The recently concluded ILT20 2025/26 season presented divergent narratives for West Indian cricketers, with Saint Lucia’s Johnson Charles experiencing a notably subdued campaign compared to his explosive 2025 performance. Representing the Sharjah Warriorz, Charles concluded the tournament with a modest average of 24.40, failing to secure positions among the league’s elite run-scorers or strike-rate leaders, ultimately finishing at 16th overall.
The tournament’s batting dominance was instead demonstrated by Sam Curran, crowned Player of the Series with 397 runs, and Muhammad Waseem who amassed 370 runs. Charles’ contributions were limited to sporadic highlights, including a solid 77-run innings against the MI Emirates and two scores of 43 against the Dubai Capitals and Desert Vipers. These inconsistent performances raise significant questions regarding his selection prospects for the imminent T20 World Cup, scheduled for February in India and Sri Lanka.
In stark contrast, Barbadian all-rounder Jason Holder orchestrated an exceptional tournament while captaining the Abu Dhabi Knight Riders. The towering cricketer finished joint third in the bowling rankings, claiming 15 wickets at an impressive average of 16.33, including best figures of 3/18 against the Dubai Capitals. Holder additionally contributed valuable cameos with the bat throughout the competition.
The Knight Riders’ coaching staff featured West Indies legend Dwayne Bravo as Head Coach, supported by deputy Ottis Gibson, creating a distinctly Caribbean leadership environment. Further highlighting West Indian prowess, Rovman Powell secured seventh position in the overall batting rankings, averaging 38.42 with an unbeaten top score of 96, reinforcing the region’s continued cricketing talent despite Charles’ underwhelming season.