The Real Kabaddi League (RKL), known for redefining grassroots sports in India, is set to captivate the Gulf region with an exhilarating Kabaddi exhibition match at Al Ahli Sports Club, Dubai, at 6 PM onwards. This highly anticipated event will feature two specially created dummy teams—Indian Warriors and Gulf Gladiators, showcasing raw and emerging talent on an international platform.

Supported by the Dubai Sports Council, the event symbolizes a monumental step in introducing the traditional Indian sport to a global audience, particularly the Gulf region. With a blend of sportsmanship, entertainment, and education, this evening is poised to leave an indelible mark on the world of Kabaddi.

The evening kicks off with a breathtaking Arabic Emirati performance, setting the stage for an unforgettable cultural exchange.
A high-energy dance performance post-match (by Zara Khan) will close the event on a vibrant note.

Bollywood legend Suniel Shetty and Indian Wrestler Sangram Singh will lend their star presence, elevating the event’s appeal.

To familiarize Gulf audiences with Kabaddi, RKL has developed animated explainer videos that simplify the sport’s rules in an engaging format, ensuring everyone in attendance can fully immerse themselves in the action.

True to its mission, RKL will showcase young and raw Kabaddi players, making this match a gateway for unexplored talent to shine on a global stage.

Lavish Choudhary, Co-Founder in RKL, emphasized: “The aim behind RKL is always to promote young, raw, and rural unexplored talent and give them a stage to shine.”

Shubham Choudhary, Founder of RKL, added: “This exhibition match serves as the base ground for the Kabaddi sport to enter Gulf countries, and I believe people are going to love it.”

The match will be broadcast live on the Real Kabaddi League’s YouTube channel, enabling fans worldwide to experience the unmissable action. The event is open to all sports enthusiasts, welcoming everyone intrigued by Kabaddi’s dynamic energy and team spirit.

Tom Kohler-Cadmore, the English top-order batter, who has showcased his dynamic batting in T20 leagues across the world, is ready to return to the DP World ILT20 Season 3. Representing the Sharjah Warriorz for a third time, he is determined to guide the team towards a breakthrough season in the biggest T20 league in the region that features some of the finest international cricketers in the world.

Despite the Sharjah Warriorz falling short of a playoff berth in the first two seasons, Kohler-Cadmore, one of only two centurions in the tournament’s history, is optimistic about turning things around. He made his aspirations clear for the upcoming season, stating, “I think for us, it’s about trying to qualify. We’ve had two disappointing seasons so far, so if we can qualify and make sure we get into the knockouts, I think that’ll be good for us. Personally, I just want to contribute to as many wins as I can.”
With as many as nine international players permitted in the playing XI at the DP World ILT20, the flamboyant batter highlighted the strength of each team and remarked that every player must put their best foot forward to excel. “It’s really tough to keep performing. Each team has got a star-studded lineup, when you’re going there you know you have got to bring your best game, otherwise you are going to fall short. That is the beauty of it, everyone is a match-winner in the XI. There are no easy bowlers to face or batters to dot up and restrict, so it is about always bringing ‘A’ game and ensuring you as a team remain on top.”
Reflecting on the Sharjah Warriorz campaign in Season 2, where they earned eight points in ten matches, Kohler-Cadmore identified areas for improvement, particularly in adapting to the conditions at their home ground in Sharjah, the Englishman opined, “I think it’s about finding a way to be successful at home. We play a lot of games at Sharjah, and the scores are lower, so it’s about making sure we find ways as a unit and for myself to play on the slower pitches, and to be able to post a score that’s challenging.”
He further added, “I felt last year we went too hard trying to get scores that were too big instead of actually just getting a competitive score.”
UAE’s Muhammad Jawadullah spearheaded the Sharjah Warriorz bowling attack, picking up eight wickets in eight matches in the previous season, while his peer Junaid Siddique had also been impressive. Tom Kohler-Cadmore cited both bowlers as examples of the platform provided by the DP World ILT20 for cricketers in the region.
“I think this is a great platform for them to stand up and show how good they are. We’ve been lucky to have Junaid and Jawadullah with us, they have become two of our frontline seamers over the last couple of seasons. It’s been amazing watching Jawadullah grow, — we weren’t sure what we were going to get but when he came out for games, he absolutely starred for us, that is the beauty of these competitions, you always manage to find young talent and watch their careers grow”, he noted.
The Sharjah Warriorz will begin their campaign against the Gulf Giants on Sunday, 12 January. In a heartfelt message to the fans, Kohler-Cadmore said, “just keep supporting us and hopefully this year we will bring the trophy home.”
The six DP World ILT20 franchises have retained T20 superstars like Andre Russell (Abu Dhabi Knight Riders), Sunil Narine (Abu Dhabi Knight Riders), Alex Hales (Desert Vipers), Sherfane Rutherford (Desert Vipers), David Warner (Dubai Capitals), Rovman Powell (Dubai Capitals), Chris Jordan (Gulf Giants), Shimron Hetmyer (Gulf Giants), Akeal Hossein (MI Emirates), Nicholas Pooran (MI Emirates), Adil Rashid (Sharjah Warriorz Wildcard Pick in Season 2) and Johnson Charles (Sharjah Warriorz).

England white-ball great Jason Roy (Sharjah Warriorz) returns to the league after making two appearances for the Abu Dhabi Knight Riders last season. The Sharjah Warriorz have been strengthened further with the inclusion of England all-rounder Gus Atkinson who is also making a return to the DP World ILT20 – 10 games for Desert Vipers in the inaugural season.
Former West Indies captain Jason Holder will appear for the Abu Dhabi Knight Riders, the all-rounder played for the Dubai Capitals last season.

Additionally, Fakhar Zaman (Desert Vipers), Shai Hope (Dubai Capitals), Lockie Ferguson (Desert Vipers), Roston Chase (Abu Dhabi Knight Riders), Matthew Wade (Sharjah Warriorz), Ibrahim Zadran (Gulf Giants) and Romario Shepherd (MI Emirates) are set to make their DP World ILT20 debuts in Season 3.

Six teams played thrilling matches to start the 2024 Lanka T10 Super League season at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium in Kandy. Exciting matches were played on the first day with the Galle Marvels playing the Kandy Bolts, the Colombo Jaguars playing the Nuwara Eliya Kings, and the Jaffna Titans playing the Hambantota Bangla Tigers. While the Hambantota Bangla Tigers, captained by Dasun Shanaka, suffered an 8-wicket defeat to the Jaffna Titans, it was Shanaka who truly captured the hearts of 7000 Sri Lankan attendees who were present despite the stadium receiving the heaviest showers.

Despite Mohammad Amir’s early breakthrough dismissing Kusal Perera, Dasun Shanaka’s partnership with Mohammad Shahzad (22 off 15) demonstrated why he’s considered Sri Lanka’s premier power hitter. The national hero’s presence drew passionate fans to the grandstands, with supporters clamoring for photographs and handshakes, showcasing his status as Sri Lanka’s newest cricket icon.

In a spectacular display of power hitting reminiscent of Sri Lankan legend Tillakaratne Dilshan, who revolutionized T20 cricket with his innovative “Dilscoop” and aggressive batting style, Dasun Shanaka the skipper delivered a masterclass in the tournament’s opening match. The Jaffna Titans secured a commanding 8-wicket victory over Hambantota Bangla Tigers, but it was Shanaka’s brilliant 51 off just 17 deliveries, featuring five towering sixes and four boundaries, that captured the imagination of the crowd.

The second game between the Colombo Jaguars and Nuwara Eliya Kings was rained out but over 7000 loyal supporters were still dispersed throughout the unique viewing areas of Pallekele International Stadium. The main grandstand of the stadium with its distinctive seats and roof cover was crammed full as it extended along the eastern side. A festival-like atmosphere was created by the well-known grass embankment areas especially the natural slopes at either end of the ground that are typical of Sri Lankan cricket venues. Families and young fans without umbrellas set up their viewing spots and mats in spite of the drizzle.

The tournament’s opening day featured impressive performances from international stars like Mohammad Amir and Jason Roy, alongside local talents Avishka Fernando who scored a good half century before the rain washout and Binura Fernando’s wickets that kept the crowd entertained. However, it was Shanaka’s explosive innings and magnetic personality that truly captured the essence of Sri Lankan cricket’s future.