Royal Champs finally have their breakthrough moment at the 2025 Abu Dhabi T10, and Aaron Jones was right at the heart of it.
The US star delivered a standout all-round show as the Champs sealed their first win of the season, beating the Northern Warriors by seven wickets at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium. After a string of narrow losses, Jones said the victory felt like a weight lifted.
“Finally getting that first win feels incredible,” he said. “We’ve been in close games, but this was a complete performance, fielding, batting, bowling, everything clicked.”
Jones was quick to credit the franchise for creating an environment where players can thrive.
According to him, the setup at Royal Champs has been “world-class” from day one.
“When you feel valued as a player, you naturally want to deliver for the franchise,” he said. “It’s not just about cricket here; they genuinely care about the players as people. That kind of environment brings out the best in everyone.”
One of the biggest boosts for Jones this season has been sharing a dressing room with some of the game’s most seasoned pros. “Guys like Shakib Al Hassan, Jason Roy, and Isuru Udana, it’s massive learning from them,” he said.
“Their professionalism, the way they handle pressure, the way they read conditions, you can’t learn that from a coaching manual.”
With the US gearing up for next year’s T20 World Cup, Jones is carrying that confidence forward. Facing giants like India and Pakistan doesn’t intimidate him; in fact, he’s looking forward to it.
“Everyone knows they’re top teams, but T20 cricket is unpredictable,” he said. “We’ve beaten Pakistan before. We’re not here to make up the numbers; we truly believe we can qualify for the next round.”
Jones also spoke warmly about his time in the UAE capital, describing Abu Dhabi as one of his favourite places to play cricket.
“The facilities here are world-class, the vibe is incredible, and the city just has this energy that makes you want to perform,” he said.
“Abu Dhabi is becoming a real sporting destination, you feel it every time you play here.”
