Ajay Kumar Credits Dwayne Bravo's Mentorship for His Rise to UAE Cricket After Breakthrough DP World ILT20 Season

Dubai, July 9, 2026: UAE fast bowler Ajay Kumar has credited West Indies legend Dwayne Bravo for playing a defining role in his cricketing journey, saying the former all-rounder's mentorship during the DP World ILT20 helped him make the transition from franchise cricket to the international stage.

After enjoying a breakthrough campaign with the Abu Dhabi Knight Riders (ADKR) in Season 4 of the DP World ILT20, the 29-year-old left-arm pacer earned his maiden international call-up and went on to represent the UAE in both One-Day Internationals and T20 Internationals.

Looking back on a whirlwind 12 months, Ajay said Bravo's belief in him provided the confidence he needed to succeed at the highest level.

"DJ has had a huge influence on my career. He's someone who has always encouraged me to trust my strengths and back myself, even in difficult situations. The confidence he gave me and the conversations we had during the DP World ILT20 really helped me during the competition and when I made the step up to international cricket."

A Tribute to Dwayne Bravo

Ajay also shared the story behind one of his memorable wicket celebrations, revealing it was inspired by Bravo as a mark of gratitude for the guidance he received.

"Before one of our games, I asked him if I could do his wicket celebration. It was my way of recognising all the work he has put into my bowling and thanking him for everything he has done for me. He smiled and told me to go for it, and ever since then, it’s a tribute to him."

Breakthrough DP World ILT20 Campaign

Ajay emerged as one of the standout performers in DP World ILT20 Season 4, finishing as the tournament's joint-highest wicket-taker with 18 wickets in 12 matches for Abu Dhabi Knight Riders. He narrowly missed out on the White Belt for Best Bowler of the Tournament to Dubai Capitals spinner Waqar Salamkheil, who also claimed 18 wickets.

The impressive performances paved the way for his international debut for the UAE against Nepal in April 2026.

Making an Immediate Impact for UAE

Ajay wasted little time making his presence felt in international cricket. He returned figures of 3/34 and 2/47 against Nepal before producing a superb spell of 6/35 against Oman, underlining his credentials as one of the UAE's emerging fast bowlers.

"Representing the UAE was always the ultimate dream for me, so making my debut was a very special moment. After everything that went into my journey, wearing the UAE jersey made all the hard work worthwhile."

A Career-Changing Move to the UAE

Ajay revealed that his move from India to the UAE came after discussions with his coaches, Shahrukh Pathan and Pradyot Singh, who believed it would provide him with better opportunities to fulfil his potential.

"I wasn't getting enough opportunities to play top-level cricket. That's when my mentors decided we should move to the UAE, where I could finally make the most of my talent. Looking back, it was one of the best decisions of my career because it opened doors that I had only dreamt about before."

Learning from Global Stars

Ajay also reflected on the invaluable experience of sharing a dressing room with some of world cricket's biggest names during the DP World ILT20, including Sunil Narine, Andre Russell and Dwayne Bravo.

"Sharing a dressing room with players like Sunil Narine and Andre Russell, and learning from a legend like Dwayne Bravo, is something every young cricketer looks forward to. Watching how they prepare, train, and handle pressure taught me as much as anything that happened during a match. Being around players of that calibre pushes you to raise your own standards every day. That's the approach I took when I played for the UAE, and it really paid off."

The DP World ILT20 has quickly established itself as a pathway for emerging players to develop alongside international stars, with Ajay Kumar's journey from franchise cricket to representing the UAE standing as one of the league's latest success stories.

Season 5 of the six-team, 34-match DP World ILT20 is scheduled to be played in November and December 2026.

About DP World ILT20

The DP World ILT20 is the UAE's premier franchise T20 cricket league, featuring six teams and some of the world's leading international and emerging cricketers. The tournament continues to serve as a platform for developing local talent alongside global stars.

(Inputs from Press Release)