The European T20 Premier League (ETPL) has unveiled Rahul Dravid as the franchise owner for its Dublin team, with the side also receiving a new identity: the Dublin Guardians. Dravid’s appointment finalises the league’s six-team ownership setup ahead of the competition’s much-anticipated debut in 2026. The ETPL is being backed by Bollywood actor Abhishek Bachchan, and both Dravid and Bachchan were in Dublin on Monday for the announcement.
ETPL is being launched in collaboration with Cricket Ireland, Cricket Scotland and the Royal Dutch Cricket Association. The league’s concept centres on a cross-border franchise model that will see teams representing multiple cities across Europe, including Dublin, Belfast, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Rotterdam and Amsterdam—an approach described as a first of its kind in the T20 franchise space. The tournament is also expected to attract international names, with players such as Mitchell Marsh, Tim David, Mitchell Santner, Liam Livingstone, Glenn Maxwell, Faf du Plessis and Heinrich Klaasen among those linked with the league.
Dravid explained the motivation behind taking on the Dublin role, saying he was drawn to ETPL’s broader purpose—using the platform to strengthen grassroots cricket and build clear routes for emerging talent across Ireland and the wider European region. He added that Dublin already boasts a committed cricket fanbase and significant room to expand, emphasising that nurturing the next generation has been central to his involvement. Dravid said he believes ETPL can make a real difference in that journey.
Looking ahead, the six-team ETPL is scheduled to be staged in August and September. The announced franchise ownership structure is as follows:
ETPL’s franchise ownership structure:
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
