Sam Curran on the other hand, having been a part of winning teams in England in 2024, is hoping he can replicate that success with the Desert Vipers. He is set to become a part of the team during the third season of DP World ILT20 set to begin on 11th January.
At the age of 26 years, Sam Curran has already won The Hundred with Oval Invincibles along with the County Championship with Surrey last year. He now aims to add more trophies to his cabinet as the Vipers strive to win their maiden title, starting with the year 2025.
“I have a love for winning trophies and so does every player. Over the course of last few years, I have have managed to win a few which has been fantastic,” Sam Curran further added.
“After spending the latter part of last season with the Vipers, I understood the importance of this team’s culture, which contributed to my decision to return. The energy and atmosphere around this team is essential for our success.”
“For me, it ties back to going to a place where lots of people are and where one can be free to be oneself, where you can crack jokes, but when it comes to training camp you are that serious and excited team that works very hard and is frank with each other about having a bad day.
“I dislike complacency beyond measure. Good days. Smith, you must keep returning.” Nikita said, I suppose a trophy could do for the Vipers. That would be indeed remarkable. We are sure all have the same goal. However, while in a tournament with so many matches, the main issue is to ensure that you do not experience tunnel vision.”

Sam Curran along with Pakistan pacer Mohammad Aamir, UAE all-rounder Dhruv Parashar, wicketkeeper-batter Tanish Suri and England pacer Luke Wood met at ICC Academy for a training session as they geared up for the new season.
The left-armer has a few options from ever-growing cricket leagues spread across the globe, but after making a brief appearance for the Vipers during 2024 season, Sam Curran has decided to extend his stay with the team.
“Let’s be honest, I know a bunch of people here. First of all, (Desert Vipers Director of Cricket) Tom Moody is one person I know really well because he is my Head Coach for the Oval Invincibles. Also Darren Veness who is the Vipers’ Strength and Conditioning Coach he has been part of me at Surrey for a number of years and then there is James Foster who is the Vipers Head Coach. A lot of familiar faces,” he said.
“While it was certainly not much, the culture I observed during my short stay within the range of ten days last year alongside the environment was something I can say I definitely liked. The next three five weeks, I feel we can create something quite stunning which serves as a motivation for me as the environment is something that I truly value.”
Now, in the third season of DP World ILT20, Tom who was within the Desert Vipers squad has signed with the Gulf Giants due to suffering and missing season two because of an injury.
To phrase it differently, in this tournament, unlike Oval Invincibles, they are set to represent rival teams which is quite uncommon as they play together with Surrey. The ensuing sibling rivalry is a concept that has fascinated Sam Curran and he has highly rated it.
“Let’s not beat around the bush, I have discussed it with Tom,” said Sam Curran. The match between Vipers and Gulf Giants is still some time away, but he has already settled in Australia and is on a contract with Big Bash League and we have noted that date down in the calendar as well.
I vaguely sense that we faced both the teams a few times in IPL not more than that I suppose, in case he represented Delhi. It will be a very strange feeling but I think now that we are a bit older there will be no romance in that field, so to speak.
“Sure I can hit him for six and I am more than delighted if I get him out. I am sure our mum will be there for all the bragging including their dinner table and the ILT20 Alan Wilkins Roadshow. I look forward to that one with great enthusiasm”.
The ILT20’s third season shall be held in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah starting feb 11 and concluding on February 9.
The six DP World ILT20 franchises have retained T20 superstars like Andre Russell (Abu Dhabi Knight Riders), Sunil Narine (Abu Dhabi Knight Riders), Alex Hales (Desert Vipers), Sherfane Rutherford (Desert Vipers), David Warner (Dubai Capitals), Rovman Powell (Dubai Capitals), Chris Jordan (Gulf Giants), Shimron Hetmyer (Gulf Giants), Akeal Hossein (MI Emirates), Nicholas Pooran (MI Emirates), Adil Rashid (Sharjah Warriorz Wildcard Pick in Season 2) and Johnson Charles (Sharjah Warriorz).
With the addition of Roy Sharjah Warriorz, Jason Roy the England white ball legend makes a return to the league after making only 2 appearances for the Abu Dhabi Knight Riders last year. Former captain of West Indies Jason Holder will also join the Abu Dhabi Knight Riders, the all rounder represented the Dubai Captains last season.
Additionally, Tim Southee (Sharjah Warriorz), Fakhar Zaman (Desert Vipers), Shai Hope (Dubai Capitals), Lockie Ferguson (Desert Vipers), Roston Chase (Abu Dhabi Knight Riders), Matthew Wade (Sharjah Warriorz), Ibrahim Zadran (Gulf Giants) and Romario Shepherd (MI Emirates) are set to make their DP World ILT20 debuts in Season 3.
Foster backs Ferguson
At the same time however, Desert Vipers’ head coach, James Foster has stated that Lockie Ferguson, the fast bowler from New Zealand will suit the role of the team captain for this season.
Foster, who traveled to Dubai before the commencement of the third edition of the tournament, was the one to appoint Ferguson to lead the side after another New Zealand international batter Colin Munro stepped down.
And recalling the discussion with the Vipers Voices podcast, Ferguson along with rest of the players were irresistible as an overall package of as leader.
“His bowling demands do seem to set a tone for him, let’s say, but overtime, one can acquire skills that instill uniqueness in them and Nathanzie does possess that,” appealed Foster.
“He contributes as a lower order batsman as well and even if he is not moving towards bowling, the mere fact that he serves as a fielder puts him at an advantage on correlation,” claimed Foster.
“I was able to interact and work with Lockie while he was under the New Zealand Setup, I was deeply entrenched with him during the IPL sessions and I was able to perceive how extraordinary his outlook towards the game was,” remarked Foster.
“Unfortunately, he has not experienced captaincy at a high level but when he did go on to captain New Zealand, it was during past times when a match was held in Bangladesh in 2023 and he performed astonishingly.”
”All of us fully enjoyed working under Lockie. He has got a very nice approach. We have had to work with him. He is always reliable as far as his players are concerned, which is nicely supportive.”
Khuzaima bin Tanveer from UAE who is regarded due to his pace is another fast bowler for Ferguson which adds power along the fast bowling line.
Foster elaborated the picking of Khuzaima in the draft for the UAE this season has been an extensive analysis of his attributes.
“It’s not only about his capabilities and his pace, he is very eager to learn which is very good,” he said.
“He is a young man who is willing to go and develop himself with the coaches and the players, which we have here. For him, I am really looking forward to.”
With Sam Curran and the Desert Vipers looking for ILT20 success, make sure you do not miss out on a single ball of the UAE cricket action that is sure to be entertaining.