Despite being one of the most consistent teams in the ILT20 since its inception, Desert Vipers are still chasing their elusive maiden title. With two finals in three seasons under their belt, the Vipers have certainly proven themselves as a strong unit in the league. However, silverware has so far remained out of reach.
Last season, the Vipers fell short once again as they were defeated by the Dubai Capitals in a hard-fought final, losing by four wickets. As the countdown begins for the fourth season of the ILT20, there is renewed hope among the Vipers’ faithful that this year could finally be their moment. That optimism is shared by none other than their Director of Cricket, Tom Moody.
In a recent interaction with the media, including RevSportz, Moody opened up about the team’s goals for the upcoming season and reflected on their journey so far. When asked about his primary aim for the upcoming season, Moody was clear and to the point: crossing the finish line.
“This year we would like to cross the finish line,” Moody said. “As a group, we must have done something right over the past three years. Playing two finals in three years is not easy, and it shows the strength and consistency we’ve built.”
“No one tends to remember who comes second” – Moody
That consistency is also visible in the franchise’s approach to team building. The Vipers recently announced their list of eight retained players ahead of the player draft. The retained core includes Dan Lawrence, David Payne, Khuzaima Bin Tanveer, Lockie Ferguson, Max Holden, Sam Curran, and Wanindu Hasaranga.
However, retaining just eight players is not an easy task, and Moody admitted it came with its fair share of challenges. “We sort of pride ourselves on trying to have that continuity and consistency with our playing group,” Moody said. “But to be restricted to eight players was a challenge. We had to make some judgment calls which were based around budgets and fitting into the financial requirements to retain key players.”
While acknowledging the importance of consistency, Moody also highlighted the harsh reality of professional sport — that runners-up are often forgotten.
“No one tends to remember who comes second,” he added. “Yes, it’s been good, it’s nice to be consistent over the first three years, but we know that base camp is not quite where we want to sit. We want to be sitting at the peak.”
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