Rahul Dravid takes on surprising new role for Dublin franchise ahead of ETPL 2026
Rahul Dravid has taken on a surprising new role with the Dublin franchise ahead of the ETPL 2026, marking his return to cricket after his stint as India's head coach.
Be a winner today!
Get the latest cricket updates, Join our community
The cricket world is currently celebrating the fever of the Indian Premier League 2026. Amid this excitement, former Rajasthan Royals coach Rahul Dravid is all set to begin a surprising new chapter in his cricket journey.
The Indian cricket legend has been announced as the co-owner of the Dublin franchise in the upcoming European T20 Premier League (ETPL). The team has been named Dublin Guardians, and it will also feature former Indian spinner and cricket commentator Ravichandran Ashwin as captain.
Dravid’s reputation for nurturing young talent and building disciplined teams could play a crucial role in shaping the future of the Dublin franchise. Cricket followers are now eagerly waiting to see how the former India captain adapts to this unique responsibility and what impact he can create in the upcoming season. With ETPL 2026 drawing closer, the move has already added extra buzz and excitement around the tournament.
Rahul Dravid's surprising new role at Dublin franchise revealed
The onboarding of Rahul Dravid has completed the six-team franchise structure of the league ahead of its much-awaited launch in 2026. The former India coach has joined the Dublin-based franchise as part of an Indian consortium, which has already created huge excitement among cricket fans.
The new T20 league is being organised with the support of the cricket boards of Ireland, Scotland and the Netherlands. The main aim of the tournament is to increase cricket's popularity across Europe and to provide a larger platform for emerging players.
Dravid said he is excited to be associated with the tournament and believes Europe has strong cricketing passion and talented players. Vipul Aggarwal of the Glasgow franchise also attended the event, while former South Africa cricketer Jonty Rhodes and Madhukar Shree represented the Rotterdam franchise. ETPL co-founders Abhishek Bachchan, Saurav Banerjee, Priyanka Kaul and Dhiraj Malhotra were also present at the event.
What is Rahul Dravid's role? Inside his move to European T20 Cricket
The way Rahul Dravid entered the European T20 cricket setup amid IPL 2026 surprised many fans. After parting ways with the Rajasthan Royals franchise, several cricket followers were guessing that the former India coach could once again focus on nurturing young talent through his new role. After taking up the position, Dravid shared his vision for the league while speaking to the media.
In a special interview, Dravid said, “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.”
See also -CSK honours Rahul Dravid with special gesture ahead of IPL 2026
He further added, “Dublin already has a passionate cricketing community and enormous potential for growth. Nurturing the next generation has always been important to me, and I believe ETPL can play a meaningful role in that journey.”
What Dravid's Dublin role means for ETPL 2026 and his future
As Rahul Dravid has joined ETPL 2026 as the co-owner of a franchise, it has become a significant boost for both the franchise and the newly designed league. It has already been proven that Dravid’s mentorship has helped many cricketing talents and franchises. One example is Vaibhav Suryavanshi, as the current IPL superstar is also showing the positive nurturing influence of Dravid. With an excellent track record in mentorship and coaching, the Karnataka legend’s addition to the league is expected to help many young talents.
See also -'India vs...'- Rahul Dravid reveals his dream final of T20 World Cup 2026
Notably, ETPL’s franchise ownership includes: Dublin franchise – Rahul Dravid, Belfast franchise – Glenn Maxwell and Rohan Lund, Edinburgh franchise – Kyle Mills, Nathan McCullum and 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.
Launched in partnership with Cricket Ireland, Cricket Scotland and the Royal Dutch Cricket Association, ETPL introduces a cross-border franchise model featuring teams from Dublin, Belfast, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Rotterdam and Amsterdam. The inaugural season is scheduled to take place between August 26 and September 20.
Follow Cricketwinner.com for more ETPL 2026 updates.
Tags:
