MS Dhoni to play in Europe? Abhishek Bachchan reveals his big ETPL wish
Abhishek Bachchan said he would love to see MS Dhoni play in the European T20 Premier League. His wish also exposed the BCCI rule that keeps contracted Indian players out of overseas leagues.
MS Dhoni may not have played a single IPL game this season, but the former India captain’s popularity remains unmatched across the cricketing world. ETPL co-founder and actor Abhishek Bachchan has revealed that he would love to see the former Indian captain feature in the upcoming European T20 Premier League.
Speaking to PTI from Dublin, Bachchan named Dhoni without hesitation when asked which Indian cricketer he would most like to see in the ETPL.
“Mahendra Singh Dhoni,” Bachchan replied instantly when asked about his dream Indian signing for the ETPL.
Despite retiring from international cricket in 2020, Dhoni continues to be one of the biggest attractions in the sport and remains part of the Chennai Super Kings squad, although he has missed the ongoing IPL season due to a calf injury sustained before the tournament.
“Do you need a reason why you want to see Mahendra Singh Dhoni in cricket?” he added.
Bachchan then went on to acknowledge the challenges of bringing current Indian players into overseas franchise leagues because of Board Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) regulations.
“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 IPL. We will miss them. It would have been wonderful to have them,” he said. “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.”
Under current BCCI rules, Indian male cricketers can participate in overseas T20 leagues only after retiring from all forms of Indian cricket, including the IPL. The policy is aimed at protecting the IPL’s exclusivity and maintaining the strength of India’s domestic cricket structure.
ETPL TO NURTURE THE LOCAL TALENT
Explaining the league’s long-term vision, Bachchan said the ETPL aims to create opportunities for emerging European cricketers by ensuring local representation in every squad.
“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.
The European T20 Premier League, scheduled to run from August 26 to September 20, is a newly launched franchise-based tournament aimed at expanding cricket’s footprint across Europe.
The league has already attracted several high-profile names. Former India captain and head coach Rahul Dravid has joined as co-owner of the Dublin Guardians franchise, while Steve Waugh, Jonty Rhodes and Glenn Maxwell are also among franchise owners.
MS Dhoni may not have played a single IPL game this season, but the former India captain’s popularity remains unmatched across the cricketing world. ETPL co-founder and actor Abhishek Bachchan has revealed that he would love to see the former Indian captain feature in the upcoming European T20 Premier League.
Speaking to PTI from Dublin, Bachchan named Dhoni without hesitation when asked which Indian cricketer he would most like to see in the ETPL.
“Mahendra Singh Dhoni,” Bachchan replied instantly when asked about his dream Indian signing for the ETPL.
Despite retiring from international cricket in 2020, Dhoni continues to be one of the biggest attractions in the sport and remains part of the Chennai Super Kings squad, although he has missed the ongoing IPL season due to a calf injury sustained before the tournament.
“Do you need a reason why you want to see Mahendra Singh Dhoni in cricket?” he added.
Bachchan then went on to acknowledge the challenges of bringing current Indian players into overseas franchise leagues because of Board Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) regulations.
“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 IPL. We will miss them. It would have been wonderful to have them,” he said. “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.”
Under current BCCI rules, Indian male cricketers can participate in overseas T20 leagues only after retiring from all forms of Indian cricket, including the IPL. The policy is aimed at protecting the IPL’s exclusivity and maintaining the strength of India’s domestic cricket structure.
ETPL TO NURTURE THE LOCAL TALENT
Explaining the league’s long-term vision, Bachchan said the ETPL aims to create opportunities for emerging European cricketers by ensuring local representation in every squad.
“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.
The European T20 Premier League, scheduled to run from August 26 to September 20, is a newly launched franchise-based tournament aimed at expanding cricket’s footprint across Europe.
The league has already attracted several high-profile names. Former India captain and head coach Rahul Dravid has joined as co-owner of the Dublin Guardians franchise, while Steve Waugh, Jonty Rhodes and Glenn Maxwell are also among franchise owners.
