Foreign players David Miller and Shaun Marsh are missing the buzz which is usually seen in the Indian Premier League.
Miller, the explosive South African batsman who is part of the Kings XI Punjab squad, found UAE completely different from India, where he has experienced more excitement around the league.
"The response here in UAE is a lot different to India. Maybe it is because the tournament is spread out in three venues (Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, Dubai). But I am sure the interest will pick up as the tournament progresses. It is only the beginning," Miller told PTI from Dubai on the eve of his team's match against Chennai Super Kings.
"In India's IPL is such a high-profile event. The players' following is massive so I can't wait to be back there. It is a pity that we are not playing in front of our home fans," he added.
The decision of shifting the initial part of IPL was taken owing to the ongoing general election in India. Australia's Shaun Marsh concurred with his Kings XI Punjab teammate.
"The sport is huge in India and you can't expect the same here. Having said that, it is nice to experience Dubai and the nearby areas. I am looking forward to a successful two weeks here," Marsh said.
Asked whether the heat in UAE is an issue, Marsh said: "Actually, the weather has been good so far. Hopefully, it stays like this.
