KUUMAR SHYAM (ABU DHABI)

The lot of UAE cricketers is looking forward to the second season of the International League T20 (ILT20), and understandably so in the cricket world’s second-richest league behind the Indian Premier League (IPL).

The inaugural season was a bit of hit-and-miss as the ILT20 tried to find its feet with four players in each of the six franchises mandatory to be had from the UAE. Now 11 out of 24 have been retained, and the best person who can serve as an example to follow for the local players is Sanchit Sharma for the first ILT20 champions, Gulf Giants.

Responding to questions from Aletihad over a Zoom session before the new season kicks off on January 19, Sharma recalled how Gulf Giants fought initial scepticism about their team composition and clinch the title against expectations.

The Adani Sportsline-owned Gulf Giants were a bit of dark horses considering three franchises had their established roots from the IPL and a fourth, Desert Vipers, back by American ownership of the Glazers family, which also own Manchester United. Yet, they went all the way to beat a formidable Vipers to lay hands on the trophy.

Young UAE pacer Sharma took seven wickets in nine matches and was integral to the side, coached by Zimbabwean legend Andy Flower. 

“When I got selected for the Gulf Giants, all my fellow UAE teammates, all the players that got selected from UAE, and everyone agreed that for us to even qualify for the eliminators, let alone winning the tournament, looked tough,” Sharma said.

“But, in terms of the environment, we have the best environment. Players understood each other very well, and their capabilities, which led us to the title,” he added.

However, this victory and the career that Sharma has had till now was almost not meant to be. He met with an accident just before Diwali in 2021, but his resilience, and the help of the doctors, revived his fledgling career.

“I can still remember it was two years ago on the eve of Diwali. I had instructions from home ‘Please don’t go on a festival day’, mom was insisting. I told her, ‘I’ll just go for a couple of hours, I’ll train and come back’. Just as I was about to reach the training centre when the accident happened. I was hurt pretty badly.

“I just got into the UAE men’s side, and I thought everything would go away. And that’s when I thought, ‘You got to be stronger mentally.’ It took me four or five months to get off my bed. God gave me a second chance, I always tell this to myself,” he recalled.

Sharma revealed the reason behind his team’s form and what makes them tick. “The management is brilliant with us. Maybe that’s what has led to the environment to be nice. Coming in, I’ve always seen all these players on TV and always wanted to play against them. I had this feeling that I wouldn’t get any better with them because they’re big stars. But then the way they welcomed all the UAE players, that is what I meant by the environment is very good”.“We have the best environment, which is very important for any team,” added Sanchit.

“That is what will help us hopefully win the title again. And being a T20 bowler, the pitches are a lot flatter comparatively. We just need to level up our games. We just have to get on with our game and try to make the most of whatever opportunities we get,” concluded the fast bowler.