Rahul Dravid buys Dublin Guardians team in Abhishek Bachchan-backed European T20 Premier League
ADVERTISEMENT
Indian cricket legend Rahul Dravid has been announced as the owner of Dublin Guardians, completing the six-team structure of the European T20 Premier League (ETPL) ahead of its scheduled launch in 2026.
The cricket league, a joint venture between Cricket Ireland, Cricket Scotland and the Royal Dutch Cricket Association, is co-founded and co-owned by Bollywood actor and film producer Abhishek Bachchan.
The ETPL will feature franchises based in Dublin, Belfast, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Rotterdam and Amsterdam. The league aims to establish a cross-border franchise cricket model in Europe and expand cricket’s reach across the continent.
The T20 cricket tournament is expected to feature international players including Mitchell Marsh, Tim David, Mitchell Santner, Liam Livingstone, Glenn Maxwell, Faf du Plessis and Heinrich Klaasen.
Designed to position Europe as cricket’s next major growth frontier, the league also has long-term ambitions to expand into new markets as the sport’s popularity and participation continue to rise throughout the continent.
Speaking at the event, Abhishek Bachchan said the league’s vision extends beyond building a cricket competition and focuses on creating opportunities for emerging talent from Ireland and the wider European cricket ecosystem.
“For ETPL, having legends like Rahul associated with this journey is incredibly special because our vision goes beyond building a league; it is about creating a platform that can inspire and nurture the next generation of talent emerging from the Irish and broader European cricket ecosystem,” he said.
“The coming together of icons like Steve Waugh, Glenn Maxwell, Jonty Rhodes, Chris Gayle, Faf du Plessis and Heinrich Klaasen, alongside Rahul Dravid, reflects the belief in ETPL’s vision and reinforces Europe’s immense potential as cricket’s next major growth frontier,” he added.
Rahul Dravid said what attracted him to ETPL was its larger vision to help grow cricket in Europe by strengthening grassroots development and creating pathways for emerging talent across Ireland and Europe.
“Dublin already has a passionate cricketing community and enormous potential for growth. Nurturing the next generation has always been important to me, and I believe ETPL can play a meaningful role in that journey,” he said.
The announcement was made at a launch event in Dublin attended by franchise owners, league officials and senior representatives from European cricket bodies. ETPL co-founders Abhishek Bachchan, Saurav Banerjee, Priyanka Kaul and Dhiraj Malhotra were present at the event alongside franchise stakeholders including Vipul Aggarwal of the Glasgow franchise, and Jonty Rhodes and Madhukar Shree of the Rotterdam franchise.
Brian MacNeice, Chair of Cricket Ireland, described the development as a landmark moment for cricket in Ireland and the broader European cricket ecosystem, saying the league could help increase participation and strengthen development pathways for future players.
Trudy Lindblade, CEO of Cricket Scotland, said the ETPL could become an important milestone for cricket in Scotland and Europe by creating greater visibility for players and inspiring the next generation.