Indian cricket great Rahul Dravid has joined an Indian consortium that bought the Dublin franchise for the inaugural European T20 Premier League. The team will compete as the Dublin Guardians, one of six sides spread across Ireland, Scotland and the Netherlands. Dravid, a former Test stalwart and ex‑India coach, called the venture “absolutely brilliant.”

Ravichandran Ashwin has been named captain of the Guardians, freeing him up after retiring from Test cricket in December 2024 and stepping away from the IPL last summer. The league, backed by Bollywood star Abhishek Bachchan and private firm Rules Sport Tech, sold each franchise for £11.1m over ten years.

Games will run from 26 August to 20 September, split between The Hague and Dublin, giving European fans a showcase for emerging talent. Cricket Ireland chair Brian MacNeice hailed the franchise model as a “landmark day” for the sport’s growth across the continent, promising heightened visibility and development.

The tournament’s schedule features an opening fixture at Dublin’s Royal Dublin Society grounds and a championship decider at The Hague’s Sportpark Het Kasteel. By anchoring marquee games in two cricket‑friendly cities, organizers aim to boost attendance and showcase the Guardians’ brand, giving European cricket a tangible platform.