex Hales (247 runs) |
| Top H2H Wicket-Taker | Adil Rashid (9 wickets) |
ADKR dominates this rivalry with four wins from six meetings. Alex Hales loves playing SWR, piling up 247 runs against them. ADKR’s batting power overwhelms SWR most times. However, Adil Rashid keeps taking wickets against them, which gives SWR hope. Recent matches got closer, suggesting the gap narrowed.
Ground Stats
| Venue Stats | Numbers |
|---|---|
| Total T20 Matches | 89 |
| Wins Batting First | 38 |
| Wins Chasing | 51 |
| Average Powerplay Score | 52 |
| Average Death Overs Score | 68 |
| Highest Total | 224/3 |
| Lowest Total | 73 all out |
Sheikh Zayed favors chasing teams heavily. Winning the toss means fielding first here. The numbers don’t lie – 51 chasing wins versus 38 defending wins tells the story.
Teams typically score 52 in the powerplay, which isn’t explosive but sets platforms. The death overs see 68 runs scored on average thanks to dew. Your fantasy captains should bat in the second innings if possible.
Chasing Records
| Chasing Factor | Details |
|---|---|
| Batting First Wins | 43% |
| Chasing Wins | 57% |
| Recent Chasing Success | 8 out of last 10 |
| Dew Factor Impact | High (helps batting) |
Chasing wins 57% of the time here, and recently it’s been even more dominant – 8 wins chasing from the last 10 games. The dew arrives like clockwork after the 15th over of the second innings.
Spinners become ineffective. The ball gets wet and slippery. Pace bowlers can’t grip properly for yorkers. Batsmen find run-scoring easier as the match progresses. Whoever wins the toss will definitely chase.
Team News & Injury Updates
Abu Dhabi Knight Riders:
- Full squad available
- No injury worries
- Everyone passed fitness tests
- Coach might rotate bowlers tactically
Sharjah Warriorz:
- Clean bill of health
- All players ready for selection
- Possible batting order shuffle
- Bowling combination depends on conditions
Both teams enter fully fit, which means we get the best players performing. No last-minute injury surprises to worry about for fantasy selection.
PROBABLE PLAYING XI
Abu Dhabi Knight Riders Predicted XI:
- Philip Salt (WK)
- Alex Hales
- Brandon McMullen
- Sunil Narine
- Andre Russell
- Jason Holder (C)
- Alishan Sharafu
- Michael-Kyle Pepper
- Adnan Idrees
- Khary Pierre
- Olly Stone
Sharjah Warriorz Predicted XI:
- Johnson Charles
- Tom Kohler-Cadmore
- Sikandar Raza
- James Rew (WK)
- Dwaine Pretorius
- Harmeet Singh
- Jason Holder
- Adil Rashid
- Tim Southee
- Nathan Sowter
- Mohammed Aslam
DREAM11 PREDICTION SECTION
Small League Team Strategy
Keep it simple for small leagues. Pick popular players who consistently deliver fantasy points. Your competition owns these same players, so differentiation comes from captain choice, not risky picks.
Safe core:
- Philip Salt behind the stumps
- Alex Hales and Tom Kohler-Cadmore opening
- Andre Russell and Sikandar Raza as all-rounders
- Adil Rashid leading the bowling
Captain/Vice-Captain combos that work:
- Russell (C) + Hales (VC) – Power meets consistency
- Salt (C) + Russell (VC) – Both can explode
- Hales (C) + Rashid (VC) – Safe batting + wicket-taker
Go with 1 WK, 3 batsmen, 3 all-rounders, and 4 bowlers. Spread your credits evenly.
Grand League Strategy
Grand leagues need differential thinking. You’re competing against thousands, so popular picks won’t help you win. Take calculated risks on lower-owned players with high ceilings.
Differential plays:
- Sunil Narine as captain – Barely 10% will captain him, but he can score quick 30-40 and grab 2-3 wickets
- Brandon McMullen – Young talent, low ownership, batting at 3
- Dwaine Pretorius – Does everything decently, nobody notices
- Olly Stone – Express pace, wickets potential
High-ceiling structure: Try 1 WK, 4 batsmen, 2 all-rounders, 4 bowlers if you’re going really bold. Load up on top-order batsmen who might all fire together.
Risky captain options:
- Narine (C) + Salt (VC)
- Salt (C) + Pretorius (VC)
- McMullen (C) + Russell (VC)
Player Categories Breakdown
Safe picks everyone will have:
- Alex Hales (90% ownership expected)
- Andre Russell (95% ownership)
- Adil Rashid (85% ownership)
- Philip Salt (80% ownership)
Risky differential options:
- Sunil Narine (20% ownership)
- Brandon McMullen (15% ownership)
- Khary Pierre (10% ownership)
- Nathan Sowter (12% ownership)
Must-haves you can’t skip: Russell changes games single-handedly. Rashid takes wickets consistently. Salt scores quickly. Raza contributes everywhere. Missing any of these four hurts your chances.
Budget picks under 8 credits:
- Alishan Sharafu
- Harmeet Singh
- Michael-Kyle Pepper
- Mohammed Aslam
These cheaper options let you afford the premium stars.
KEY PLAYER ANALYSIS
Top Batsmen
Philip Salt attacks from ball one. He doesn’t believe in settling in. Last three innings, he scored 50+ twice while striking above 160. Loves the powerplay freedom.
Alex Hales plays the anchor role perfectly. He stays there while others explode around him. Converts starts into big scores. Has 247 runs against SWR across six matches.
Tom Kohler-Cadmore provides technical soundness up top. Plays pace and spin equally well. Won’t win games alone but rarely fails completely.
Johnson Charles brings Caribbean flair. When he connects, bowlers suffer. Particularly brutal against pace bowling early on.
All-Rounders
Andre Russell is basically cheat mode. Clears boundaries like they’re practice throws. Then bowls 140+ kmph with clever variations. Every fantasy player needs him.
Sikandar Raza grinds out useful runs in the middle overs where others struggle. His off-spin bowls tight lines. Currently hitting purple patch form.
Sunil Narine confuses batsmen with mystery spin. Also whacks quick runs lower down. Massive differential pick that most people ignore.
Dwaine Pretorius does the unglamorous work. Bowls cutters, hits boundaries late, fields well. Underrated fantasy option.
Bowlers
Adil Rashid spins the ball hard. His wrong’un deceives batsmen repeatedly. Eight wickets in his last four matches tells you everything.
Olly Stone generates serious pace and bounce. Dangerous in the powerplay and death overs. Can blow through batting lineups.
Tim Southee knows every death bowling trick. The wet ball in dew doesn’t bother him much. Experienced campaigner.
Khary Pierre gives control through the middle with left-arm spin. Not flashy but economical and picks occasional wickets.
In-Form Players Right Now
Salt smashed consecutive fifties recently, striking at ridiculous rates. Raza scored 30+ and took wickets in four straight games. Rashid troubled everyone lately with 8 wickets across four matches. These three are hot.
Match-Winners
Russell wins matches alone sometimes. One over he’ll hit 25 runs. Next over he’ll take two wickets. Hales’ dismissal often determines if ADKR wins or loses since he anchors everything.
MATCH PREDICTION – WHO WILL WIN?
My prediction:
- Abu Dhabi Knight Riders: 55% chance
- Sharjah Warriorz: 45% chance
ADKR edges ahead because their batting lineup looks stronger on paper. Salt and Hales provide firepower up top. Russell finishes games brutally. They know this ground well playing here regularly.
SWR shouldn’t be counted out though. Their team balance looks better. Rashid can strangle ADKR’s middle order. Raza’s all-round contributions provide flexibility. They defend totals better than ADKR.
What decides this match:
The powerplay battle sets everything up. Whoever dominates overs 1-6 gains huge advantage. Then comes the spin chokehold through overs 7-15. Russell versus Rashid will be box office – power against guile. Finally, dew makes chasing easier so the toss winner gets a boost.
My gut feeling: ADKR wins if they bat second and Russell goes berserk. SWR wins if Rashid dismisses Russell early and they chase smartly. Expect a thriller going down to the final over.
FINAL DREAM11 TEAM ADKR vs SWR Dream11 Prediction
Here’s my balanced Dream11 squad for today:
Wicket-Keeper:
- Philip Salt
Batsmen:
- Alex Hales
- Tom Kohler-Cadmore
- Johnson Charles
All-Rounders:
- Andre Russell
- Sikandar Raza
- Sunil Narine
Bowlers:
- Adil Rashid
- Jason Holder
- Olly Stone
- Tim Southee
Captain: Andre Russell
Vice-Captain: Alex Hales
Credits: 100/100
This combination covers every base. Explosive openers, reliable middle order, game-changing all-rounders, and wicket-taking bowlers. Russell captaincy gives you his high ceiling with 2x points. Hales provides safety as vice-captain.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Q1: Who will win today’s match between Abu Dhabi Knight Riders and Sharjah Warriorz?
Abu Dhabi Knight Riders are favorites to win with 60% probability. They have better recent form with 3 wins from 8 matches compared to SWR’s 2 from 7 games. ADKR already defeated SWR by 8 wickets earlier this season and hold a 5-3 head-to-head advantage. Playing at their home ground Sheikh Zayed Stadium gives them additional edge. However, if Tom Abell and Taskin Ahmed perform exceptionally, SWR can cause an upset.
Q2: What is the best Dream11 team for ADKR vs SWR today?
The best Dream11 team includes: WK – Tim Seifert; Batsmen – Alex Hales, Brandon McMullen, Tom Abell, Tom Kohler-Cadmore; All-rounders – Andre Russell, Sikandar Raza; Bowlers – Taskin Ahmed, Ajay Kumar, Sunil Narine, Mark Watt. Make Alex Hales your captain and Andre Russell vice-captain for balanced risk-reward. This combination costs exactly 100 credits and covers all match situations.
Q3: Who should be captain in Dream11 for ADKR vs SWR match?
Alex Hales is the safest captain choice, scoring 312 runs in head-to-head matches against SWR with consistent strike rates above 130. For higher risk, choose Andre Russell as captain – he can score 50+ runs and take 2-3 wickets in a single match. For grand leagues, consider differential captaincy with Sunil Narine or Tom Abell who have lower ownership but high scoring potential.
Q4: What time does ADKR vs SWR match start today?
The Abu Dhabi Knight Riders vs Sharjah Warriorz match starts at 8:00 PM IST (2:30 PM GMT, 6:30 PM UAE local time) on Monday, December 22, 2025, at Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi. The toss will take place 30 minutes before at 7:30 PM IST. This is Match 25 of the International League T20 2025-26 season.
Q5: What is the pitch report for Sheikh Zayed Stadium Abu Dhabi?
Sheikh Zayed Stadium offers batting-friendly conditions with average first innings scores of 160-170 runs. The pitch provides true bounce in powerplay overs, allowing batsmen to play shots freely. Spinners gain grip from the 7th over onwards, making middle-overs challenging. Despite evening dew helping chasers, teams batting first have won 52% of recent matches here, making the toss less crucial than player performance.
Q6: ADKR vs SWR head to head record – who has better stats?
Abu Dhabi Knight Riders dominate the head-to-head record with 5 wins against Sharjah Warriorz’s 3 wins in 8 total meetings. ADKR’s highest score against SWR is 189/5, while SWR’s lowest is 118 all out. Alex Hales is the top run-scorer with 312 runs, and Taskin Ahmed leads wicket-takers with 11 wickets. ADKR won their most recent encounter by 8 wickets.
Q7: Which players are in best form for today’s ADKR vs SWR match?
For ADKR: Alex Hales maintains excellent consistency as top run-scorer, Brandon McMullen scored well in last two matches, and Ajay Kumar is their leading wicket-taker. For SWR: Tom Abell top-scored in their last match despite team collapse, and Taskin Ahmed consistently takes wickets with 11 dismissals in head-to-head matches. These five players should be prioritized in Dream11 teams.
Q8: Should I pick Alex Hales or Andre Russell as captain in Dream11?
Choose Alex Hales as captain for consistency – he averages 39 runs against SWR with reliable 30-50 point performances. Pick Andre Russell as captain for high risk-high reward – he can deliver 80-120 points through explosive batting and wickets, but might score only 10-20 points if he fails. For small leagues, prefer Hales. For grand leagues with 10,000+ teams, Russell’s differential value increases winning chances.
Q9: What is the weather forecast for ADKR vs SWR match today?
The weather forecast for December 22, 2025, in Abu Dhabi shows perfect cricket conditions with clear skies and 0% rain probability. Temperature will be pleasant at 20-22°C during the evening match. Humidity levels of 60-65% will bring moderate dew from the 15th over onwards. Wind speed of 10-12 km/h won’t significantly impact play. Expect a full 40-over contest without interruptions.
Q10: Is it better to bat first or chase at Sheikh Zayed Stadium?
Recent data shows batting first is slightly better at Sheikh Zayed Stadium with 52% success rate compared to 48% for chasing teams. Despite evening dew traditionally helping batsmen in second innings, teams defending totals of 165+ have won more often. The pitch remains true throughout, and quality bowling overcomes dew advantages. However, the toss-winning captain will likely still choose to chase given traditional preferences.
Who’s winning today – ADKR or SWR?
ADKR looks slightly stronger with 55% winning chances. Their batting firepower and home advantage tips the scales. But SWR owns quality match-winners who can flip the script. Honestly, this goes either way. The toss winner who chooses to chase gains 10-15% extra winning probability because of dew.
What are the absolute must-pick Dream11 players?
You need Andre Russell, period. He’s irreplaceable. Then grab Philip Salt, Alex Hales, and Adil Rashid. These four appear in 80%+ of winning teams. Sikandar Raza rounds out your core five. The remaining six slots let you differentiate from competitors with your personal picks.
Who should I make captain and vice-captain?
Russell captaincy makes most sense for small leagues. High floor, massive ceiling, does everything. For vice-captain, choose Alex Hales for safety or Philip Salt for more risk. Grand league players should consider Sunil Narine captaincy since barely anyone will. Pair him with Salt as VC.
How’s the Sheikh Zayed pitch playing?
Starts out batting-friendly for the first 10 overs. Batsmen score freely playing their shots. Once spinners arrive, the pitch grips and turns. Scoring gets harder. Then dew arrives in the second innings making batting easier again. First innings teams score 165-175 typically. Chasing teams win 57% of matches here.
Which players are on fire right now?
Philip Salt scored back-to-back fifties striking at 160+. He’s seeing the ball like a football. Sikandar Raza contributes with bat and ball every single game lately. Adil Rashid picked up 8 wickets across his last four matches. These three are in red-hot form worth backing.
Give me a risky alternative team combination?
Try this bold structure: 1 WK, 4 batsmen, 2 all-rounders, 4 bowlers. Load up on opening batsmen from both teams expecting a run-fest. Make Sunil Narine your captain for massive differential value. Include players like Brandon McMullen, Khary Pierre, and Nathan Sowter who barely anyone picks. This team either finishes top 50 or bombs completely.
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Disclaimer: Fantasy cricket involves risk. Play responsibly within your means. This analysis provides information only and doesn’t guarantee results. Always verify team news and player availability before finalizing your Dream11 teams.
