Gulf Giants: ILT20 Season 5 Squad & Team Overview

Gulf Giants are the inaugural ILT20 champions, having won the first edition of the tournament in 2023 under captain James Vince by defeating Desert Vipers in the final. That title established them as the franchise that launched ILT20’s championship history, and they remain one of the most recognisable teams in the league. They are owned by Adani Sportsline, the sports arm of the Adani Group, which also owns the Gujarat Giants in the WPL, creating a connected Adani sporting brand across franchise cricket.

Gulf Giants play their home matches at Dubai International Cricket Stadium, the largest and most balanced of the three ILT20 venues. The ground hosts the tournament playoffs and final, meaning Gulf Giants are genuinely familiar with the conditions that matter most when the stakes are highest. Their golden-orange jerseys and falcon logo, drawn directly from the UAE’s national bird, have made them one of the most visually distinctive sides in the league since Day 1.

The franchise has gone through three different head coaches across four seasons. Andy Flower guided the team to the inaugural title in 2023. Jonathan Trott took charge for Season 4, with a squad that included Moeen Ali, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Azmatullah Omarzai, Liam Dawson, Blessing Muzarabani, James Vince, and Aayan Afzal Khan among others. For Season 5, Simon Helmot has been appointed as the new head coach, replacing Trott after a single season. Helmot was previously the fielding coach at Desert Vipers and brings direct ILT20 experience into the role. James Vince continues as captain heading into Season 5.

Despite winning the title in Season 1, Gulf Giants have not returned to the final in subsequent editions. Season 4 ended with the franchise regrouping with a renewed focus on Season 5 according to Adani Sportsline. The retained core for Season 4 included James Vince, Aayan Afzal Khan, Mark Adair, Blessing Muzarabani, and Gerhard Erasmus, giving the squad a reliable backbone of players who understand the tournament’s demands. Season 5 squad announcements are pending.