December 5, 2024: Abu Dhabi T10 2024 concluded on December 2 with Deccan Gladiators beating the Morrisville Samp Army in the final, by eight wickets, to emerge as the champions. The eighth season saw the tournament’s popularity growing significantly with some of the best cricketers like Jos Buttler, Nicholas Pooran, Trent Boult and Kieron Pollard, among others having made their presence known and fans from around the globe enjoying the shortest format through global broadcast.
The Gladiators are now the most successful team in the history of the tournament as they lifted their record third title this season. Three of their players also won significant awards at the end of the tournament with their star batter and English skipper Jos Butler grabbing the Player of the Tournament award, scoring 242 runs at a strike rate of 224.07.
Opener Tom Kohler-Cadmore was declared Batter of the Tournament for scoring 222 runs while Richard Gleeson was picked as the Bowler of the Tournament for scalping 14 wickets at an economy of 10.07. Local boy Shahid Bhutta, who picked 10 wickets at an economy of 10.93, was adjudged the UAE Player of the Tournament.
This season also saw the largest pool of teams in the history of the tournament as two new teams- UP Nawabs and Ajman Bolts, were added to the roster. The first-ever century in the history of the tournament was also hit this season as Sherfane Rutherford scored an unbeaten 103 off 40 balls against the Northern Warriors.
The tournament was broadcast in multiple countries, thanks to collaboration with global broadcasters. It also involved a two-year deal with Disney Star which broadcast the tournament for the Indian population in English, Hindi and other regional languages.
The tournament also saw the largest number of international participation in its history as close to 140 players from different countries were in action this season. Both players and coaching staff shared how different yet exciting experiences they had in Abu Dhabi.
The coach of Team Abu Dhabi, Mark Boucher said, “I think if you look at other countries. I’ll bring up the Afghanistan Cricket team as well. A lot of their players get exposed to leagues like this which I guess is very good. Different skill sets get tested, especially in the shorter formats.”
UAE cricket player Rohaan Mustafa, who became the first local player to lead a franchise in Abu Dhabi, also discussed how the league has impacted the natives, “Of course, T10 is a major tournament and the organizers managed it quite well. I have also played it from the start and it’s the first league that included local players from the UAE. Such leagues, which are also action-packed, make us happy and more passionate. The youngsters become more fond of the sport after watching such tournaments.”
Shaji Ul Malik, the chairman of T Ten Global, in the closing ceremony, spoke, “The tournament has now ended for the first time with the largest pool of international cricketers. 140 internationals showed their skills in 40 matches in a power-packed 12 days of action and nothing better than the skills of those international stars, which they displayed today.”