Cricket Expands in Europe: ETPL Announces Rahul Dravid as Franchise Owner
Cricket is making exciting strides as it pushes for growth in Europe. The European T20 Premier League (ETPL) has recently announced that Indian cricket icon Rahul Dravid will own the Dublin Guardians, solidifying the league’s six-team setup ahead of its launch in 2026.
This move highlights a significant effort to create a new market for franchise T20 cricket in Europe, with support from cricket administrators, investors, and international players.
The announcement was made during a special event in Dublin, where Dravid was introduced as the owner of the franchise. The gathering included representatives from various teams, stakeholders of the league, and senior officials from European cricket, celebrating the formation of the inaugural teams.
Dravid expressed his excitement about joining the ETPL, stating, “What drew me to ETPL was its grand vision. I see a chance to help develop cricket in Europe, especially by nurturing new talent in Ireland and beyond. Dublin already has a strong cricket fan base and tremendous growth potential. Supporting future stars has always mattered to me, and I believe ETPL can contribute significantly to this cause.”
The ETPL aims to be a long-term initiative to expand cricket’s reach across Europe using a cross-border franchise model. It involves multiple national boards and private investors, striving to connect Associate nations with top-level cricket while exploring new commercial opportunities.
The league will feature international T20 stars like Mitchell Marsh, Tim David, Mitchell Santner, and others, giving emerging European players a chance to learn from established names.
Six Teams Ready for Action
With Dravid at the helm of the Dublin Guardians, the ETPL has finalized its six-team lineup, which includes franchises from Dublin, Belfast, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Rotterdam, and Amsterdam. The launch event in Dublin also showcased franchise representatives, such as Vipul Aggarwal from Glasgow and former South Africa star Jonty Rhodes, who is linked with the Rotterdam team.
The event’s attendance included ETPL co-founders Abhishek Bachchan, Saurav Banerjee, Priyanka Kaul, and Dhiraj Malhotra, showcasing strong support from both the sports and business communities.
The ETPL is collaborating with Cricket Ireland, Cricket Scotland, and the Royal Dutch Cricket Association. Its goal is to introduce a unified league system linking various European cities through this franchise model.
ETPL Franchise Lineup:
- Dublin: Rahul Dravid
- Belfast: Glenn Maxwell and Rohan Lund
- Edinburgh: Kyle Mills, Nathan McCullum, and Rachel Wiseman
- Glasgow: Vipul Aggarwal and Chris Gayle
- Amsterdam: Steve Waugh, Jamie Dwyer, and Tim Thomas
- Rotterdam: Jonty Rhodes, Faf du Plessis, Glashin, and Samir Shah, with Madhukar Shree as Managing Partner
This initiative is set to reshape the cricket landscape in Europe and nurture talent for the future.
