Abhishek Bachchan has officially increased its stake in the global sports business by launching European T20 Premier League (ETPL)a high-octane franchise tournament designed to conquer the ‘final frontier’ of cricket. Launched on January 21, 2026 in Sydney against its iconic backdrop. Sydney Opera House and the Harbor Bridge, representing the league bravely 20 million dollars an initiative to bring the euphoria of professional T20 to mainland Europe. Bachchan Junior along with sports veterans as co-founders Steve Waugh and others like Dhiraj Malhotra and Saurav BanerjeeThe ETPL is already creating huge global buzz not only for its legendary owners, but also for the viral ‘invitation’ to the game’s biggest icon.
Legends. Leaders. Global experience. The Amsterdam franchise will be owned by Australian cricket legend and World Cup winning captain Steve Waugh, Olympic gold medalist and hockey legend Jamie Dwyer and business leader Tim Thomas. pic.twitter.com/iBTrwV5Bv9
— European T20 Premier League (ETPL) (@etplofficial) January 21, 2026
Abhishek Bachchan Invites Virat Kohli For T20 League: ETPL Full Details
During the grand launch, Bachchan was asked about the potential of Indian superstars joining the league, which despite BCCI’s existing restrictions prevent active Indian players from appearing in overseas T20 tournaments. Bachchan did not hide his long-term ambition, specifically his name Virat Kohli he would like to represent an ETPL franchise.
While admitting that active Indian players are currently out of reach, he described the league as a world-class venue that would eventually become impossible for the world’s best to ignore. Bachchan stressed that with cricket’s inclusion in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics and the rapid rise of teams like Italy, the landscape of the sport is changing and hopes the ETPL will be ready to embrace the global magic of players like Kohli “when the doors finally open”.
“It would be incredible to have someone like Virat Kohli in the ETPL. It’s not possible at the moment, but never say never. You always want the best players in your league and we’re building an ecosystem in Europe that will attract the global magic of players like Virat. One of my dreams when I’m involved in sports is: Can I help? Can I help improve the infrastructure, the ecosystem or just make a difference? Europe is where that impact is possible.” Abhishek Bachchan said.
European T20 Premier League franchises: A meeting of legends
The ETPL is an ICC-sanctioned, multi-country league featuring six city teams in Ireland, Scotland and the Netherlands. The order of possession presented in Sydney is read as a ‘Who’s Who’ the sports history is moving beyond mere celebrity endorsements to real athlete-investors. The remaining three franchises are expected to be located in Dublin, Rotterdam and Glasgow. Reliance Industries Limited (RIL), The force behind Mumbai Indians – in active discussions to get one of the final spots.
Team Details
| Team Name (expected) | City | Principal Owner(s) | Sports background |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flames of Amsterdam | Amsterdam | Steve Waugh and Jamie Dwyer | Cricket World Cup Winner and Hockey Legend |
| Irish worms | Belfast | Glenn Maxwell and Rohan Lund | T20 Global Superstar and Corporate Leader |
| Castle Rockers | Edinburgh | Nathan McCullum & Kyle Mills | New Zealand International Stalwarts |
Amsterdam: Steve Waugh, Jamie Dwyer and Tim Thomas
Edinburgh: Nathan McCullum & Kyle Mills
Belfast: Glenn Maxwell and Rohan Lund pic.twitter.com/XCb9XYnQ8A— European T20 Premier League (ETPL) (@etplofficial) January 20, 2026
Players in the European T20 Premier League: Marquee stars and the 7+4 rule
To ensure that the league is both elite and development friendly, the ETPL has created a unique ‘7+4’ squad rule where each player must field 11. seven native European players and four international marquee stars. Major international commitments have already been secured Steve Smith, Mitchell Marshand power hitter Tim David signed on as the title stars for the first season. Steve Waugh noted that having someone like Steve Smith, who is currently in peak T20 form, will set the professional standard for local players to follow.
Player details
| Player Name | Role | Association | The situation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Steve Smith | Dough | Australia | Confirmed (Marquee) |
| Mitchell Marsh | Comprehensive | Australia (T20 Captain) | Confirmed (Amsterdam) |
| Glenn Maxwell | Comprehensive | Australia | Owner-Player (Belfast) |
| Scott Edwards | Goalkeeper | Netherlands (captain) | Confirmed (Amsterdam) |
| Tim David | Dough | Australia | Reported Signee |
“The Big Show” is here, @Gmaxi_32 signs! pic.twitter.com/CsLd4H8mGY
— European T20 Premier League (ETPL) (@etplofficial) January 21, 2026
Captain Mitchell Marsh signs for Amsterdam Flames. pic.twitter.com/nuQV9n2XDc
— European T20 Premier League (ETPL) (@etplofficial) January 21, 2026
Blackcaps captain Mithcell Santner signs for Edinburgh franchise ✍️ pic.twitter.com/fVz4uAGQvu
— European T20 Premier League (ETPL) (@etplofficial) January 21, 2026
European T20 Premier League: Schedule, funding and business roadmap
ETPL’s inaugural season will run from August 26 to September 20, 2026 and will feature 34 top-level matches. According to the Economic Times report, Operating under a centralized revenue model, the ETPL aims for all franchises to break even in three to four years and distribute around 80% of the total pool to teams in the initial seasons. Targeting the world’s second-largest cricket market in terms of membership, Europe, Bachchan and his partners are betting on a region that is currently under-commercialized but poised for a professional cricket revolution.
Key Business Metrics
| Key Business Metric | Detail |
|---|---|
| Fundraising Target | USD 20 million (via Private Equity) |
| Franchise fee | $1.5 million per team |
| Revenue Model | 80:20 Shared Central Pool (grades 1-2) |
| Broadcast priority | Earn Instantly (Target India 7 PM IST) |
| Tournament window | August 26 – September 20, 2026 |
 During the grand launch, Abhishek was asked about the potential for Indian superstars like Virat Kohli to join the league.){kind=link}