Royal Desert Champions owner Amit Narang has ruled out pursuing additional cricket franchise investments in India in the near term, saying his immediate focus remains on establishing the Abu Dhabi T10 side and building it into a sustainable sporting property over the next three to five years. Speaking in an exclusive interaction, Narang — a former international banker with over 17 years of experience in banking and fintech — described the franchise's entry into the Abu Dhabi T10 as his first venture into sports ownership.

Why Abu Dhabi T10 and Why Now

Narang said the timing of Royal Desert Champions' entry is closely tied to a significant transition in the league's management, with Abu Dhabi Sports and Tourism Management taking over the competition in what he described as the start of a new phase for the 10-year-old league.

'It's a new version of T10 Abu Dhabi. This is the 10th year of the league, so you're entering into a league which is well-oiled and has been running for a while. It's not new; people know about it,' Narang said, adding that the management change was a key factor in his decision to invest at this particular stage.

He argued that the T10 format — the shortest structured franchise cricket format — occupies a distinct space in an increasingly crowded global cricket calendar. 'You've seen how the world has changed from ODIs to T20s, and there are more matches that are played today for T20 versus ODI. I think, therefore, at the same time, there is a space for an even faster format,' he said.

Player Quality and Tournament Window as Key Draws

Narang highlighted the league's 14-day tournament window as a structural advantage when it comes to attracting high-quality international players, noting that shorter commitments make it easier to secure top talent compared to longer competitions.

'A league is as successful as the quality of players who come in and who play. If you look at our team and most of the teams that have been announced in this league, they're extremely good players — they're all international players,' he said. He added that the compressed schedule also makes it easier to bring in quality coaches and team directors.

No Immediate Plans for Indian Franchise Cricket

On the question of whether Royal Desert Champions' entry into franchise cricket could eventually lead to investments in India's established franchise ecosystem, Narang was unambiguous. 'Too early to really even look at. I think we are focused on this league. We want to build over the next three to five years and see how well we do here. Too early to really look beyond this,' he said.

He acknowledged that India's domestic franchise cricket market is crowded, with multiple T20 leagues operating alongside the Indian Premier League (IPL). For now, he said, the priority is to prove the concept with Royal Desert Champions before any further expansion is considered.

Building Brand and On-Field Performance Together

Narang was clear that commercial brand-building and competitive performance are not separate objectives for the franchise. He argued that without on-field results, any attempt to build a sporting brand is undermined from the outset.

'To be honest, it's eventually sports management. So you want to build a brand. You want to build the IP. You want a competitive team because if you don't have a competitive team and you don't play well, you don't play the basic game well, then anyway, your brand takes a beating,' he said.

He described winning as central not just to commercial outcomes but to team morale across players, coaches, and management. The franchise, he said, would aim to win more matches than it loses while simultaneously developing a recognisable identity in the T10 landscape.

What the Next Three to Five Years Look Like

Narang expressed confidence in the league's trajectory under its new management, pointing to improvements already visible in the draft process. 'The way we've done the draft this year has been the best that they've done over the last 10 years. So I think it's gonna be a take-off time,' he said, though he acknowledged that the precise direction of the league's expansion under Abu Dhabi Sports and Tourism would depend on plans yet to be disclosed publicly.

For Royal Desert Champions, the coming seasons will be the critical test of whether its sporting ambitions can translate into lasting commercial value — and whether Narang's first venture into franchise ownership delivers on its early promise.