Dubai: The inaugural edition of the UAE’s DP World ILT20 cricket league made great waves around the world as the Gulf Giants lifted the glittering trophy in the Feb. 12 final at the Dubai International Stadium.

The tournament decider was played in front of a packed stadium as the James Vince-led Giants made history by becoming the first-ever champions of the UAE’s T20 league.

DP World ILT20 received a strong response from cricket fans around the world, especially in India, through a quality broadcast that was available on Zee’s platforms with commentary in English, Hindi and Tamil.

According to a research report by the global sports, sponsorship and entertainment research company YouGov Sport, DP World ILT20 Season One was the second most-watched league in India and worldwide.

The league saw a reach of 255.4 million fans in India, with strong TV ratings boosting its profile.

The opening edition of the tournament drew fans through high-quality performances by the biggest assembly of foreign players in any non-international cricket tournament, with 118 players from around the world competing.

A high-quality broadcast of the tournament also included match highlights and clips available for fans not only on Zee’s platforms, but also on the DP World ILT20’s digital platforms.

The DP World ILT20 2023 edition also made a mark globally with an impressive worldwide unique viewership of 367 million people through TV and digital platforms.

“The support that the league got speaks volumes about the quality of cricket that the inaugural DP World ILT20 provided to the fans. We are fully focused on making the second season bigger and better,” said Emirates Cricket Board General Secretary Mubashshir Usmani.

“The DP World ILT20 is here to stay and we have no doubt that with the support of the franchises, our broadcast partner Zee and all our other stakeholders, the league will gain more popularity,” added Usmani.

Meanwhile, Zee’s president of business, Rahul Johri, said that DP World ILT20 season one “has been a phenomenal success in India and across the world. It was watched by over 250 million viewers on linear television and digital platforms.

“We are extremely proud of our relationship with the Emirates Cricket Board and are confident of scaling bigger milestones in the following years,” he added.

YouGov Sport is the official media evaluation supplier to a wide range of cricket leagues globally.

Managing director of YouGov Sport India, Joseph Eapen, said that the company “possesses comprehensive insights into the crucial success parameters of these leagues. In this regard, DP World ILT20 has proven to be an exceptional success story right from its inaugural season, which is truly commendable.

“Notably, DP World ILT20 has achieved a remarkable reach of over 367 million unique viewers globally ... a monumental accomplishment unparalleled by any other T20 league, in its first season,” he added.

There is more to come as DP World ILT20 is set to return with its second tournament on Jan. 13 next year. A series of exciting announcements are set to begin soon as teams prepare for the player retention process while lining up potential recruits from UAE.

Season two will also have a world-class roster of players, while the home-grown UAE talent will once again showcase their cricketing skill and depth.