The ILT20 2023 has been kicked off on the 13th of January with the first match between Dubai Capitals and Abu Dhabi Knight Riders. Both teams played the tournament opener at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium in Dubai. Notably, the two former Indian cricketers, Robin Uthappa and Yusuf Pathan are also a part of the tournament and they are appearing for the team Dubai Capitals.
Apart from the action of cricket, what attracted the eyeballs of the cricket fans was the presence of the veteran Bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khan during the opening ceremony of the tournament. The 57-year-old renowned actor embraced the opening ceremony of the inaugural season of the tournament with some dialogues with his famous touch of an amazing voice.
Notably, Shah Rukh also owns the team Kolkata in the Indian T20 League, whereas one of his owned teams Abu Dhabi Knight Riders is also featuring in the International League T20.
The fans were also overwhelmed by the presence of Khan on the tournament’s opening day. They took to Twitter to express their happiness over the same.
Here’s how fans reacted when Shah Rukh attended the opening ceremony of ILT20 2023:
Ufffff SRK ❤️
— 𝗠𝗼𝗻𝘁𝘆 𝗦 𝗥 𝗞 (@saikatdey105) January 13, 2023
“Party Pathaan ke ghar me rakhoge… toh mehmaan nawaazi ke liye #Pathaan toh aayega, aur saath me patakhe bhi layega.”
King Khan promotes #Pathaan at the #ILT20 league opening ceremony in Dubai #ShahRukhKhan #SiddharthAnand #DeepikaPadukone #JohnAbraham #Dubai pic.twitter.com/x1fI98MXyp— Shah Rukh Khan Universe Fan Club (@SRKUniverse) January 13, 2023
THE HEART-THROB OF BOLLYWOOD IS HERE 😍😍😍@iamsrk #DPWorldILT20 #ALeagueApart #DCvADKR pic.twitter.com/EklZWgsFhx
— International League T20 (@ILT20Official) January 13, 2023
The #DPWorldILT20 kicked off with a BANG 💥
Don't believe us? Take a look ➡️ https://t.co/lnaSraniGZ #ALeagueApart pic.twitter.com/DSSj5wGaEB
— International League T20 (@ILT20Official) January 14, 2023
KING 👑 pic.twitter.com/J01iEDjogM
— 气覀气亠 亠 (@Awara420K) January 14, 2023
SRK😘❤️😍😍😍😍
— Pragati Sharma (@PragatiPotter) January 14, 2023
Or JB ayga mosam bigar Jayega😍
— Aashish Luksh (@aashish_luksh) January 13, 2023
Or JB ayga mosam bigar Jayega😍
— Aashish Luksh (@aashish_luksh) January 13, 2023
love this hairstyle the most personally.. Even better than the pathaan look
— Ansh Kapila (@kapila_ansh) January 13, 2023
Waooo..😎😎😎😍😍
— Muhammad Haseeb (@Muhamma73546075) January 13, 2023
Video-2: #ShahRukhKhan𓀠 @iamsrk having s good time at the opening game of @ADKRiders & supporting them from stands in today’s #ILT20 cricket league in Dubai. #ADKR #BornToStorm pic.twitter.com/yG5jXj7UZf
— ♡♔SRKCFC♔♡™ (@SRKCHENNAIFC) January 13, 2023
Talking about cricket, Dubai Capitals and Abu Dhabi Knight Riders locked horns in the first match of the IL20 2023. Knight Riders won the toss and asked Capitals to bat first. Batting first, Rovman Powell & co. posted a total of 187 runs for the loss of six wickets. Opener and senior wicketkeeper-batter Robin Uthappa played the crucial knock of 43 runs. Skipper Powell also contributed with a knock (48 runs). He smashed three boundaries and the same number of sixes to his name.
While defending the target, the bowling trio of Akif Raja, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, and Rovman Powell scalped two wickets. The amazing bowling setup of Dubai restricted the Knight Riders to the score of 114 runs for the loss of nine wickets in the entire 20 overs.
Eventually, Dubai won the match by 73 runs, and skipper Rovman Powell was declared player of the match for his all-around performance.