'T20 as a sport is here to stay' - Ravichandran Ashwin backs ETPL as cricket eyes 2028 Olympics

Former India cricketer Ravichandran Ashwin believes franchise leagues like the European T20 Premier League (ETPL) will play a pivotal role in cricket becoming a serious global sport, with the format’s inclusion at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics offering the game its most significant window yet to break into new markets.

The 39-year-old was recently named captain and mentor of Dublin Guardians, one of six ETPL franchises, and will join the league after completing his campaign with San Francisco Unicorns in Major League Cricket 2026. The ETPL, Europe’s first ICC-sanctioned multi-country franchise T20 league, runs from Wednesday, August 26 to Sunday, September 20 across Ireland, Scotland, and the Netherlands.

“If cricket as a game is pretty serious about making it a global affair, I think the teams in this league will play a very crucial part in enabling that. So as far as I’m concerned, this is a really, really exciting prospect where we not only believe that we can pick a team and do well in this tournament, but also make it a really good place for these players to come in and get better and also have a lasting impact on the tournament,” Ashwin said on Cricinfo.

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The veteran off-spinner also addressed the format’s broader prospects, arguing that a shorter game is a more viable one on the global stage.

“If the game has to become global and it has to become an Olympic sport, the shorter the game, the more viable it is. And that’s how it’s going to become much bigger. And you will see a better sample size of players, which is also very critical for several of these leagues which run through the year. T20 as a sport is here to stay. I’m not too sure about ODI cricket," said Ashwin.

Ashwin will complete his MLC 2026 run with San Francisco Unicorns before heading to Europe for the ETPL. Dublin Guardians are owned by former India captain and T20 World Cup-winning coach Rahul Dravid. The league opens on Wednesday, August 26, with the final on Sunday, September 20.