The fourth edition of the DP World ILT20 is set to begin on Tuesday, December 2, with defending champions Dubai Capitals taking on the Desert Vipers in the season opener. This year’s tournament carries added significance, as three experienced Indian cricketers, Dinesh Karthik, Piyush Chawla, and Unmukt Chand, are all set to make their ILT20 debuts. Karthik will represent the Sharjah Warriorz, while Chawla and Unmukt Chand have been picked up by the Abu Dhabi Knight Riders.

Speaking about the inclusion of Indian players, Laxmi Shetty, Head of Advertisement Revenue, Broadcast and Digital at Zee Entertainment Enterprises Ltd, said that their presence will significantly boost the league’s popularity.

“India makes a big difference in the world of cricket. Bringing these players on board wasn’t difficult; the franchises chose who they wanted. But this is just the beginning. Going forward, you will see many more Indian players featuring in the ILT20,” Shetty told NDTV.

She added that the entry of Indian players is expected to further increase viewership. “The league has grown year on year. It’s the second-most-watched league globally,” Shetty noted.

ILT20 CEO David White, former New Zealand cricketer, echoed the sentiment, stating that Indian players will deepen fan engagement, especially given the large Indian community in the UAE.

“Indian fans love watching Indian players, so having three of them this season is fantastic. The quality of cricket will remain high with nine overseas players per team. We’ve also added players from Kuwait and Saudi Arabia. The future of this league lies in the Gulf region, not just the UAE,” White said.

He further highlighted the competition’s global appeal. “We have top players from England, New Zealand, and the West Indies. As our logo says, ‘where the world plays’, this league is truly a melting pot of cricketing cultures.”

With thousands of tourists in the UAE for the long weekend, White expects big crowds for the opening match, which will begin with a grand ceremony headlined by singer Ali Zafar.

The tournament will be broadcast on &Pictures SD, Zee Cinema HD, Zee Action, Zee Thirai SD, Zee Cinemalu, and on the Zee5 OTT platform.