Former India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has said the European T20 Premier League (ETPL) can serve as a critical driver of cricket's global growth, particularly with the sport set to return to the Olympic Games at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. Ashwin made the remarks on Wednesday, 2 July, following the conclusion of the ETPL 2026 Player Draft in New Delhi.

Ashwin's Olympic Vision for the ETPL

Speaking in his capacity as captain and mentor of franchise side Dublin Guardians, Ashwin argued that the league's contribution to cricket's Olympic ambitions would extend well beyond the boundaries of the tournament itself. 'Look, I think there is an Olympics that's going to happen in a couple of years. And 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,' he said.

Ashwin was responding to a question on whether the ETPL could give European cricketers the kind of visibility that attracts scouts from leading franchise leagues worldwide. His answer reframed the stakes: the ETPL, he suggested, is not merely a commercial competition but a structural piece in cricket's bid for genuine global status.

Developing Ireland, Scotland, and the Netherlands

The 38-year-old was emphatic that the franchise's philosophy centres on developing players from Ireland, Scotland, and the Netherlands — nations whose cricketing infrastructure remains nascent compared to established Test-playing sides. 'It is really about them, about the Scottish players, about the Dutch players, and about the Irish players. We want to make it about them, and that's something that we were very clear about on the first day,' Ashwin said.

He revealed that he and Dublin Guardians co-owner Rahul Dravid were aligned from the outset on placing local talent at the core of the franchise's identity. 'Rahul and I spoke about it, and we will stay very true to that particular formula,' he added.

What the ETPL Offers Associate Cricketers

Ashwin identified the sharing of dressing rooms with seasoned professionals as the single greatest developmental benefit the league can offer Associate players. 'For professionals, if you come from every other country, you would be playing an integral part in terms of passing on your knowledge. And transferring how they go about their work ethics, how they practice, and how they respond to failures,' he said.

He argued that many players from emerging cricket nations currently lack regular exposure to high-intensity, high-pressure environments — a gap the ETPL is positioned to fill. 'All these things will be of huge help to people who don't play this high-intensity tournament every single year. And I am sure this is going to be an annual affair, which will give them a nice launch pad into adapting to high-level performing cricket under a high-duress environment,' Ashwin stated.

Culture of Daily Growth at Dublin Guardians

Beyond individual development, Ashwin outlined a team culture built on incremental improvement and accountability. 'We will put up a culture where cricketers play in a fashion that everyone wants to grow at least by 1% every single day,' he said. He added that Dublin Guardians see themselves as owing a contribution not just to the franchise but to Irish cricket more broadly.

'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,' he noted.

What Comes Next

With the ETPL 2026 Player Draft now concluded, franchises will turn to squad-building and pre-tournament preparation. Ashwin signed off with visible enthusiasm about what the inaugural edition could mean for the future of European cricket. 'I am very excited about the tournament. Especially for the teams from the European side,' he said. The league's success in delivering on its developmental promise will be closely watched, given cricket's historic opportunity at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.