Abhishek Bachchan, the co-founder and co-owner of the European T20 Premier League (ETPL), has revealed that his passion for sports was sparked by his father, legendary Bollywood actor Amitabh Bachchan. He explained that his love for athletics grew during childhood as he watched various sporting events alongside his father. 
Beyond his successful acting career, Abhishek has emerged as a notable sports entrepreneur in India. He owns the Jaipur Pink Panthers in the Pro Kabaddi League and co-owns Chennaiyin FC in the Indian Super League alongside former Indian cricket captain MS Dhoni. He is often seen cheering for his teams at matches and regularly attends Indian cricket games, showcasing his deep commitment to sports.
In an interview with ANI, Abhishek stated, “Entirely due to my father. My father is a huge sports buff as well. Spending my childhood with him, watching different sports and him teaching me about them is where my love for sports started.”
Regarding the ETPL, a newly launched franchise-based cricket tournament, Abhishek has been vocal about his vision. He aims to establish the league as a world-class cricket event in Europe, featuring top international talent. He hopes the ETPL will deliver entertaining, high-quality cricket and become one of the most anticipated events on the cricket calendar within the next few years.
“The expectation should be to have a world-class cricketing tournament in Europe. You want an entertaining tournament with some great cricket being played. Where do I see it in another three to five years? Hopefully still around and being one of the most looked forward to cricketing events on the calendar,” Abhishek said.
The league, backed by Cricket Ireland, Cricket Scotland, and the Royal Dutch Cricket Association (KNCB), has received official sanction from the International Cricket Council (ICC). This makes it one of the first major ICC-approved franchise T20 leagues in the region. The ETPL is expected to feature international stars such as Mitchell Marsh, Tim David, Mitchell Santner, Liam Livingstone, Glenn Maxwell, Faf du Plessis, and Heinrich Klaasen, offering emerging players from Europe and Associate Nations a unique opportunity to compete alongside some of the biggest names in world cricket.
The league has attracted several prominent figures from cricket, business, and global investment. Its ownership includes cricketing legends like Rahul Dravid, Glenn Maxwell, Chris Gayle, Jonty Rhodes, and Faf du Plessis. The inaugural edition is scheduled from August 26 to September 20, 2026. Abhishek explained that the ICC-allotted window, which avoids clashes with other major leagues like the IPL, PSL, SA20, and BBL, was chosen to attract the best talent.
“We wanted a window which was uninterrupted. We wanted a window which had minimum clash with other cricketing activities. We’re very thankful that the ICC nominated this window and gave it to us so we could attract some of the best talent available. So we’re very happy with it,” Abhishek Bachchan told ANI.