As the highly-anticipated Indian Premier League Mega Auctions were going on in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, Australian international Marcus Stoinis was gearing up to step out onto the field for the two-time Champions Deccan Gladiators in the 2024 Abu Dhabi T10, the eighth edition of the league. The Gladiators were playing against the defending champions New York Strikers on Sunday in a repeat of last year’s final, and just before the start of the match at the Zayed Cricket Stadium, Stoinis caught the news that he had been acquired by Punjab Kings for Rs 110m.

“I fortunately just got to see as I was going on to the field,” Stoinis said after the match in which the Gladiators defeated their opposition by 68 runs.

“IPL Auctions are always chaotic. As a player you never know where you are going to end up. It is very lucky for me to end up with Punjab Kings under Head Coach Ricky Ponting. That is super exciting. I have not checked my phone, I have not spoken to anyone yet. But I could really not be happier.

“Stoinis is enjoying his stint in T10, having already scored an unbeaten 42 off 16 balls in one of the matches. Lower down the middle-order, Stoinis is garnering key partnerships with Jos Buttler. 

With a deep batting line-up Tom Kohler-Cadmore, Rilee Roussouw, Nicholas Pooran, Jos Buttler, David Wiese, along with Stoinis, Gladiators have maintained their 100 percent win record in the first four games.

“I think that it was a tough start in the tournament having four games in four days. We could not have asked for anything better than to start with these four wins. We have got a great team. Some of the teams are calling us Harlem Globetrotters. We are playing as a unit. We are batting well and our bowlers bowled brilliantly tonight. That’s as good as you can bowl in T10 cricket,” Stoinis said.

Being an allrounder, Stoinis says that it makes it easier for him in shorter formats to read the opposition, as he realises how he would want to approach certain situations.

“I am prepared to bowl anytime. I think, with the bat, it depends on the situation. In this game, you cannot take too much time, so you pick your bowler, and you give yourself a couple of balls. And in this format, pretty much every ball has to go to the boundary,” he said.

“I think that’s probably fortunate as an allrounder to think how the batter might be thinking. It’s not too hard to adjust,” he further added.

Gladiators pacers Luke Wood picked up three wickets on Sunday and has been in an impressive form this season, along with Richard Gleeson and Ibrar Ahmed, who too have maintained economical spells and have been among wickets. On Sunday, Deccan Gladiators restricted the Strikers to just 60/7 and Stoinis described it as the best bowling performance in the format. 

“I think that’s the best I have seen any team bowl in T10 cricket. I think everyone puts their hands up including young Ibrar. Theekshana bowled beautifully. Gleeson with the new ball taking early wickets changed the whole game. Bowlers have been wonderful this season,” he signed off.