Abhishek Bachchan, Rahul Dravid and Cricket Legends Unite at Hockey World Cup 2026
The worlds of cricket and hockey came together in the Netherlands as European T20 Premier League (ETPL) co-owner Abhishek Bachchan, Dublin Guardians co-owner Rahul Dravid, and Amsterdam Flames co-owners Steve Waugh and Jamie Dwyer attended the India-Netherlands men’s fixture at the FIH Hockey World Cup 2026.
The high-profile gathering took place at the Wagener Stadium in Amstelveen, Netherlands, bringing together prominent figures from both sports just days ahead of the inaugural season of the European T20 Premier League.
Abhishek Bachchan Meets Harmanpreet Singh and Team India
Following the match, Abhishek Bachchan met the Harmanpreet Singh-led Indian hockey team and wished the players the very best for the remainder of their Hockey World Cup campaign.
Meanwhile, former Indian cricket captain Rahul Dravid, Australia cricket legend Steve Waugh and hockey great Jamie Dwyer watched the match from the stands.
The presence of personalities from cricket and hockey highlighted the growing sporting connection between India and Europe.
Abhishek Bachchan Experiences Hockey World Cup for the First Time
Speaking about his experience at the FIH Hockey World Cup, Abhishek Bachchan said it was his first time attending the tournament and praised the overall experience.
“It’s my first time at the Hockey World Cup and it’s not disappointed. Everything about the experience has just been fantastic.”
The ETPL co-owner also congratulated the organisers and host countries for putting together what he described as a wonderful event.
Bachchan, who said he has always followed hockey, also spoke about the evolution of the sport and the flair it has developed over the years.
“I really believe hockey is a very exciting sport,”
he said.
ETPL 2026 Set to Begin on August 26
The cricket stars’ appearance at the Hockey World Cup comes just days before the European T20 Premier League begins its inaugural season.
The ICC-sanctioned T20 franchise league is scheduled to start on August 26, 2026, with the tournament running until September 20.
The inaugural competition will feature six city-based franchises and will be played across two European venues — Voorburg in the Netherlands and Malahide in Ireland.
Rotterdam Dockers vs Amsterdam Flames to Open ETPL
The opening ETPL fixture will see Rotterdam Dockers take on Amsterdam Flames in Voorburg, officially launching the league’s first season.
The Amsterdam Flames are co-owned by Steve Waugh and Jamie Dwyer, while Rahul Dravid is associated with the Dublin Guardians and Abhishek Bachchan is an ETPL co-owner.
The tournament represents another step in the development of European franchise cricket and aims to bring T20 cricket closer to new audiences across the continent.
Cricket and Hockey Share the Spotlight in the Netherlands
The gathering at the Wagener Stadium created a unique sporting crossover, with cricket icons and hockey personalities coming together around the FIH Hockey World Cup.
For ETPL, the timing is particularly significant as the league prepares for its first season. The presence of well-known sporting figures at one of hockey’s biggest global events also underlines the wider ambition of building stronger connections between European sport, Indian audiences and international sporting communities.
As hockey continues its World Cup campaign in the Netherlands, attention will soon turn to cricket, with the inaugural European T20 Premier League season beginning on August 26.
With six city-based franchises, two host countries and a month-long schedule, ETPL is now preparing to make its mark on the European cricket landscape.
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