Former India skipper Rahul Dravid has become the official owner of the Dublin franchise in the upcoming European T20 Premier League (ETPL) after being revealed as the newest co-owner of the franchise by the tournament’s organizers. This league, which will commence in 2026, has already garnered a number of large-scale names from international cricket and entertainment, and Bollywood actor Abhishek Bachchan has been instrumental in moulding the tournament.
The statement was during the official launch of the Dublin franchise, among six teams to compete in the inaugural season of the T20 tournament in Europe. Bachchan mentioned that Dravid is in the team because of his “credibility and vision” in the project.
Abhishek Bachchan reveals why Rahul Dravid was picked up
When discussing the launch of the league, Abhishek Bachchan shared an insight into the fact that it was always planned to involve Rahul Dravid in the league.
Bachchan stated that Dravid’s reputation, leadership qualities and long-term perspective for the development of the game make him a great choice to play in the European league. The former India coach not only brings trust but value to the tournament, as the league strives to make a mark on the international cricket calendar, he adds.
The ETPL co-founder also pointed out that Dravid played a significant role in Indian cricket over the years, including in his coaching stint with India’s Under-19 and senior teams, nurturing young talents and building future stars.
Ravichandran Ashwin has been signed by Dublin Franchise
Ravichandran Ashwin is one of the significant points of interest surrounding the franchise in Dublin as he is expected to be the captain and mentor of the team.
Ashwin’s involvement has attracted a lot of interest as it is not the usual practice for Indian players to be active in domestic cricket at the same time playing for a foreign franchise. But, when Ashwin retired from professional Indian cricket, he opened the door to other options.
League authorities think Ashwin’s skills and wisdom will assist in making Dublin one of the top sides in the league’s initial season.
European T20 Premier League Expanding Cricket in Europe
The cricket boards of Ireland, Scotland and the Netherlands are providing support for the European T20 Premier League. The organisers have hoped that the tournament will be a key to the spread of cricket across Europe.
The league will comprise of six ‘city’ teams from Dublin, Belfast, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Amsterdam and Rotterdam. Before the first ball was bowled, several former international cricketers and sports personalities have already invested in the teams, thus making the tournament global in nature.
Project officials feel Europe is still one of cricket’s richest markets and could see a T20 franchise-like competition could help to grow the game.
ETPL is carried out by large international companies
Apart from Rahul Dravid, the ETPL has gathered together some famous cricket personalities as the owners and investors of the franchises.
Chris Gayle, the former West Indies batsman, is said to be in talks with the Glasgow outfit and South African bowlers Faf du Plessis, Jonty Rhodes and Heinrich Klaasen are reportedly involved with the Rotterdam side.
Other former New Zealand internationals Nathan McCullum and Kyle Mills also own one of the clubs, as do Glenn Maxwell, the Australian all-rounder and Steve Waugh, a former Australia captain, with ownership groups in both Belfast and Amsterdam.
The inclusion of these big name players should bring the league more visibility worldwide and also bring more top players in the future editions.
Rahul Dravid Centers on Grassroots Development
Speaking of the connection he had with the Dublin franchise, Rahul Dravid emphasized the significance of nurturing young talent and expanding cricket beyond its traditional turf.
Dravid said there is a lot of potential for growth in Dublin’s cricketing community and it already has some great people in it. “It’s something that has always been important to me to pass on to the next generation of players and I think the ETPL can really help contribute to that,” he said.
The former India captain has garnered universal admiration in player development, especially when he was placed at the National Cricket Academy and was coaching the Indian under-19 side. During his time several prominent Indian celebrities have moved up the ranks.
The ETPL will be launched in 2026
The first tournament of the European T20 Premier League is set to kick off in September 2026. Ahead of the league’s first season, organisations are currently toying with team formations, signing players, sponsorship and TV coverage.
The tournament is set to not only focus on the competition, but also to raise awareness and awareness about player exposure and infrastructure development in associated cricket nations.
Cricket fans around the globe are already generating some excitement about the league’s inaugural season as stars such as Rahul Dravid, Abhishek Bachchan and a bunch of ex-international players have been lured to the project.