Bollywood actor and sports entrepreneur Abhishek Bachchan has expanded his footprint in the world of sports by becoming a co-founder of the European T20 Premier League (ETPL), Europe’s first major franchise-based cricket league. Bachchan has expressed his desire to see Indian cricket icon Virat Kohli participate in the league in the future, though current BCCI regulations make such an entry impossible at present.
The league was officially launched during an event in Sydney, with Abhishek Bachchan joining hands with Sourav Banerjee, Priyanka Kaul, and Dheeraj Malhotra as co-founders. The ICC-recognised league is being seen as a major step towards expanding cricket’s footprint across Europe.
Star Owners and Global Appeal
The first three ETPL franchises have already been announced, with an impressive line-up of international cricket stars as team owners. Former Australian World Cup-winning captain Steve Waugh, explosive all-rounder Glenn Maxwell, former New Zealand cricketer Nathan McCullum, and Kyle Mills are among the prominent names associated with the league.
The Amsterdam team has been acquired by Steve Waugh and Jamie Dwyer, the Edinburgh franchise by Nathan McCullum and Kyle Mills, while Glenn Maxwell is a co-owner of the Belfast team. Three more teams and their base cities are yet to be announced.
Matches Across Two Countries
The inaugural season of ETPL, scheduled to begin on August 26, will be played across two countries. Matches will be hosted in Dublin (Ireland) and in the Netherlands, with Amsterdam, Edinburgh, and Belfast confirmed as venues for the first season.
Bachchan on Kohli’s Potential Entry
Speaking at the launch, Abhishek Bachchan said the presence of a player like Virat Kohli would be “phenomenal” for the league.
“Right now, it is not possible, but nothing is impossible in the future. You always want the best players to be part of your league,” he said.
Under BCCI rules, active Indian cricketers are barred from participating in overseas leagues before retiring from international cricket. Although Kohli has retired from Tests and T20 Internationals, he continues to represent India in ODI cricket, making him ineligible for foreign leagues at this stage.
Marquee Players Announced
ETPL has already named several Australian stars as marquee players, including former captain Steve Smith, current Australian T20 captain Mitchell Marsh, and Glenn Maxwell.
The league is a joint venture between Cricket Ireland and Rules Global, with support from Cricket Scotland and the Royal Dutch Cricket Association. It is widely regarded as a significant initiative to promote cricket in Europe, a region traditionally dominated by football.
With strong global backing and high-profile involvement, the European T20 Premier League aims to emerge as a major platform for cricket’s growth beyond its traditional strongholds.
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