Desert Vipers
Cricket teamWikipedia
128
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11
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Search complete. 128 mentions across 11 episodes found for "Desert Vipers".
Oct 7, 2026
Cameron PonsonbyHOST
ILT20 auction, um, happened this week.
Cameron PonsonbyHOST
Um, and Desert Vipers are the only American-owned team.
Phil WalkerPANELIST
And they've got a load of Pakistani players at base price.
Cameron PonsonbyHOST
Yes.
Phil WalkerPANELIST
Mm.
Cameron PonsonbyHOST
"Be around in this period of time, and then we'll guarantee that your players are getting cricket." Which it's actually quite an interesting way of doing things.
Cameron PonsonbyHOST
But anyway, Desert Vipers, um, put a bid in for good players, and then Abu Dhabi Knight Riders, Dubai Capitals, Sharjah Warriors, Gulf Giants, and MI Emirates all went, "Ah, fine."
Phil WalkerPANELIST
Mm.
Brian MurgatroydHOST
Hello, and welcome to another episode of Vipers Voices, the podcast of the Desert Vipers, the champion team of the DP World ILT20.
Brian MurgatroydHOST
And this time, in the wake of the season five auction that took place at the ICC Academy at Dubai Sports City on Thursday, the 1st of October, we speak with Vipers analyst Freddie Wilde, and he takes us behind the curtain of what auction preparations and the event itself look like from the perspective of a franchise looking to secure the best talent available.
Brian MurgatroydHOST
It's a terrific insight into what goes on within a setup, both before and during an auction, and it's well worth your time.
Brian MurgatroydHOST
The fact the auction has taken place really is a starting gun for the race towards season five, which is due to get underway in the third week of November.
Brian MurgatroydHOST
And in fact, as we were going live with this podcast, the fixtures for the new season have been announced, with the Vipers beginning things, and in fact, beginning their title defense with a repeat of last season's final against MyEmirates at the Dubai International Stadium on Saturday, the 21st of November.
Brian MurgatroydHOST
The Vipers have 10 group matches, two each against the five other teams, finishing up with a match against Gulf Giants, again in Dubai, on Sunday, the 13th of December.
Brian MurgatroydHOST
The final series then kicks in from December the 16th, with the final itself in Dubai on Sunday, the 20th.
Brian MurgatroydHOST
As ever here on Vipers Voices, we'll keep you up to date with all the latest news within the Vipers camp as the clock ticks down towards that start.
Brian MurgatroydHOST
I'm delighted to say that we've been joined by Phil Oliver, the CEO of the Desert Vipers, and Tom Moody, the director of cricket.
Brian MurgatroydHOST
Gentlemen, what are your emotions after the, uh, auction? Relief, pleasure, satisfaction, a mix of all of those things?
Phil OliverGUEST
Well, it's been a long day, but a s- yeah, a satisfying day overall.
Phil OliverGUEST
That's very clear.
Brian MurgatroydHOST
Tom?
Tom MoodyGUEST
Yeah, look, for, for me, uh, the, the standout was the familiarity, trying to get, um, you know, something r- reflects the Desert Vipers and, and its history.
Tom MoodyGUEST
Uh, and I think we've, uh, achieved that to a certain extent, um, you know, which is important to us.
Tom MoodyGUEST
Uh, you know, I certainly feel that we've got a very strong squad.
Brian MurgatroydHOST
Hello and welcome to Vipers Voices, the podcast of the Desert Vipers.
Brian MurgatroydHOST
the champion team of the DP World ILT20.
Brian MurgatroydHOST
And this time we have a bumper episode for you as we wrap up the ILT20 Development Tournament, the event that saw UAE players given the opportunity to showcase their talent before next month's DP World ILT20 auction ahead of Season 5.
Brian MurgatroydHOST
The side representing the Desert Vipers finished as runners-up for the second successive season of losing out in the final to the Gulf Giants team by four wickets.
Brian MurgatroydHOST
Coming up, we hear from Jack Luffman, the Desert Vipers development lead, who was head coach of the team at the development tournament, as well as Vitya Aravind, who was captain of the side.
Brian MurgatroydHOST
And we also hear from two of the Vipers squad who are part of the Desert Vipers Talent Pathway programme, Punya Bhatia and Ayan Mizbar.
Brian MurgatroydHOST
They give us their reflections on the value of the development tournament as part of their growth as players.
Brian MurgatroydHOST
And there's good news for Ayan, as he's been named in the UAE senior squad for the first time off the back of the development tournament for the ICC Cricket World Cup League Two series event in the United States of America, featuring not only the hosts, but also Namibia.
Brian MurgatroydHOST
Hello, and it's time for another episode of Vipers Voices, the podcast of the Desert Vipers, the champion team of the DP World ILT20.
Brian MurgatroydHOST
And in this one we look back at the final of the ILT20 Development Tournament that wrapped up at the ICC Academy at Dubai Sports City on Thursday evening, the 24th of September.
Brian MurgatroydHOST
Sadly, it was a step too far for Vitya Aravind's side as they lost by four wickets to the Gulf Giants, but it was a terrific match to cap a fantastic competition that showcased the very best of UAE talent ahead of the DP World ILT20 Player Auction at the start of October.
Brian MurgatroydHOST
After we recap on the final, we'll hear from Desert Vipers Development Lead, Jack Luffman, the team's head coach for the tournament, with his reflections on the ultimate match and the event as a whole.
Brian MurgatroydHOST
It's worth saying at this juncture too, that the Vipers side's appearance in the Development Tournament Final means that it's four domestic finals in a row for the franchise, two in the DP World ILT20, and now two in the Development Tournament, and that's a pretty impressive effort by any measure.
Brian MurgatroydHOST
The Vipers opted to bat first after winning the toss in the final, and it was a real struggle for the side to post a competitive score against a team that had won five of its six previous matches in the tournament.
Brian MurgatroydHOST
Harshit Kaushik's 42 from 32 balls from number four was a bright spot, but the side had slipped to 91 for 6 in the 14th over before Qusaay Mahboob Tanveer led a late rally with 30 from 17 deliveries, including a four and three sixes.
Brian MurgatroydHOST
The Vipers were bowled out with one ball unused for 143, but given the situation when Qusaay strode to the crease, they at least had something to bowl at, albeit not an imposing score that they would have wanted at the outset.
Brian MurgatroydHOST
Hello and welcome to another episode of Vipers Voices, the podcast of the Desert Vipers, the champion team of the DP World ILT20, as we continue our coverage of the ILT20 Development Tournament.
Brian MurgatroydHOST
And in this episode, we look back on the Vipers team's semi-final against the Sharjah Warriors at the ICC Academy at Dubai Sports City on Wednesday evening, the 23rd of September.
Brian MurgatroydHOST
And it was another back-from-the-dead victory for Vitya Aravind's side by 25 runs, which means they're in Thursday night's final against the Gulf Giants.
Brian MurgatroydHOST
Coming up, we hear from head coach Jack Luffman, who gives us his perspective on another remarkable night of action.
Brian MurgatroydHOST
The Gulf Giants team, the Vipers' opponents in the ultimate match, were the leading line-up in the league stage with four wins from their five matches, and they brushed aside the Abu Dhabi Knight Riders in the first semi, winning by six wickets with a remarkable 23 balls in hand, chasing 172 to win.
Brian MurgatroydHOST
As for the Vipers, they ended up facing the Warriors after finishing third in the league stage, while the Warriors were second.
Brian MurgatroydHOST
Both teams ended up on six points with three wins and two losses, but the Warriors were ahead thanks to net run rate.
Brian MurgatroydHOST
In the semi-final, the Vipers made 171 for nine batting first, and in reply, the Warriors made 146, also for nine wickets.
Brian MurgatroydHOST
Hello and welcome to another episode of Vipers Voices, the podcast of the Desert Vipers, the champion team of the DP World ILT20, as we continue our coverage of the ILT20 Development Tournament.
Brian MurgatroydHOST
And in this episode, we look back on an incredible victory for the Vipers side in their final league match of the tournament, a must-win game against the Dubai Capitals at the ICC Academy at Dubai Sports City on Monday evening, the 21st of September.
Brian MurgatroydHOST
And that includes hearing from the Vipers' development lead and head coach for this tournament, Jack Luffman.
Brian MurgatroydHOST
The Vipers scored 191 for nine, batting first, only for the Capitals to fly out of the traps in response, racing to 93 without loss in just the eighth over and seemingly on course for a win that would have sent them through to the semi-finals and, at the same time, knocked out the Vipers.
Brian MurgatroydHOST
But remarkably, the Vipers then took all ten Capitals wickets for just 37 runs in a little over six overs to secure a 61-run win as the Capitals were bowled out for 130 in 14 overs.
Brian MurgatroydHOST
It means the Vipers now have a day to rest before Wednesday's semi-finals, with the prospect of a second successive final in this competition now just one match away.
Brian MurgatroydHOST
Just to remind you, the ILT20 Development Tournament sees all six franchises, field teams, and it serves as a shop window for the UAE players ahead of the player auction in early October that precedes Season 5 of the DP World ILT20.
Brian MurgatroydHOST
After a disappointing loss just 24 hours earlier, the Vipers bounced back with the bat in emphatic fashion, with captain Vitja Aravind leading from the front.
Brian MurgatroydHOST
Hello and welcome to another episode of Vipers Voices, the podcast of the Desert Vipers, the champion team of the DP World ILT20, as we continue our coverage of the ILT20 Development Tournament.
Brian MurgatroydHOST
And in this episode we look back on a defeat for the Vipers side at the hands of the Abu Dhabi Knight Riders team by 88 runs at the ICC Academy at Dubai Sports City on Sunday evening the 20th of September.
Brian MurgatroydHOST
The ADKR side raced to 196 for 8 batting first and the Vipers replied with 108 all out from 15.5 overs.
Brian MurgatroydHOST
It's a result that leaves the Vipers outside the top four places on net run rate.
Brian MurgatroydHOST
And with the top four going into the semifinals, it means the next match against the side immediately above them, the Dubai Capitals, has become, in effect, a quarterfinal.
Brian MurgatroydHOST
Just to remind you, the ILT20 Development Tournament sees all six franchises' field teams and it serves as a shop window for the UAE players ahead of the player auction in early October that precedes Season 5 of the DP World ILT20.
Brian MurgatroydHOST
The match against the Abu Dhabi Knight Riders team went wrong for the Vipers from the first over.
Brian MurgatroydHOST
19 runs came from it, part of a total of 71 for three in the power play, and although those three wickets meant the Vipers gave themselves a chance of clawing their way back into the match, The batters for ADKR rebuilt effectively, laid a platform for a late assault and then plundered 52 from the final five overs.
Brian MurgatroydHOST
Hello and it's time for another episode of Vipers Voices, the podcast of the Desert Vipers, the champion team of the DP World ILT20 as we continue our coverage of the ILT20 Development Tournament.
Brian MurgatroydHOST
It's an event that sees all six franchises field teams at the ICC Academy at Dubai Sports City and it serves as a shop window for the UAE players ahead of the player auction in early October and that precedes Season 5 of the DP World ILT20.
Brian MurgatroydHOST
And in this episode, we reflect upon the Vipers' side's third match of the development tournament, this time against Gulf Giants, and it's produced a second Vipers victory, this time by four wickets with three overs in hand.
Brian MurgatroydHOST
We hear from the Desert Vipers development lead, Jack Luffman, the Vipers' head coach for these matches... as he gives us his take on the game.
Brian MurgatroydHOST
So, without further ado, let's get into what unfolded.
Brian MurgatroydHOST
MUSIC PLAYS It's fair to say this was, by modern 2020 norms, a very unusual game.
Brian MurgatroydHOST
Golf giants batting first were bowled out for 109 with 13 balls unused.
Brian MurgatroydHOST
But despite restricting their opponents to such a low score, it was by no means an easy chase for the Vipers, who eventually got home despite a wobble, that saw them at 56 for four and then 69 for five.
Brian MurgatroydHOST
Hello and welcome to another episode of Vipers Voices, the podcast of the Desert Vipers, the champion team of the DP World ILT20, the UAE's own 2020 Cricket League.
Brian MurgatroydHOST
And in this podcast, we continue our coverage of the ILT20 Development Tournament.
Brian MurgatroydHOST
All six franchises have sides in that tournament at the ICC Academy at Dubai Sports City, which serves as a shop window for the UAE players ahead of the player auction in early October.
Brian MurgatroydHOST
that precedes Season 5 of the DP World ILT20.
Brian MurgatroydHOST
And after the Vipers' side's win against My Emirates in Match 1, this time Vitya Aravind's team came up short, losing by two wickets to the Sharjah Warriors' team, a repeat of the final of the previous development tournament 12 months ago.
Brian MurgatroydHOST
Coming up, we hear from Vitya as he gives us his perspective on the loss.
Brian MurgatroydHOST
One thing is certain, and that's that there's not much time to dwell on the reverse, as the Vipers are next in action in just 24 hours following the game against Sharjah, this time against Gulf Giants.
Brian MurgatroydHOST
It's all part of a short, sharp tournament that lasts just 11 days.
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