5 players to watch out for in ILT20 2025-26 ahead of IPL 2026 Auction ft. Matheesha Pathirana

The fourth season of the International League T20 (ILT20) gets underway today, Tuesday, December 2. Defending champions Dubai Capitals will take on Desert Vipers in the opening match at Dubai International Cricket Stadium.

With six teams vying for the championship, the ILT20 2025-26 season promises plenty of excitement. Teams boast several local stars alongside international talent, and former Indian players like Dinesh Karthik and Piyush Chawla will also make appearances.

The tournament will also serve as a great platform for players to showcase their form ahead of the IPL 2026 mini-auction, scheduled for December 16 in Abu Dhabi. On that note, here’s a look at five players to watch in ILT20 2025-26 ahead of the IPL 2026 auction.

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#1 Jason Holder

The first player on the list is former West Indies skipper Jason Holder, who will don the Abu Dhabi Knight Riders jersey. The seasoned all-rounder shone in the ILT20 2024-25, picking up 17 wickets in 10 matches and scoring 126 runs. Across 19 league games, Holder has 25 wickets at an average of 23.12 with a strike rate of 16.0 and an economy of 7.82, along with 247 runs at an average of 27.44 and a strike rate of 169.17.

The 34-year-old will be looking to continue his strong performances and is a player to watch in ILT20. With the IPL mini-auction approaching, franchises will be closely monitoring his form, as the seam-bowling all-rounder is expected to be in high demand.

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#2 Liam Livingstone

Next up is Liam Livingstone, who will also feature for Abu Dhabi Knight Riders. The 32-year-old appeared in two games during the 2023-24 edition for Sharjah Warriorz, scoring 32 runs and taking one wicket.

The English all-rounder was recently released by Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) and will be eager to showcase his skills in the ILT20 2025-26 season. He is a key player to watch, and a strong performance in the tournament could boost his prospects in the upcoming IPL auction.

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#3 Matheesha Pathirana

Young Sri Lankan pacer Matheesha Pathirana will represent Sharjah Warriorz in the ILT20 2025-26 season. Previously, the right-arm seamer played for Desert Vipers in the 2022-23 and 2023-24 seasons, featuring in 11 games and taking 12 wickets at an average of 30.50, a strike rate of 21.0, and an economy of 8.71.

Pathirana is expected to be in the spotlight this season, having recently been released by five-time IPL champions Chennai Super Kings (CSK). The 22-year-old will be eager to prove his worth and deliver for Sharjah Warriors, aiming to attract interest ahead of the IPL auction.

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#4 Jonny Bairstow

Veteran England wicketkeeper-batter Jonny Bairstow will also be in action in the upcoming International League T20, representing MI Emirates. In IPL 2025, he played for Mumbai Indians (MI) as a temporary replacement during the playoffs, featuring in two games and scoring 85 runs at an average of 42.50 with a strike rate of 184.78.

With no prior experience in ILT20, Bairstow will be eager to make a strong start and shine in the 2025-26 season. His performance over the next two weeks could put him in the spotlight and attract potential bidders ahead of the IPL 2026 mini-auction.

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#5 Wanindu Hasaranga

The final player on the list is Sri Lanka’s Wanindu Hasaranga. The 28-year-old will be turning out for Desert Vipers in ILT20 2025-26. In the tournament’s first three seasons, Hasaranga played 26 games for the franchise, scoring 277 runs at an average of 17.31 with a strike rate of 140.60, including a fifty.

The leg-spinner also claimed 39 wickets at an average of 16.20, a strike rate of 15.2, and an economy rate of 6.38. He will be looking to continue his strong performances as the Vipers aim to win their maiden championship. Meanwhile, IPL franchises will be closely monitoring the Sri Lankan all-rounder, making him one of the key players to watch in International League T20 2025-26.