After three years of planning and hard work, the inaugural European T20 Premier League (ETPL) finally got underway in Voorburg with a Dutch derby between Rotterdam Dockers and Amsterdam Flames. The launch marked an important moment for European cricket, with the tournament aiming to establish a competitive T20 platform and provide local players with greater exposure to international talent.
Speaking on JioHotstar during the opening day, ETPL co-owner Abhishek Bachchan reflected on the journey behind the tournament and explained why he decided to enter the cricketing world through a European league. Bachchan admitted that bringing the competition to life was not an easy process but stressed the importance of staying committed to the original vision.
“Nothing worth doing is going to be easy. But you have to believe in your dream, and you have to believe in the reasons why you started it.” He revealed that the idea had been developing for three years and thanked his co-founders, the wider team and the International Cricket Council (ICC) for supporting the project.
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“We were very, very concerned about the fact that we wanted to put across a very competitive and very credible league.” Abhishek Bachchan was also pleased with the response on the opening day, particularly the atmosphere at the venue and the support from fans. “I’m pleased. I’m relieved. We were relieved after the first ball went for runs.”
The ETPL co-owner said the opening match represented the realisation of the league’s initial ambition to bring high-quality cricket to Europe. “Seeing the atmosphere, that’s exactly what we dreamt of, to bring competitive, world-class cricket to Europe, and here we are on the first day.”
Bachchan also explained that his decision to become involved in cricket was driven by his long-standing passion for the sport. Having been associated with sports for several years, he wanted his cricket venture to create opportunities for emerging European players.
Abhishek Bachchan thanks the ICC and Jay Shah for their support for the European T20 Premier League (ETPL)
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“I’m a huge cricket fan, most Indians are. We all love cricket.” He added that the objective was to give local and young cricketers an opportunity to compete alongside established international players and learn from them. “I think that’s where the idea came from, and three years later, we are here, giving these younger lads and the local lads the opportunity to enjoy T20 cricket with the best in the world.”
The tournament has also generated interest because of the high-profile names associated with its ownership groups. Bachchan believes the involvement of former and current cricket stars has added credibility to the competition.
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“When you see the kind of ownership that’s there, with Steve Waugh, Rahul Dravid, Glenn Maxwell and Jonty Rhodes, there’s a certain amount of credibility.” He described the quartet as “cricketing royalty” and suggested their involvement had encouraged fans to take notice of the new league.
However, Bachchan believes the tournament’s long-term success will ultimately depend on the quality of cricket produced on the field. “Now it’s up to the lads in the centre and the kind of cricket that they play.” He hopes exciting performances will help the ETPL attract a larger audience and eventually expand its footprint across Europe.
