Rahul Dravid is the brand new proprietor of Dublin Guardians within the European T20 Premier League. The previous India captain and T20 World Cup-winning coach was formally unveiled at a franchise occasion on Could 11, 2026, finishing the six-team possession lineup of the ETPL forward of its August launch.
The league runs from August 26 to September 20 and is the primary ICC-sanctioned multi-country franchise T20 competitors in Europe. It was arrange in partnership with Cricket Eire, Cricket Scotland, and the Royal Dutch Cricket Affiliation, with groups representing Dublin, Belfast, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Rotterdam, and Amsterdam.
Ravichandran Ashwin will captain the Dublin Guardians. The previous India all-rounder takes the armband because the aspect prepares to compete in what’s shaping as much as be one of many extra bold franchise tournaments outdoors the Asian cricket calendar.
Dravid Sees a Larger Image Past Simply Proudly owning a Franchise
Dravid didn’t come into this purely as an investor. He has spoken concerning the function he sees the ETPL enjoying in growing cricket on the grassroots degree throughout Eire and Europe.
“What attracted me to ETPL was the bigger imaginative and prescient behind it, the chance to assist develop cricket in Europe by strengthening grassroots growth and creating pathways for rising expertise,” he mentioned.
He pointed to Dublin’s current cricket tradition as a basis value constructing on. In his view, the work extends properly previous what occurs on the pitch. Getting followers by means of the gates and giving them a top quality expertise is simply as necessary, particularly when cricket is competing in opposition to soccer and rugby for consideration in that a part of the world. “We’re competing with some very, very established sports activities,” he acknowledged.
Who Owns What Throughout the Six ETPL Franchises
Dravid joins a notable checklist of former worldwide cricketers who’ve taken possession stakes within the league. Glenn Maxwell and Rohan Lund personal the Belfast franchise. Kyle Mills, Nathan McCullum, and Rachel Wiseman are behind Edinburgh. Chris Gayle and Vipul Aggarwal personal the Glasgow aspect. Steve Waugh, Jamie Dwyer, and Tim Thomas maintain the Amsterdam franchise. Rotterdam is owned by Jonty Rhodes, Faf du Plessis, and Heinrich Klaasen, with Madhukar Shree as Managing Companion.
Bollywood actor Abhishek Bachchan co-owns the league itself alongside co-founders Saurav Banerjee, Priyanka Kaul, and Dhiraj Malhotra.
A number of of the house owners may even play within the event. Maxwell and Du Plessis will function as gamers, joined by the likes of Mitchell Marsh, Steven Smith, Tim David, Mitchell Santner, and Liam Livingstone.
Cricket Eire, Scotland and the Netherlands Again the League Formally
The launch occasion introduced collectively senior figures from all three accomplice boards. Cricket Eire CEO Sarah Keane, Cricket Scotland CEO Trudy Lindblade, and Cricket Netherlands Director of Excessive Efficiency Roland Lefebvre have been all current, reflecting the official weight behind the competitors.
For Dravid, getting into franchise possession is in keeping with the sort of long-term pondering he has been related to all through his profession in teaching and cricket administration. Constructing buildings, creating alternative, and pondering past the speedy outcome — it’s the similar method, utilized now to a special a part of the cricketing world.
For the newest cricket information and updates, comply with JeetWin Weblog!
