New Delhi, August 25: Former captain and coach of the Indian cricket team, Rahul Dravid, is stepping into a new role as a co-owner of the Dublin Guardians in the European T20 Premier League (ETPL). Dravid expressed his excitement about venturing out of his comfort zone to embrace this fresh opportunity.
In a conversation with JioStar, Dravid stated, “There are some great people involved with the league. Steve Waugh, whom I have always admired, is with the Amsterdam Flames, and Jamie Dwyer is building that team. Glenn Maxwell is also part of a team and a league owner. The passion for the game shown by someone like Abhishek Bachchan, and the team he has assembled to create this league, suggests that these individuals are striving to achieve something significant.”
He continued, “I thought, ‘Why not get involved and do something a bit different?’ I have always been part of the game as a coach or a player, but trying to set things up, appoint coaches and players, and manage marketing and finance is slightly outside my comfort zone, yet it is thrilling.”
Dravid emphasized the potential for cricket in Europe, stating, “I believe there is a lot of talent and many opportunities to advance the game here. This platform is ideal for promoting cricket and engaging more people, especially as a former player.”
Discussing the impact of T20 cricket on other formats, Dravid remarked, “Personally, I love Test cricket. It will always remain the number one format of the game. However, one must be realistic if we want to grow cricket beyond a few countries. We want the next generation to enjoy, follow, and play the game, making T20 a fantastic format to promote, especially in this part of the world.”
He added, “Once you engage people in the game, you can start thinking about implementing strategies to promote longer formats in this region. However, when you are just starting out, I believe T20 is the most suitable format.”
The inaugural edition of the ETPL kicks off on August 26, generating significant interest among Indian fans. Rahul Dravid is a co-owner of one of the franchises, while Bollywood actor Abhishek Bachchan is a co-founder of the league. Notable players like Ravichandran Ashwin, Ajinkya Rahane, and Vijay Shankar will also be part of various teams.
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