Former India off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin is set to begin a fresh chapter in his cricketing journey after being appointed captain and mentor of Dublin Guardians for the inaugural edition of the European T20 Premier League (ETPL). The veteran will take on a leadership role both on and off the field as the new multi-nation franchise tournament prepares for its maiden season.
Ashwin, who retired from the Indian Premier League after the 2025 season, is currently representing the San Francisco Unicorns in the 2026 Major League Cricket (MLC) season in the United States.
R. Ashwin to captain and mentor Dublin Guardians
Ashwin has been confirmed as one of the marquee direct signings for the inaugural ETPL, joining several international stars ahead of the league's first season. Besides leading Dublin Guardians on the field, the veteran spinner will also serve as the franchise's mentor.
The Dublin-based franchise is owned by former India captain and World Cup-winning coach Rahul Dravid, adding further significance to R. Ashwin's latest assignment.
The European T20 Premier League has been launched in partnership with Cricket Ireland, Cricket Scotland and the Royal Dutch Cricket Association, becoming Europe's first ICC-sanctioned multi-country franchise T20 competition. The six-team tournament features franchises representing Dublin, Belfast, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Rotterdam and Amsterdam.
Star-studded league set for inaugural season
Ravichandran Ashwin headlines an impressive list of international players who have signed directly with various franchises ahead of the tournament. Former South Africa captain Faf du Plessis, Australia's Steven Smith and Mitchell Marsh, New Zealand duo Mitchell Santner and Trent Boult, along with several other global stars, will also feature in the competition.
The remaining squads will be finalised during the player draft scheduled for July 2. The inaugural edition of the European T20 Premier League will be held from August 26 to September 20 across Ireland, Scotland and the Netherlands.
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With R. Ashwin taking up captaincy and mentoring responsibilities, the former India spinner is set to play a key role in shaping Dublin Guardians' campaign in the historic first edition of the tournament.