Desert Vipers secure Tom Curran with wild card pick for new season
The franchise that claimed the ILT20 championship adds Tom Curran to its roster through a wild card signing, reinforcing their all round capabilities. The English cricketer returns to strengthen the defending champions' bid.
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Tom Curran joins Desert Vipers through a wild card pick, extending a partnership that has proven singularly fruitful for the franchise. The English all rounder, who delivered exceptional performances throughout the championship winning 2025 to 26 season, brings both batting precision and bowling nous to the Vipers’ squad.
Curran’s return deepens an association with the franchise that delivered remarkable dividends. He finished as Player of the Series with 397 runs and seven wickets, breaking multiple franchise records including most fifty plus scores and most catches by a fielder for the Desert Vipers. His contributions extended beyond statistics; his unbeaten 74 marked his sixth fifty plus score in T20s for Desert Vipers, breaking Max Holden’s previous franchise record and solidifying his status as the tournament’s most impactful player.
Desert Vipers claimed their maiden ILT20 title on January 4, 2026, defeating MI Emirates by 46 runs at Dubai International Stadium, a triumph in which Curran’s all round excellence proved instrumental. The wild card mechanism allows each franchise to add depth and experience to their squad after the October auction, and the Vipers have used the opportunity to secure a player whose pedigree within the franchise remains unmatched. His reacquisition signals the franchise’s intent to sustain the momentum that delivered their historic championship.
Imagery courtesy of DP World ILT20 (@ilt20official).