Abhishek Bachchan has increased its stake in the global sports business by officially launching European T20 Premier League (ETPL)A high-octane franchise tournament designed to conquer the ‘final frontier’ of cricket. Unveiled in Sydney on January 21, 2026 against the iconic backdrop of Sydney Opera House And the Harbor Bridge, League One represents the bold $20 million A venture to bring professional T20 excitement to mainland Europe. With sports stalwarts like Bachchan Jr at the helm as co-founder steve waugh and others like Dheeraj Malhotra And Saurav BanerjeeThe ETPL is already generating massive global buzz, not only for its legendary owners, but also for the viral ‘invitation’ of the game’s biggest icons.
Fables. Leaders. Global experience. The Amsterdam franchise will be owned by Australian cricket legend and World Cup-winning captain Steve Waugh along with Olympic gold medalist and hockey legend Jamie Dwyer and business leader Tim Thomas. pic.twitter.com/iBTrwV5Bv9
– European T20 Premier League (ETPL) (@etplofficial) 21 January 2026
Abhishek Bachchan invites Virat Kohli for T20 league: Complete information on ETPL
During the grand launch, Bachchan was asked about the possibility of Indian superstars joining the league despite the current BCCI restrictions that prevent active Indian players from participating in overseas T20 tournaments. Bachchan made no secret of his long-term ambitions, especially naming Virat Kohli As a great individual, he would love to see represent an ETPL franchise.
Recognizing that active Indian players are currently unavailable, he framed the league as a world-class destination that would eventually be impossible to ignore for the world’s best players. Bachchan stressed that with cricket’s inclusion in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics and the rapid rise of teams like Italy, the sporting landscape is changing, and he is hopeful that when ‘the doors finally open’ the ETPL will be ready to host the global magic of players like Kohli.
‘It would be incredible to have someone like Virat Kohli in the ETPL. It’s not possible right now, but never say never. You always want the best players in your league, and we are creating an ecosystem in Europe that will ultimately attract the global magic of players like Virat. When I get involved in sports I have one desire: Can I help? Can I help improve the infrastructure, ecosystem or just bring about change? Europe is where this impact is possible.” Abhishek Bachchan said.
European T20 Premier League franchises: A meeting of giants
The ETPL is an ICC-sanctioned, multi-country league featuring six city-based teams from Ireland, Scotland and the Netherlands. The ownership lineup unveiled in Sydney is as follows ‘Who’s who’ In the history of sports, there has been a move from mere celebrity endorsements to actual athlete-investors. The remaining three franchises are expected to be located in Dublin, Rotterdam and Glasgow, with speculation that Reliance Industries Limited (RIL), The power behind Mumbai Indians-is in active discussions to gain one of the last slots.
team details
| Team Name (required) | City | primary owner | sports background |
|---|---|---|---|
| flames of amsterdam | amsterdam | Steve Waugh and Jamie Dwyer | Cricket World Cup winner and hockey legend |
| irish wolves | belfast | Glenn Maxwell and Rohan Lund | T20 global superstar and corporate leader |
| Castle Rockers | edinburgh | Nathan McCullum and Kyle Mills | new zealand international legends |
Amsterdam: Steve Waugh, Jamie Dwyer and Tim Thomas
Edinburgh: Nathan McCullum and Kyle Mills
Belfast: Glenn Maxwell and Rohan Lund pic.twitter.com/XCb9XYnQ8A– European T20 Premier League (ETPL) (@etplofficial) 20 January 2026
Players in the European T20 Premier League: Marquee stars and the 7+4 rule
To ensure that the league is both elite and developmental, the ETPL has instituted a unique ‘7+4’ squad rule, where every playing XI must feature. seven local european players And four international marquee stars. Major international commitments have already been secured steve smith, Michelle Marshand power-hitter tim david Signed on as major stars for the inaugural season. Steve Waugh said the presence of someone like Steve Smith – who is in peak T20 form at the moment – will set the professional standard for local players.
player details
| player name | Role | Organization | Situation |
|---|---|---|---|
| steve smith | batter | Australia | Confirmed (Marquee) |
| Michelle Marsh | all-rounder | Australia (T20 captain) | Confirmed (Amsterdam) |
| glen maxwell | all-rounder | Australia | owner-player (Belfast) |
| Scott Edwards | wicket keeper | Netherlands (captain) | Confirmed (Amsterdam) |
| tim david | batter | Australia | Signer reported |
“The Big Show” is here, @Gmaxi_32 Signal! pic.twitter.com/CsLd4H8mGY
– European T20 Premier League (ETPL) (@etplofficial) 21 January 2026
Captain Mitchell Marsh signed with the Amsterdam Flames. pic.twitter.com/nuQV9n2XDc
– European T20 Premier League (ETPL) (@etplofficial) 21 January 2026
Blackcaps captain Mithrel Santner signs contract with Edinburgh franchise ✍️ pic.twitter.com/fVz4uAGQvu
– European T20 Premier League (ETPL) (@etplofficial) 21 January 2026
European T20 Premier League: Schedule, funding and business road map
The inaugural season of the ETPL is scheduled to run from August 26 to September 20, 2026, and will feature 34 high-production matches. According to the report of Economic Times, Operating under a centralized revenue model, the ETPL aims for all franchises to reach break-even status within three to four years, distributing approximately 80% of the common pool to teams in the initial season. By targeting Europe, the world’s second-largest cricket market by membership, Bachchan and his partners are betting on a region that is currently under-commercialized but is ripe for a professional cricket revolution.
Key Business Metrics
| key business metrics | Description |
|---|---|
| fundraising goal | $20 million (via private equity) |
| franchise fee | $1.5 million per team |
| revenue model | 80:20 Shared Central Pool (Years 1-2) |
| broadcast priority | Access instant revenue (targeted India, 7pm IST) |
| tournament window | August 26 – September 20, 2026 |
