Rahul Dravid has officially entered franchise cricket ownership after becoming co-owner of the Dublin team in the upcoming European T20 Premier League (ETPL). The new league, set to begin later in 2026, is already attracting attention because of several big cricket names linked with the tournament. However, it was Dravid’s involvement that became one of the biggest talking points.
League co-owner Abhishek Bachchan revealed that choosing Dravid was a planned decision. According to him, as quoted by NDTV sports, the former India coach brings credibility, experience and a long-term cricketing vision to the project. Bachchan explained that ETPL does not want to become just another celebrity-driven tournament. Instead, the focus is on developing cricket in Europe and building a strong system for young players.
Why Dravid was chosen
Speaking about the decision, Bachchan said Dravid’s image and contribution to cricket made him the perfect choice for the league. He added that the tournament wants respected cricket personalities who can help shape the future of the game in emerging regions.
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CRICKET LEGENDS TAKE OVER ETPL FRANCHISES 😯
— Sam (@Cricsam01) May 11, 2026
- Rahul Dravid — Dublin franchise
Glenn Maxwell & Rohan Lund [Belfast franchise]
- Kyle Mills, Nathan McCullum & Rachel Wiseman [Edinburgh franchise]
- Chris Gayle & Vipul Aggarwal [Glasgow franchise]
- Steve Waugh, Jamie Dwyer &… pic.twitter.com/AhLbaPobXg
Apart from Dravid, former Australia captain Steve Waugh and South African legend Jonty Rhodes are also associated with the league. Their presence is expected to strengthen the cricketing structure and increase the league’s global reach.
Ashwin joins Dublin franchise
The Dublin franchise has also signed Ravichandran Ashwin as captain and mentor. Following his retirement from Indian cricket, Ashwin is now free to participate in overseas franchise tournaments. His addition is seen as a major boost for the team ahead of the inaugural season.
The ETPL is being launched in partnership with Cricket Ireland, Cricket Scotland and the Royal Dutch Cricket Association. Teams from Dublin, Belfast, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Amsterdam and Rotterdam will feature in the competition. Reports also suggest that the tournament has received an ICC-approved window, which could help attract several international stars.
