Gulf Giants: ILT20 Franchise Profile and History

Gulf Giants are one of the six franchises in the International League T20, the Twenty20 competition played in the United Arab Emirates. The team is owned by Adani Sports, part of India’s Adani Group.

Origins

The ILT20 was set up by the Emirates Cricket Board, and its opening season was played in early 2023. The six teams were sold to owners from the Indian and wider cricket-business world, and Gulf Giants joined as the franchise backed by the Adani group. The same group also owns the Gujarat Giants in the Women’s Premier League in India.

The league and the team

The ILT20 follows a round-robin group stage followed by playoffs and a final. Gulf Giants have competed in every edition since the launch, with the squad rebuilt each year through an auction and direct signings. Because rosters change every season, current players are not listed here.

Home venues

League matches are staged at the UAE’s main international grounds: Dubai International Stadium, Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi and Sharjah Cricket Stadium. The Giants’ association with a particular venue can vary between seasons.

Role in franchise cricket

For the UAE, the ILT20 offers a high-profile winter league that attracts international players during the gaps in other tournaments’ calendars. Gulf Giants provide the Adani group with a presence in men’s franchise cricket outside India, adding to its involvement in the women’s game.

This page deliberately avoids detailed season-by-season results, because standings and playoff outcomes change with each edition and are best checked against the official ILT20 records.