Rahul Dravid Named Owner of Dublin Guardians in ETPL

In a landmark development for cricket’s expansion into Europe, Indian cricket icon Rahul Dravid has been announced as the owner of the Dublin Guardians franchise in the European T20 Premier League (ETPL). The announcement, made on Monday during a special event in Dublin, completes the league’s six-team structure ahead of its much-awaited 2026 launch.

The ETPL, backed by strong institutional support from Cricket Ireland, Cricket Scotland, and the Royal Dutch Cricket Association, represents Europe’s first ICC-sanctioned multi-country franchise T20 league. Co-founded by Abhishek Bachchan along with Saurav Banerjee, Priyanka Kaul, and Dhiraj Malhotra under Rules Global in partnership with Cricket Ireland, the league aims to position Europe as cricket’s next major growth frontier.

The announcement event brought together key franchise owners and cricket administrators, including Vipul Aggarwal of the Glasgow Franchise and Jonty Rhodes and Madhukar Shree of the Rotterdam Franchise. Senior leaders in attendance included 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.

The six-team league features a unique cross-border model with franchises based in Dublin, Belfast, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Rotterdam, and Amsterdam. This innovative structure is designed to boost participation, visibility, and talent development across the continent while providing pathways for emerging players from Europe and Associate Nations.

The franchise ownership brings together an impressive mix of cricket legends, entrepreneurs, and investors:

• Dublin Franchise – Rahul Dravid
• Belfast Franchise – Glenn Maxwell and Rohan Lund
• Edinburgh Franchise – Kyle Mills, Nathan McCullum & Rachel Wiseman
• Glasgow Franchise – Vipul Aggarwal and Chris Gayle
• Amsterdam Franchise – Steve Waugh, Jamie Dwyer and Tim Thomas
• Rotterdam Franchise – Jonty Rhodes, Faf du Plessis, Glashin and Samir Shah, with Madhukar Shree as Managing Partner

The league is expected to feature several international stars including Mitchell Marsh, Tim David, Mitchell Santner, Liam Livingstone, Glenn Maxwell, Faf du Plessis, and Heinrich Klaasen, creating exciting opportunities for local talent to share the dressing room with global names.

Abhishek Bachchan, Co-Founder of ETPL, expressed his enthusiasm during the launch: “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 Irish and broader European Cricket ecosystem. The response from the global cricketing community has been extremely encouraging. The coming together of icons like Steve Waugh, Glenn Maxwell, Jonty Rhodes, Chris Gayle, Faf du Plessis, 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.”

Rahul Dravid shared his perspective on joining the initiative: “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 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."

Brian MacNeice, Chair of Cricket Ireland, described the moment as historic: “This is a landmark moment for cricket in Ireland and for the wider European cricket ecosystem. ETPL has the potential to significantly elevate the visibility of cricket, participation growth and quality of cricket playing opportunities for our players across the region while strengthening pathways for future generations.”

Trudy Lindblade, CEO of Cricket Scotland, added: “ETPL has the potential to be a significant moment for cricket in Scotland and across Europe. Opportunities like this can help strengthen the sport’s ecosystem, create greater visibility for players, and inspire the next generation of cricketers across the region.”

For Rahul Dravid, widely respected for his contributions both on and off the field, this ownership role aligns with his long-standing commitment to talent development. His involvement is expected to bring credibility and strategic insight to the Dublin Guardians and the league as a whole.

The ETPL’s launch in 2026 comes at a time when cricket’s popularity continues to rise across Europe. By creating a competitive, high-profile platform, the league aims to nurture local talent while attracting global interest. The combination of star power, institutional backing, and a clear developmental focus positions ETPL as a pioneering effort in expanding the sport’s reach beyond traditional strongholds.

As preparations intensify for the inaugural season, all eyes will be on how this unique cross-border league shapes the future of European cricket. Rahul Dravid’s association with the Dublin Guardians adds significant weight to the project, promising an exciting new chapter for the sport in the region.

This announcement not only completes the franchise puzzle but also signals growing confidence in Europe’s potential to become a vibrant hub for T20 cricket. With its blend of international experience and grassroots vision, the ETPL is poised to leave a lasting impact on the global cricket landscape.