Bharti Fulmali, Prakashika Naik, and Kashvee Gautam, new recruits of the Gujarat Giants in the Women’s Premier League 2025, attended the ILT20 match between the Gulf Giants and Dubai Capitals at Sharjah Cricket Stadium. Their presence in UAE was part of Adani Sportsline’s efforts to promote women’s cricket in UAE.

Fulmali, who has been with the team since season two, scored 64 runs in three matches, including an impressive 42 runs off 36 balls. The Vidarbha batter revealed she’s a fan of Shimron Hetmyer, drawing parallels between their batting styles.

“I admire Shimron Hetmyer. He’s one of my favorite batters because he’s a hitter, just like me. We both bat in the middle order, and I’m eager to watch him play. My batting style and mindset are very similar to his,” she said. “As a finisher, you typically have only four or five overs to bat, so you need to hit from the first ball. During our pre-season camp, my coach mentioned promoting me in the batting order, so I’m preparing for those situations.”

Kashvee Gautam, who became the most expensive uncapped Indian player in the 2024 WPL auction when Gujarat Giants acquired her for Rs 2 crore, made history in 2020 by taking 10 wickets in an innings while playing for Chandigarh in the Women’s U-19 One Day Trophy. After missing the previous season due to injury, she’s ready to make her mark.

Gautam is particularly excited to play alongside West Indian cricketer Deandra Dottin, a T20 World Cup winner known for her explosive batting. “She’s a great athlete who can hit big sixes and take blinders. As an all-rounder, I relate to her role and look forward to sharing the dressing room with her,” she said.

Kashvee also praised leagues like ILT20 and WPL for nurturing young talent. “Both leagues have given opportunities to young players, and it’s great to see them evolving. They’re showcasing their talent alongside elite athletes. As a WPL player, I’m honored to share the dressing room with legends we’ve all watched and admired on TV.”

Prakashika Naik, picked by Gujarat Giants at the Tata WPL Auction 2025 for Rs 10 lakhs, shared her impression of the Sharjah Cricket Stadium. “The ground and atmosphere here are excellent. While it’s challenging for leg-spinners, it’s a great venue. It’s inspiring to see Aayan Afzal Khan bowling and consistently taking wickets on these pitches. It is a great learning to see him bowl.”

Naik looks forward to learning from her new teammates, particularly Australia’s Phoebe Litchfield. “Australian players have a tough mindset, and I’m excited to work with them. Phoebe Litchfield is young but has a great approach. The way she bats and leads by example is impressive.”

Discussing the upcoming season, Gautam expressed confidence in her team: “Our squad is well-balanced with good all-rounders. That’s crucial in T20s – you need a long batting lineup and fast bowlers. I’m looking forward to winning many games with my team.”

Gujarat Giants will begin their WPL 2025 campaign against defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru on February 14 in Vadodara. 

MI Emirates rode on Tom Banton’s unbeaten 102 off just 55 balls to set up a mega nine-wicket win against Sharjah Warriorz here at the iconic Sharjah Cricket Stadium on Sunday in the ongoing DP World ILT20 Season 3.

Making his maiden campaign for MI Emirates special, Tom Banton became the fourth century-maker in the history of the competition and only the second in this season after Shai Hope’s blistering century a week ago. While Hope’s century went in vain, Banton’s was a special one as it not only helped his team jump to the second position in the points table but this was also only the first century scored in the Sharjah Cricket Stadium in the history of ILT20.

Banton’s blitz was well-supported by Kusal Perera who scored an unbeaten 56 off 42 balls, making light of the run chase, as they romped home to 177 in 17.4 overs. Banton brought about his ton with great authority, sending Dilshan Madushanka’s short ball over the deep square leg for a huge six. His incredible knock was studded with 10 boundaries and six biggies while Perera packed off six boundaries and sent one over it in his commanding unbeaten knock.

Though Warriorz scalped dangerman Muhammad Waseem for 12 runs in only the second over through Dilshan Madushanka, their bowlers did not pose any threat to Banton-Perera’s rock-solid partnership of 157 runs. To add to their woes, a drop catch in the 12th over proved costly for the Warriorz when Karim Janat could not hold on to a sitter before Perera brought on his 50.

Put in to bat first, Sharjah Warriorz set up a total of 176/9 in 20 overs. MI Emirates left-arm pacer Fazalhaq Farooqi was the cynosure of MI Emirates bowling attack, tormenting the Warriorz batting order with four wickets for 24 runs while Alzarri Joseph bagged two for 39 with Romario Sheperd and Waqar Salamkheil chipping in with a wicket each.

Caught behind, opener Jason Roy was the first to fall for Farooqi in only his first over at a score of 7/1 but Johnson Charles and Avishka Fernando steered Warriorz innings stitching together a valuable 50-run partnership in 27 balls. Riding on his sensational 81 off 27 balls in Warriorz’ previous outing that set up a record-breaking chase against Dubai Capitals, Avishka set their home stadium ablaze with three boundaries and four sixes that had the Sunday audience in Sharjah up on their feet. He used the powerplay with explosive batting despite a slow wicket.

It was Romario Shepherd who eventually put an end to Fernando’s quick-fire innings of 39 runs in just 17 balls, with a slower delivery that was slogged to the cover but not timing it well enough, went straight to Muhammad Waseem who juggled a bit before safely holding on to a big wicket that put Sharjah Warriorz at 57/2.

Johnson, in the meantime, consolidated the Warriorz innings but lost Rohan Mustafa for six runs putting Warriorz at a precarious 71/3. A 32-run stand between Johnson and Luke Wells brought some semblance to the home team’s innings until Wells fell for Alzarri Joseph with 18 runs to his name. At the other end, Johnson was struggling with momentum and had to settle with singles and doubles but with Karim Janat steading the innings after coming in at No.6, Johnson upped his ante and reached the half-century mark in the 14^th over. He fell to Farooqi in the 15^th over after scoring 59 runs off 42 balls and surviving a drop catch by Nicolas Pooran early in the innings.

At 140/5, Warriorz huffed and puffed their way to 176/9 losing wickets regularly in the following over with no significant contribution coming from the tailenders after Janat departed for 18 runs. 

Player of the Match, Tom Banton said, “In my first eight or nine balls, I was on zero. It’s funny how cricket works sometimes. It was a really good wicket. I struggled for 25 balls. I have a better understanding of my game than a few years ago. Nicky, Polly, Robin and everyone has been really good.”

Sharjah Warriors Captain, Tim Southee said, “It wasn’t a bad score. We were reasonably happy with the score at the halfway stage. Avishka has been unbelievable in his first two games. Nice to see John at the other end but not taking wickets makes it hard. We weren’t able to take wickets and it does hurt to drop catches.”

Adani Sportsline-owned Gulf Giants announced its partnership with two cricket training centres — Swantons Cricket Academy and Smashing Point Sports Academy (SPSA)-Raise Your Game — in Dubai, UAE. This is the first time that Adani Sportsline has collaborated with cricket academies in the Middle East.  

Through this partnership, the Adani Sportsline aims to strengthen the Gulf Giants’ presence in the region by engaging with the players trained at the academies, their families, coaches, and other cricket enthusiasts. The collaboration will include exclusive branding and fan engagement activities, player visits, and will create opportunities for promising athletes to participate in Gulf Giants’ practice sessions as net players. 

Gulf Giants players, who are part of the ongoing ILT20 Season 3, visited the academies recently and interacted with the children. While English wicketkeeper-batter Ollie Robinson and the team’s batting coach Grant Flower visited SPSA, Namibian allrounder Gerhard Erasmus and coach Ottis Gibson spent time at the Swantons Cricket Academy.  

Soon, Adani Sportline will organise a tournament named “Little Giants” and several schools across the UAE will take part in it.  

“The partnership with the academies is a pivotal step towards unlocking the true potential of talent in the UAE. The ‘Little Giants’ tournament is another initiative that will help us create pathways for young cricketers. We wish to reinforce our mission of making cricket an inclusive and thriving sport across communities, while continuing to expand our global footprint,” Mr Sanjay Adesara, Chief Business Officer (CBO), Adani Sportsline, said. 

Speaking about the partnership, Zameer Sulaiman, Senior Manager, Swantons Cricket Academy, said, “We are delighted to partner with the Gulf Giants and be part of the Adani Sportsline family. Their expertise will be invaluable for our ambitions to give young players a platform to hone their skills, grow in their careers, and achieve their full potential.” 

Sony Cheruvathur, Director, SPSA, said, “We are proud to have joined hands with one of the most successful teams, Gulf Giants, in UAE’s top-tier league, ILT20. Their support further strengthens UAE’s cricketing ecosystem, and we will collaborate to develop cricket at the grassroots level.”