Abhishek Bachchan Credits Father Amitabh for Inspiring His Love for Sports

Abhishek Bachchan has traced his passion for sports back to his childhood, crediting his father Amitabh Bachchan as the biggest influence. Speaking about the origins of his sporting interest, Abhishek highlighted how early exposure to different games shaped his outlook.

“Entirely due to my father (Amitabh Bachchan). My father is a huge sports buff as well. And, you know, spending my childhood with him, watching all different, different sports and him teaching me about them is where my love for sports started,” the ETPL co-owner said.

Over the years, this early passion has translated into active involvement in sports ownership, from kabaddi to football and now cricket.

What is Abhishek Bachchan building with the ETPL?

Abhishek is now spearheading the European T20 Premier League (ETPL), a new franchise-based cricket tournament aimed at establishing a strong cricketing presence in Europe.

Sharing his vision, he emphasised the goal of creating a high-quality and entertaining competition.

“The expectation, I believe, should be, one, to have a world-class cricketing tournament in Europe. You want an entertaining tournament with some great cricket being played. And where do I see it from in another three to five years? Hopefully still around and still being one of the most looked forward to cricketing events on the calendar,” Abhishek said.

The league is backed by Cricket Ireland, Cricket Scotland, and the Royal Dutch Cricket Association, and has received approval from the International Cricket Council, making it one of the first major ICC-sanctioned franchise leagues in Europe.

Who are the major names associated with the league?

The ETPL is expected to feature several international stars, including Mitchell Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Faf du Plessis, Heinrich Klaasen, and Liam Livingstone, among others.

In addition, the league’s ecosystem includes high-profile figures such as Rahul Dravid and Chris Gayle, reflecting a blend of cricketing expertise and global appeal.

This combination aims to provide emerging players, especially from Associate Nations, the chance to compete alongside some of the sport’s biggest names.

Why was the August–September window chosen for ETPL?

The inaugural ETPL season is scheduled from August 26 to September 20, 2026, a period carefully selected to avoid clashes with other major leagues like the Indian Premier League and global T20 competitions.

Explaining the decision, Abhishek stressed the importance of a clear calendar window to attract top 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, very happy with it,” Abhishek Bachchan told ANI.

What does this reveal about Abhishek Bachchan’s sports vision?

Abhishek’s journey reflects a broader shift from fandom to active sports entrepreneurship. From owning the Jaipur Pink Panthers in kabaddi to co-owning Chennaiyin FC in football alongside MS Dhoni, and now launching a cricket league, he is positioning himself as a multi-sport investor.

His ambitions for ETPL indicate a long-term plan to globalise cricket further, especially in non-traditional markets like Europe, while maintaining a focus on quality, entertainment, and sustainability.

(With inputs from ANI)