Royal Desert Champions owner Amit Narang has thrown his weight behind the Abu Dhabi T10 (ADT10) league, arguing that the format's compact, high-intensity structure gives it a genuine edge in the global cricket marketplace — and that greater Indian player participation could significantly amplify its appeal, both in the UAE and back home in India.

The Soccer Parallel

Narang, a UAE-based entrepreneur and former international banker, drew a pointed comparison between T10 cricket and football to make the case for the format's live-viewing value. 'It is based on the soccer format. Soccer is 90 minutes. This is 90 minutes. Soccer is a very popular game as well, right, and there are two matches a day,' he said. He added that on a typical matchday, spectators watch 40 overs of cricket — and on some days, three games — with 44 players on the field across two contests rather than the 22 that a single football match offers.

Year-One Priorities for Royal Desert Champions

Narang outlined a phased approach to building the franchise, with the debut season focused squarely on sporting structure rather than commercial expansion. The team has appointed Robin Singh — a former head coach and team director who won the T10 league three times — as team director. Nicholas Pooran, described by Narang as the best T10 player of recent years, has been named captain, with Phil Salt and Shimron Hetmyer (referred to as Rutherford in Narang's remarks) among the other notable signings.

'Year one milestone for us is to have a smooth tournament and build our basic hygiene in terms of the quality of players and the quality of staff,' Narang said. He indicated that digital brand-building and a broader commercial push are planned for subsequent seasons, with the franchise's stated playing identity centred on what he called 'fearless, fair, and fast cricket.'

UAE Demographics and the Indian Audience Factor

Narang pointed to the UAE's South Asian demographic composition as a structural advantage for the league. 'The largest population in the United Arab Emirates is of Indians. There are more Indians than UAE nationals,' he noted, adding that cricket commands a following across Indian, Pakistani, Afghan, Bangladeshi, and Sri Lankan communities in the country.

On the broadcast front, Narang confirmed that the tournament will air on Geo Star and Star Sports in India for the first time this season — a development he expects to grow the league's viewership among fans already familiar with its international roster through the Indian Premier League (IPL) and other competitions.

The Question of Indian Cricketers

Narang acknowledged the strong fan interest in seeing more Indian players in the competition, noting that several former India internationals — those who have retired from international cricket or moved into league cricket — have featured in the ADT10 over the years. He expressed hope that more would participate in future editions, while conceding that the franchise's fast-tracked debut season left little time to pursue specific names.

'Hopefully, if we talk next year, yes. Because this year has been so fast-tracked that we've just had no time really,' he said, adding that final player selection rests with team director Robin Singh, who assesses squad roles.

What Comes Next

With its inaugural campaign now underway, Royal Desert Champions will look to establish competitive credibility before broadening its ambitions. Narang's stated roadmap points toward deeper digital engagement and brand development from year two onwards, with the longer-term goal of building a franchise capable of attracting marquee international — and potentially more Indian — talent to the Abu Dhabi T10.