The landscape of cricket in Europe is going to undergo a major change with the inauguration of European T20 Premier League (ETPL) Ready for its much awaited debut. At a grand launch event held on Monday, May 11, 2026, the league officially unveiled its full roster of six city-based franchises, each of which was backed by a group of international sporting legends and business icons.
Scheduled to run from August 26 to September 20, 2026, ETPL is a joint venture between? cricket ireland, cricket scotland, And Royal Dutch Cricket Association. The tournament aims to transform the continent into a premier destination for short format cricket while bridging the gap between allied countries and global powers.
Dublin Guardians has named the iconic Indian cricket star as the franchise owner for the European T20 Premier League
The highlight of the launch event shone brightest on the Dublin franchise, which revealed its high-profile ownership. In a move that has sent shockwaves through the global cricket community, Rahul Dravid, Legendary former Indian captain and World Cup-winning coach announced as its owner dublin patron.
The wall of Indian cricket is not only making its name but also presenting a promising long-term vision for the franchise. Dravid said his primary motivation for joining ETPL was the opportunity to strengthen grassroots development in Ireland and across Europe. He emphasized that there is a passionate cricket community with untapped potential in the region.
The experienced off-spinner is adding more Indian flavor to the Irish team Ravichandran Ashwin Has been named captain of the Dublin Guardians. Under Dravid’s mentorship and Ashwin’s tactical brilliance, the Dublin-based side are already considered favorites for the inaugural title.
Other big names are joining ETPL
The ETPL has managed to attract unprecedented levels of investment from current and former cricket legends, ensuring that each franchise carries a distinct superstar identity. Apart from the Dublin Guardians, the ownership groups of the remaining five teams read like a Hall of Fame list:
- Belfast (Irish Wolves): Co-owned by the Australian explosive batsman glen maxwell And Rohan Lund.
- Amsterdam (Amsterdam Flames): Supported by former Australian captain steve waughhockey icon jamie dwyerAnd tim thomas.
- Edinburgh (Edinburgh Castle Rockers): Including New Zealand-heavy consortium ownership kyle mills, nathan mccullumAnd Rachel Wiseman.
- Glasgow (Glasgow Cosmic/Mugafians): Co-owned by Universe Boss chris gayle And Vipul Agarwal.
- Rotterdam (Rotterdam Dockers): It also includes a powerhouse ownership group jonty rhodes, Faf du PlessisAnd Glashin And Sameer Shahwith madhukar shri As managing partner.
The league has been further strengthened by the presence of Bollywood actors. Abhishek BachchanCo-founder and co-owner of the league, who has been instrumental in bringing Indian commercial interest to European shores.
Fans can also expect intense action on the field from international legends like Mitchell Marsh, Mitchell Santner, Liam Livingstone and Heinrich Klaasen Confirmed to participate. With 33 matches spread across Dublin, Belfast, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Rotterdam and Amsterdam, the ETPL 2026 is set to become the defining cricket event of the European summer.
Also read: IPL 2026: Ravichandran Ashwin explains why Akeal Hosein has a bigger role than Sanju Samson in CSK