Dubai, 7th December 2024: ZEE Entertainment Enterprises Limited, the official broadcaster of DP World International League T20, is all set to kick off the highly anticipated third edition of the tournament on January 11, 2025, featuring West Indies star Nicholas Pooran, who led MI Emirates to glory in the previous season. As MI Emirates prepare to get their title defence underway on Saturday, 11 January in Dubai, Pooran is set to bring his brilliance back to the field. The tournament’s growing reputation for competitiveness and its role as a platform for UAE players to develop have captured the attention of cricket fans globally.

Sharing his thoughts on the season ahead, Pooran remarked, “It’s nice to be back for the third season of the DP World ILT20. We’re really looking forward to this season. We’re hoping to do our best again this year and try to retain the title, but there’s a lot of hard work ahead for me and the team to make that happen.”

Reflecting on the competition’s intensity, the explosive left-hander added, “Each year, I feel the quality of the tournament keeps improving. The DP World ILT20 is doing a better job every single year. I think competitiveness is important and it feels like international cricket with nine overseas players and two UAE guys.”

Commenting on the upcoming tournament, Ashish Sehgal, Chief Growth Officer – Digital & Broadcast Revenue, Zee Entertainment Enterprise Limited said, “At Zee Entertainment, we are thrilled with the return of third edition of DP World ILT20 and the return of Nicholas Pooran adds immense value to the new edition. Pooran had a memorable tournament last year and we are confident that he will continue his tremendous form to provide more thrill and excitement for fans who are awaiting the return of famous stars for the new season. Through the month-long tournament, we will be offering an innovative and immersive experience for cricket fans across the globe. Building on the excellent response of last season, we aim to continue the momentum in broadcasting excellence and fan engagement. We are confident that the tournament will meet the expectations of the fans.”

As the second highest run scorer last season, Pooran struck 31 sixes, amassing 354 runs in ten innings at an enviable average of 50.57 and a strike rate of 170. On replicating his performance in the new campaign, he opined, “It’s obviously challenging. Every year, every competition brings new challenges. Going into this season, preparation begins over the Christmas period. I’m working on getting my body back in shape, hitting a lot of balls, and getting my mind in the right place. When January comes, hopefully, I’ll have some luck on my side. You play each game on its merit—every game is a new opportunity, and it’s about doing what the team needs. So, let’s see how the new season goes.”

Signing off with a message to the fans, the 29-year-old expressed his gratitude, saying, “We have passionate fans, not just here but in India and across the world. Hopefully, we can keep putting smiles on their faces and bring more titles to them.”

Cricket fans can watch this action-packed event on ZEE’s most widely distributed and viewed 15 linear TV channels: &Pictures SD, &Pictures HD, Zee Cinema HD, Zee Anmol Cinema 2, Zee Action, Zee Biskope, Zee Zest SD, Zee Cinemalu HD, Zee Telugu HD, Zee Thirai, Zee Tamil HD, Zee Kannada HD, Zee Zest HD, &Flix SD, &Flix HD and free to view on one of India’s leading OTT platform – ZEE5. The syndicate broadcast partners around the world will be announced in the coming days.

Through the tournament, Zee Entertainment is aiming for an even larger audience in its third season, targeting 230-million viewers. The strategies being employed to increase its footprints are multifaceted, focusing on the Indian market, which includes cricket lovers, advertisers, and the addition of South Indian channels.

Earlier this year, ZEE Entertainment Enterprises Limited (ZEEL) reported that the league’s second season reached 221 million viewers. The channel’s extensive distribution strategy ensured widespread accessibility in India and across the globe. With a notable 46% share of female viewership and 55% share of youth viewership, the league’s broad appeal in India underscores its status.