Russell and Livingstone Against Pooran and Salt — Sunday Night Could Be All Sixes

Both sides are new franchises in a rebuilt league, and both will have one game behind them. The Aces have perhaps the most explosive middle order in the competition: Andre Russell, Liam Livingstone and Sam Billings, with Moeen Ali named as captain, Alzarri Joseph for pace and Imran Tahir for leg-spin. RDC are led by Nicholas Pooran, who won this tournament twice as Deccan Gladiators captain, and have Phil Salt at the top and Brandon King and Sherfane Rutherford in the middle. Their attack of Naseem Shah, Maheesh Theekshana, Chris Jordan and Keemo Paul looks better balanced than most.

This is the last game of the day, so the pitch will have been used twice already, and dew could arrive as the night goes on. That usually makes the ball skid on and harder to grip for the spinners, so captains often prefer to chase in the late game at Zayed. If dew does come, Theekshana and Tahir may find the second innings harder work.

Both Moeen and Rutherford have also been playing in the Nepal Premier League, so their availability is worth watching, and the XIs will only be known at the toss. A possible core for the Aces: Billings, Livingstone, Moeen, Russell, Joseph, Tahir and UAE's Alishan Sharafu. For RDC: Salt, King, Pooran (wk), Rutherford, Jordan, Naseem, Theekshana and UAE opener Muhammad Waseem. These are the likeliest names, not a certainty.

The Aces' batting is frightening, and if Russell faces 15 balls, almost any total is possible. RDC look the more complete side, with more good overs to bowl and a captain who knows how to win in this format. That might just make them slight favourites. In ten overs, though, one Russell or Livingstone innings can undo any plan.

Arabian Aces vs Royal Desert Champions, Abu Dhabi T10 2026, Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi — Sunday, November 8, 8:00 PM GST / 9:30 PM IST.