Actor and ETPL co-founder Abhishek Bachchan said he would love to see Mahendra Singh Dhoni play in the new European T20 Premier League, demonstrating the former India captain’s unparalleled following base six years after he retired from international cricket.
“Mahendra Singh Dhoni,” Bachchan replied instantly when asked which Indian cricketer he would most like to see in the ETPL and why.
“Do you need a reason why you want to see Mahendra Singh Dhoni in cricket?” he told PTI from Dublin.
Despite being a member of the Chennai Super Kings team, Dhoni, who retired from international cricket in 2020, hasn’t played this season because of a calf injury he suffered prior to the competition.
To maintain the IPL’s exclusivity and protect India’s domestic cricket structure, the BCCI now restricts participation in abroad T20 competitions to Indian male cricket players who have retired from all forms of cricket and the Indian Premier League.
Bachchan acknowledged that the existing Indian stars would be missed, but he was confident in the caliber and popularity of the ETPL on a worldwide scale.
“I think if your cricket is of top quality, people will come and watch. We would have loved to have the (current) Indian cricketers as part of the ETPL.
“But as we all know, Indian cricketers under contract with the BCCI are not permitted to play outside the ETPL. We will miss them. It would have been wonderful to have them.
“I think outside of the Indian talent pool, we have the rest of the world’s greatest cricketers who are coming and playing in the ETPL. So, I think we will be okay,” PTI quoted Bachchan as saying.
The European T20 Premier League is a recently established franchise-based competition that will take place from August 26 to September 20 with the goal of spreading cricket throughout Europe.
Rahul Dravid, a former head coach and captain for India, has joined the Dublin Guardians as a co-owner. Other franchise owners include Glenn Maxwell, Steve Waugh, and Jonty Rhodes.
Bachchan, who has already made investments in clubs in the Pro Kabaddi League (Jaipur Panthers) and Indian Super League (Chennaiyin FC), claimed that his passion for cricket motivated him to participate in the ETPL.
“I’m a big cricket fan. That was the inspiration and also to get the opportunity to start a T20 league in Europe is a matter of huge pride and honour for me.
“I’m very used to having started leagues of a sport which isn’t the dominant sport in that market. Be it football, kabaddi or street cricket. It excites me. It gives you something to try and achieve,” he said.
Bachchan downplayed worries about oversaturation in relation to the expanding number of T20 leagues across the globe.
“No, I don’t think so. At the end of the day, you have to be a quality product. Your tournament has to be worthy of your fans and give them the kind of entertainment they want. If your cricket quality is good, they’ll watch it.”
Additionally, according to Bachchan, the T20 format fits very nicely with evolving viewer preferences.
“Time has become a great scarcity. But obviously, being a cricket fan, not much goes above Test cricket. That’s the purest form of the game. But you have to keep in mind that the current generation doesn’t really like to spend that kind of time. So, T20 is very exciting. I think it’s a brilliant format,” he said.
Bachchan stated that each franchise will have to have both local and European players in addition to well-known foreign talents as part of the ETPL’s plan to develop local potential.
“The idea is to create a funnel for local talent to come through and play. Each team has to have local talent and European players as well, and they get to play alongside some of the greats of the game,” he said.
When asked what he learned from popular tournaments like the Indian Premier League and SA20, Bachchan emphasized the value of entertainment and high-caliber cricket.
“If you see both of them, the fact that they play great, entertaining and exciting cricket is the only thing you should learn from them. If you have that, the rest will follow. The fact that they provide a great product to their fans is why they are so sustainable,” he said.
