Desert Vipers all-rounder Sam Curran says excitement rather than any pressure of expectation is his overriding sensation coming into Season 4 of the DP World ILT20.
Sam was player of the tournament in Season 3, and the expectation that he could or should perform at that same level this time around might be seen as a potential inhibitor.
But far from viewing things in that way, Sam told the Vipers Voices podcast he was in a great frame of mind to do well again this term.
“Pressure could come from the expectation,” he said. “Expectation is always there but I think the key for me is the enjoyment factor is there with the Vipers – the franchise set-up is done really well.
“I am excited. I always have those nerves of excitement but it is a fantastic season ahead hopefully.
“Success last season gives me great confidence coming into a tournament like this, playing at the same grounds we played at back then.
“And for me it comes down to the idea of returning to a team and environment you know. I have had a nice bat and a bowl in our practice session (on Saturday morning) with coaches I know, like Azhar Mahmood, who is back (with the Vipers after missing Season 3) and who is someone who knows me really well (through our work together with Surrey) and I am feeling good for what lies ahead.”
Sam comes into the tournament off the back of a recall to the England white-ball set-up, thanks in part to his excellence for the Vipers last season.
And he could not have timed that recall any better, with the ICC men’s T20 World Cup coming up in India and Sri Lanka in early 2026.
But rather than thinking too far ahead, Sam said he was very much focused on what lay ahead with the Vipers in the DP World ILT20.
“(Being recalled by England) was a (personal) highlight of the summer and it was a nice way to finish that summer,” he said.
“It felt like I worked really hard to get back in that group and it was really special to go on that recent tour to New Zealand, have that England shirt back on and try and contribute to winning some games.
“I feel in a nice spot there and it is nice to be back in that environment, and hopefully I can keep pushing for my place in that side ahead of what is an exciting time after The Ashes, with the (ICC men’s) T20 World Cup.
“Ahead of that, there is no better way for me to go than to keep working on my game, improving and enjoying my cricket here with the Vipers.
“I am a man who takes my cricket one game at a time. The T20 World Cup is still a long way away and the Test side are in Australia playing in The Ashes so that is the big focus for England at the moment.
“For me, it is just a case of trying to keep on performing in the (DP World) ILT20, taking one game at a time, one week at a time.
“As the World Cup gets closer, then I might start thinking about it, but for now it is one game at a time and keep trying to win some games.”
A first win to target is the opener against the Dubai Capitals in a repeat of February’s final, a match the Vipers lost in heartbreaking fashion.
And Sam said he was really looking forward to renewing the rivalry with the Capitals at the Dubai International Stadium on Tuesday.
“Looking back on that final, it was a great game and I felt we dominated most parts of it,” he said.
“To fall a little bit short hurts a lot, especially when you lose those close games. But we play so many games of cricket that you have just got to learn from it. We have got to the final a couple of times and hopefully this year we can go that one step further and win the trophy.
“Hindsight (over what we could have done differently) is a wonderful thing. We had a really good score on the board and I thought we bowled really well. Then there was the stumping (that we thought we had) when Nathan Sowter was bowling and Rovman Powell, a quality player, (then) took it away from us.
“In the end, they were the winners but that gives a little bit more hunger and attitude to take it one step further this year.
“It will be great to face the Capitals again. I landed on Friday morning, began by chatting with (Director of Cricket) Tom Moody and (Head Coach) James Foster and we started to look ahead to that first game.
“For the Capitals to be the first game of the season is exciting. I think we played them four times last season and they are a quality team. So, two quality teams starting the new season here in Dubai will be fascinating.
“There will be a lot of people going into that game not sure how the wicket will play (as the tournament is taking place at a different time of year from usual), and how the two teams will stack up against each other.
“It is a rivalry of two good teams but the Capitals look very different from last season. We have made a few changes too but the set-up has done really well – and that is what good franchise teams do – to keep the nice core of players, coaches and management.”
One highlight of Season 3 was the ongoing rivalry between Sam and Capitals all-rounder Gulbadin Naib, and Sam said he was looking forward to going up against the former Afghanistan captain again this season.
“Gulbadin and I had some good banter on the field last season. He is a great cricketer and he had a fantastic tournament last season,” he said.
“Getting into the battle with all the players on the circuit like Gulbadin is something I love. It is very feisty on the pitch but it is all a bit of fun, making sure there is nothing overstepping the mark.
“I hope we have a good battle and hopefully we will see some fun coming across.”
And as for the Vipers chances of securing a first title this term, Sam was in positive mood as he looked ahead to the coming month of action.
“Looking at the teams, it seems that the tournament has got stronger in terms of the players that are coming here,” he said.
“Every team can have a good team on paper and in this case I think all teams do.
“We flew out of the blocks last season, won a lot of games and then fell at the final hurdle but we will learn from that.
“The tournament is unique in that the conditions at each ground are quite different and so a key is whoever adapts to the conditions best and gels as a team will do well.
“For us, I think we have a good vibe already around the team, the same coaching staff and the same core of the squad with a few nice additions, so I am extremely excited.”
