Abhishek Bachchan is expanding his involvement in sports from owning individual teams to helping build an entire professional cricket league in Europe. The actor is a co-founder and co-owner of the European T20 Premier League (ETPL), a new cross-border competition involving teams from Ireland, Scotland and the Netherlands.
The move marks a new phase in Bachchan’s sports journey, which began with franchise ownership in Indian kabaddi and football. The ETPL is being developed in partnership with the cricket boards of Ireland, Scotland and the Netherlands and is scheduled to launch in 2026. The league has completed a six-team structure featuring franchises from Dublin, Belfast, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Rotterdam and Amsterdam.
From established teams to creating a new sporting platform
Bachchan’s sports portfolio has included the Jaipur Pink Panthers in the Pro Kabaddi League and Chennaiyin FC in the Indian Super League. His involvement in both franchises helped him gain experience in professional sports beyond the cricket-focused landscape that dominates much of India’s sporting attention.
The ETPL takes that involvement a step further. Instead of joining an established competition through a single franchise, Bachchan is now part of a group creating the league structure itself. The tournament is designed around six city-based teams spread across three European cricket markets, creating a single competition that connects Ireland, Scotland and the Netherlands.
A sports philosophy focused on building
Bachchan has described his approach to sports as being centred on building sporting institutions rather than simply taking ownership of an already established operation. His involvement with the ETPL reflects that philosophy, with the league bringing together established international cricket names as franchise owners and stakeholders.
The competition has attracted prominent figures from the cricket world. Steve Waugh is involved with the Amsterdam franchise, Glenn Maxwell with Belfast, while Jonty Rhodes and other former international players are associated with the Rotterdam team. Rahul Dravid was later announced as the owner of the Dublin Guardians, completing the six-team structure.
The league’s structure also gives the project a wider purpose beyond franchise cricket. Its stated aim includes creating opportunities for emerging European players to develop alongside experienced international cricketers and strengthening the sport’s professional pathway in the region.
A childhood connection that shaped his sporting interests
Bachchan’s interest in sport goes back to his childhood. He has credited his father, Amitabh Bachchan, with encouraging his passion for sports from an early age. He has spoken about learning kabaddi as a child and being exposed to sporting legends and major sporting events through his father.
That early interest eventually translated into a wider involvement in professional sports. His journey has included kabaddi, football and, more recently, cricket through the Indian Street Premier League and the ETPL. His involvement with Majhi Mumbai in the Indian Street Premier League has also placed him closer to a format aimed at providing opportunities to players emerging from informal cricket backgrounds.
Taking the franchise model into European cricket
The ETPL represents Bachchan’s most significant move yet from team ownership into league creation. Europe has established cricket communities and national teams, while the new competition seeks to provide a professional franchise platform connecting players, teams and audiences across national borders.
The six-team format includes Dublin, Belfast, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Rotterdam and Amsterdam, with the tournament backed by the cricket authorities of Ireland, Scotland and the Netherlands. The league is expected to feature established international players while providing a platform for emerging European talent.
For Bachchan, the project continues a pattern that has defined his sports involvement: entering developing sporting ecosystems and helping build their professional structures. His transition from owning teams in India to co-founding a European cricket league reflects a broader ambition to participate in the creation and growth of sporting platforms rather than simply becoming part of established ones.
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