Rahul Dravid Becomes Owner of Dublin Guardians as European T20 Premier League Finalises Teams

Dublin, May 2026 : Former India captain and head coach Rahul Dravid was officially announced as the owner of the Dublin Guardians franchise in the upcoming European T20 Premier League (ETPL), completing the six-team structure of the tournament ahead of its much-anticipated launch in 2026.

The announcement was made during a high-profile event in Dublin that brought together franchise owners, cricket administrators, and league officials, signalling growing momentum behind Europe’s first ICC-sanctioned multi-country franchise T20 competition.

Dravid’s entry into franchise ownership is seen as a major boost for the league, which aims to strengthen cricket’s presence across Europe while creating a professional platform for emerging talent from Associate Nations.

The ETPL has been launched in collaboration with Cricket Ireland, Cricket Scotland, and the Royal Dutch Cricket Association. The tournament will feature franchises representing Dublin, Belfast, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Rotterdam, and Amsterdam in a unique cross-border model designed to accelerate cricket’s growth in Europe.

The launch event also featured ETPL co-founders Abhishek Bachchan, Saurav Banerjee, Priyanka Kaul, and Dhiraj Malhotra, along with several franchise stakeholders and cricket personalities. Among those present were Glasgow franchise owner Vipul Aggarwal and Rotterdam franchise representatives Jonty Rhodes and Madhukar Shree.

Senior officials from European cricket boards also attended the ceremony, including Brian MacNeice, Chair of Cricket Ireland, Sarah Keane, CEO of Cricket Ireland, Roland Lefebvre, Director of High Performance at Cricket Netherlands, and Trudy Lindblade, CEO of Cricket Scotland.

Speaking at the launch, Abhishek Bachchan said the inclusion of Rahul Dravid adds immense credibility and inspiration to the league’s long-term vision.

“For ETPL, having legends like Rahul associated with this journey is incredibly special because our vision goes beyond building a league. We want to create a platform that inspires and nurtures the next generation of talent emerging from Ireland and the wider European cricket ecosystem,” Bachchan said.

He added that the strong response from the global cricketing community reflects growing belief in Europe’s untapped cricketing potential.

“The involvement of icons like Steve Waugh, Glenn Maxwell, Jonty Rhodes, Chris Gayle, Faf du Plessis, Heinrich Klaasen and Rahul Dravid reinforces the belief that Europe can become cricket’s next major growth frontier,” he said.

Rahul Dravid explained that the developmental aspect of the league was a major reason behind his decision to join the ETPL.

“What attracted me to ETPL was the larger vision behind it — the opportunity to help grow cricket in Europe by strengthening grassroots development and creating pathways for emerging talent,” Dravid said.

“Dublin already has a passionate cricket community and enormous potential for growth. Supporting young players and building strong systems for future talent has always been important to me, and I believe ETPL can contribute significantly to that process,” he added.

The league is expected to feature several internationally renowned cricketers, including Mitchell Marsh, Tim David, Mitchell Santner, Liam Livingstone, Glenn Maxwell, Faf du Plessis and Heinrich Klaasen.

The ETPL’s franchise ownership structure includes several prominent cricketing names and global investors. The Belfast franchise is owned by Glenn Maxwell and Rohan Lund, while the Edinburgh franchise features Kyle Mills, Nathan McCullum, and Rachel Wiseman. Glasgow is backed by Vipul Aggarwal and Chris Gayle, while Amsterdam includes Steve Waugh, Jamie Dwyer, and Tim Thomas among its owners. Rotterdam’s ownership group includes Jonty Rhodes, Faf du Plessis, Glashin, Samir Shah, and managing partner Madhukar Shree.

With the six-team lineup now finalised, the European T20 Premier League is preparing for its inaugural season in 2026, with organisers hoping the tournament will open a new chapter for cricket’s expansion across Europe.