WLP T20 League 2026, Final, Review: Shikhar Dhawan leads the charge as Dubai Royals become inaugural champions

Dubai Royals. (Photo source: Instagram/Dubai Royals and World Legends Pro T20 League)

Shikhar Dhawan and Dubai Royals have created history by winning the inaugural World Legends Pro T20 League 2026. They defeated Pune Panthers in the final by eight wickets and clinched their name on the trophy.

Asked to bat first, Pune Panthers showed great resilience with the bat, as they scored a mammoth 194 for four in their 20 overs. Their openers, Upul Tharanga and Martin Guptill, started their innings with a bang, with both scoring half-centuries. The New Zealander was dismissed on 62, whereas the Sri Lankan departed after scoring 55 runs in 39 balls, with five fours and three sixes. Then came the real momentum-shifting inning for the Panthers.

The Australian all-rounder Shane Watson was at his absolute best, scoring 50 off just 24 balls, which included three fours and five sixes. While Watson remained unbeaten, Robin Uthappa gave a finishing touch, scoring 15 crucial runs. A 195-run target was all the Dubai Royals had to achieve to lift the maiden World Legends Pro T20 League title.

The Shikhar Dhawan-led side had quite a clinical start to their run chase. In the pursuit of a huge target was never going to be easy, especially in the final, but the Royals’ openers had other plans. The Indian duo of Dhawan and Manvinder Bisla put on a show, with a partnership of 131 off just 80 balls, ensuring the chase was always on for the Dubai-based franchise.

The Royals skipper led from the front, scoring 64 runs in just 39 balls with a strike rate of 164.10, whereas Bisla smashed 67 runs, playing a perfect knock along with the skipper. After the openers’ departures, Samit Patel and Ambati Rayudu carried on the momentum as they breached past the finishing line with an over to spare.

In the bowling department, Piyush Chawla was their hero, as the leg-spinner picked up two wickets in his two overs, giving away 42 runs in his four overs. Apart from him, Parvez Rasool and Chris Mpofu picked up one wicket each.

After a rough start in the group stages, this has been a remarkable comeback by the Shikhar Dhawan-led side.

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