MUMBAI: The highly anticipated DP World ILT20 Season 3 kicked off in grand style at the Dubai International Stadium. Indian cinema stars Shahid Kapoor, Pooja Hegde, and Sonam Bajwa lit up the stage with an electrifying performance during the opening ceremony, thrilling fans who packed the iconic ‘Ring of Fire’ for a night of spectacular entertainment.

Hosted by Bollywood actor-producer Jackky Bhagnani and popular host Ridhima Pathak, the event concluded with a dazzling fireworks display that marked the beginning of the cricket season. 

The tournament opener saw Dubai Capitals face off against defending champions MI Emirates in a rematch of last year’s final. MI Emirates won the toss and chose to bowl first, with the opening ball bowled at 8:45 pm IST.

The action-packed tournament is broadcast live on Zee’s 15 linear TV channels, including &Pictures SD, Zee Cinema HD, Zee Telugu HD, and more, as well as the OTT platform Zee5. Fans can also catch the action via Zee’s syndication partners' TV and digital networks.

Zee Entertainment Enterprises Ltd  chief growth officer - digital & broadcast revenue Ashish Sehgal,  shared his excitement about the launch: “The opening ceremony exceeded all expectations! The fusion of world-class cricket, entertainment, and passionate fans watching on Zee platforms made it an unforgettable evening. We’re thrilled to bring this premium sports and entertainment content to a global audience.”

DP World ILT20 Season 3 features top international cricketers, including Nicholas Pooran, Sikandar Raza, Sunil Narine, Lockie Ferguson, and many others, making it a month-long cricket fest filled with thrilling action.