Image Credit- ILT20
Last year, the owners of IPL teams saw an opening and
grew their network. Mumbai Indians participated in the MLC, WPL, SA20, and
ILT20 competitions. The Delhi Capitals, not to be outdone, also took a plane to
South Africa and the United Arab Emirates in addition to expanding their
presence in India through the WPL.
The UAE affiliates of the two teams, MI Emirates and Dubai Capitals, will
square off in the second ILT20 tournament final on Saturday.
MI Nicholas Pooran and Rovman Powell have returned to
strengthen Emirates and Capitals, respectively. In addition to the contemporary
players who are crisscrossing the world like the snake in that game on Nokia
phones, the teams also have to deal with the departures of Tim David, David
Warner, Kusal Perera, and Fazalhaq Farooqi due to their conflict with
international cricket.
Similar to Qualifier 1, MI Emirates will field both
Kieron Pollard, who joined the team after his SA20 side MI Cape Town was
eliminated from the playoffs, and Nicholas Pooran, who has returned from duty
in the West Indies. With left-arm orthodox spinner Akeal Hosein, left-arm
wristspinner Waqar Salamkheil, and legspinner Vijayakanth Viyaskanth, MI
Emirates boasts a diverse spin-bowling attack.
However, they should be cautious of a Capitals lineup that comes into the
championship off four straight victories. At one point, all but eliminated from
the race for a spot in the final four, the Capitals fought back, scoring 172
against Desert Vipers and holding off 147 against MI Emirates, no less. They
proceeded to qualify for the final by winning both the Qualifier 2 and the
Eliminator.
Watching to see who wins the ILT20 trophy may be
interesting. The MI trophy cabinet already teeming with five IPL titles, as
well as the first-ever WPL and MLC trophies, will tantalise the Capitals, who
have yet to win a tournament in any of their ventures.