Abhishek Bachchan’s European T20 Premier League 2026 Starts With Packed House in The Hague
The inaugural season of the European T20 Premier League (ETPL) kicked off with a packed stadium at Voorburg Cricket Club in The Hague, featuring an exciting opening match between Scott Edwards' Amsterdam Flames and Faf du Plessis' Rotterdam Dockers.
The inaugural season of the European T20 Premier League (ETPL) got off to a spectacular start this week, with a packed stadium and an overwhelming response from fans at the League’s opening match at Voorburg Cricket Club in The Hague. Ahead of European T20 Premier League 2026, Abhishek Bachchan Opens Up on Building Parallel Legacy in Sports Beyond Bollywood (Watch ‘Future Unplugged’ Podcast Video).
The blockbuster opening clash saw Amsterdam Flames, captained by Ireland’s Scott Edwards, take on Rotterdam Dockers, led by Faf du Plessis. Adding to the excitement was the rivalry between the two franchises, with Amsterdam led by Steve Waugh’s team and Rotterdam by Jonty Rhodes’ team.
The occasion was attended by cricketing legends Rahul Dravid, Steve Waugh, Jonty Rhodes and Matthew Hayden, as fans turned out in huge numbers to witness the beginning of a new era for cricket in Europe.
Abhishek Bachchan on Building a Lasting Legacy for European Cricket
Commenting on the inaugural season of the ETPL, Abhishek Bachchan said, “To see the stadium packed and the League finally come alive was an incredibly proud and emotional moment for all of us. This was the beginning of something we had believed in from day one — bringing world-class cricket to Europe and creating a new platform for the game and local players to grow.”
Commenting on the inaugural season, Dublin Guardians owner Rahul Dravid said, “What made ETPL truly special was the incredible mix of world-class stars and rising talent. Seeing dynamic young players like Bas de Leede and Jai Moondra hold their own against top-tier opposition, alongside battle-tested stalwarts like Anrich Nortje running in with real pace, and Roelof van der Merwe bringing his years of experience, was exactly what we wanted to see. Having top international stars share the field and rub shoulders with the next generation elevated the standard of the entire tournament.”
Instagram Post of Abhishek Bachchan
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ETPL was a pioneering partnership between the cricket boards of Ireland, Scotland and the Netherlands, along with its founders Abhishek Bachchan, Priyanka Kaul, Saurav Banerjee and Dhiraj Malhotra.
The packed stands and incredible atmosphere at the opening match reflected the excitement and anticipation surrounding the League, marking a memorable beginning to ETPL’s inaugural season.
The venture marked another major step in Bachchan’s involvement in sports beyond his acting career. He had previously been involved in sports ownership across disciplines, including kabaddi and football in India. Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Aaradhya Greet Mumbai Airport Staff With ‘Namaste’ As They Return From US Trip (Watch Video).
With ETPL, Bachchan and his partners looked to build a professional T20 club competition in Europe, where the sport had traditionally had a smaller commercial and professional footprint compared with established cricketing markets. A new chapter for cricket in Europe had begun.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Sep 02, 2026 12:57 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
