Ravichandran Ashwin To Lead This New European T20 Side In ETPL After IPL Retirement

After retiring from the Indian Premier League, Ravichandran Ashwin is set to lead the Dublin Guardians in the European T20 Premier League (ETPL), which was recently co-owned by Rahul Dravid. The former Indian off-spinner retired from international cricket back in 2024 and from the Indian Premier League in 2025. However, Ash had always mentioned that he wanted to play cricket in an overseas league.

The 39-year-old will be leading the Dublin side against teams from Belfast, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Rotterdam, and Amsterdam in a franchise-based model. The league is expected to feature international stars, including Mitchell Marsh, Tim David, Mitchell Santner, Liam Livingstone, Glenn Maxwell, Faf du Plessis, Heinrich Klaasen, among others.

The inaugural session of the ETPL is scheduled between August 26 and September 20.

Why Did Rahul Dravid Invest In ETPL?

India legend Rahul Dravid has been announced as the owner of the Dublin Guardians in the newly launched European T20 Premier League (ETPL). Speaking on his involvement, Dravid highlighted that his decision was driven by the league's long-term vision of expanding cricket in Europe.

He emphasised the importance of developing the game at the grassroots level and creating clear pathways for young and emerging players across Ireland and the wider European region. Dravid also noted that Dublin already has a strong and passionate cricket community with significant growth potential.

"What attracted me to ETPL was the larger vision behind it, the opportunity to help grow cricket in Europe by strengthening grassroots development and creating pathways for emerging talent across Ireland and Europe," Dravid said in a release. He added that supporting the next generation of cricketers has always been close to his heart, and he believes ETPL can play a key role in shaping future talent.

Who Are The Other Owners Of ETPL?

ETPL franchise ownership includes several high-profile names:

• The Dublin franchise is owned by Rahul Dravid
• The Belfast franchise is co-owned by Glenn Maxwell and Rohan Lund.
• Edinburgh is backed by Kyle Mills, Nathan McCullum, and Rachel Wiseman. Glasgow's ownership group includes Vipul Aggarwal and Chris Gayle.
• The Amsterdam franchise features Steve Waugh, Jamie Dwyer, and Tim Thomas.
• Rotterdam is co-owned by Jonty Rhodes, Faf du Plessis, Glashin, and Samir Shah, with Madhukar Shree serving as the Managing Partner.