ILT20 Season 4 Sees Indian Players Boosting Global Viewership
ILT20 Season 4 Sees Indian Players Boosting Global Viewership is set to begin on Tuesday, December 2, with defending champions Dubai Capitals facing Desert Vipers. This edition is special, as three established Indian players — Dinesh Karthik, Piyush Chawla, and Unmukt Chand — are making their ILT20 debut. Their inclusion is expected to significantly enhance viewership, fan engagement, and overall excitement for the league.
Indian Players Bring Global Attention
Dinesh Karthik will represent Sharjah Warriorz, while Piyush Chawla and Unmukt Chand join Abu Dhabi Knight Riders. Laxmi Shetty, Head of Advertisement Revenue, Broadcast and Digital at Zee Entertainment, emphasized the importance of Indian players in expanding the league’s audience. “From an India point of view, with three Indian players coming in, it would only add more to the viewership. The season has actually grown year on year. It’s the second most viewed league, I would say, globally,” Shetty said.
Enhancing Fan Engagement
ILT20 CEO and former New Zealand cricketer David White highlighted the value of Indian players in connecting with fans, particularly the large Indian diaspora in the UAE. “Three Indian players will be great. Of course, we know Indian fans love Indian players. So we’re really, really looking forward to that,” White said. He believes that the presence of Indian stars will elevate both on-field competition and off-field fan engagement.
International Flavor Strengthens the League
This season continues to attract top talent from around the world, featuring nine overseas players per team, including stars from England, New Zealand, and the West Indies. White noted that ILT20 is becoming a true global competition: “We have got great players from England, New Zealand, West Indies. So we would like to think that we are a competition for all countries. Like our logo says, where the world plays… It is such a fantastic melting ***, this country, and we would like to think we are representative of that.”
Expanding Regional Participation
For the first time, players from Kuwait and Saudi Arabia have been included in ILT20 squads, further emphasizing the tournament’s role in promoting cricket across the Gulf region. The league aims to strengthen cricket’s footprint not only in the UAE but across neighboring countries, creating opportunities for emerging talent while maintaining high-quality competition.
Anticipated Opening Ceremony and Broadcast Reach
The tournament opens with a glittering ceremony headlined by Pakistani singer Ali Zafar, with thousands of overseas visitors expected in the UAE. The league will be broadcast on multiple platforms, including &Pictures SD, Zee Cinema HD, Zee Action, Zee Thirai SD, Zee Cinemalu, and OTT platform Zee5, ensuring fans worldwide can follow every moment of the action.
Impact on Viewership and Popularity
The inclusion of Indian players is expected to increase television ratings and online streaming engagement significantly. With high-quality international cricket and local talent combining, ILT20 Season 4 aims to consolidate its position as one of the most popular T20 leagues globally. Fans can look forward to competitive matches, emerging stars, and memorable cricketing moments throughout the season.
ILT20 Season 4 promises thrilling cricket, global participation, and increased fan interaction, with Indian players adding immense value to the tournament’s growing appeal and international viewership.
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