Last Updated: August 15, 2026 11:46 AM
A new European T20 league is quickly attracting some familiar cricketing names. Ex-India all-rounder Vijay Shankar just confirmed his latest franchise move. He’ll be joining a squad already featuring another well-known Indian star. Here’s everything currently known about this exciting new development.
Vijay Shankar Joins Dublin Guardians for ETPL
Vijay Shankar has officially joined Dublin Guardians for the inaugural European T20 Premier League. He becomes the second Indian player in that squad. Ravichandran Ashwin captains the side, with Daryl Mitchell also joining as overseas talent.
ESPNcricinfo reported his inclusion in the squad. This move follows Ajinkya Rahane’s own recent proof to play in the ETPL. Rahul Dravid also serves as a co-owner of the Dublin Guardians franchise.
Vijay retired from Indian domestic cricket and the IPL back in May this year. He made that decision at 35, aiming to chase overseas league chances. The ETPL marks his second franchise league appearance since that retirement decision.
He previously played in the Lanka Premier League for Kandy Royals. During that stint, he scored 150 runs across 9 innings as a finisher. His strike rate there stood at an impressive 145.63 throughout the tournament.
A Look Back at His Domestic and IPL Career
Shankar has played for India in both the ODI and T20I formats. His domestic numbers were much stronger than his international stats. He primarily played for Tamil Nadu and captained them across multiple domestic games.
| Format | Matches | Runs | Average | Strike Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ODI | 12 | 223 | 31.85 | 90.65 |
| T20I | 9 | 101 | 25.25 | 138.35 |
| Format | Runs | Average | Strike Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| First-Class | 4,253 | 46.73 | — |
| List A | 2,790 | 34.87 | — |
| T20 | 2,583 | 26.09 | 128.37 |
Ahead of the 2025-26 season, he shifted his base to Tripura instead. He represented CSK, Sunrisers Hyderabad, Delhi Daredevils, and Gujarat Titans in the IPL. He won the IPL title with Sunrisers Hyderabad back in 2016.
What to Expect from the ETPL Season
The European T20 Premier League runs from August 26 to September 20 this year. Matches will take place across Ireland, Scotland, and the Netherlands this year. Shankar’s experience as an all-rounder should make him valuable for Dublin Guardians.
Fans will be watching closely to see how he performs alongside Ashwin. This tournament offers him a fresh stage to showcase his all-round skills. His journey from Indian domestic cricket to global franchise leagues continues expanding steadily.
Dublin Guardians squad
R Ashwin (capt), Vijay Shankar, Harry Tector, George Dockrell, James Vince, Daryl Mitchell, Muhammad Waseem, Noah Croes, Ben Calitz, Harmeet Singh, Josh Little, Matthew Hollard, Craig Young, Chris Greaves, Peter Hatzoglou, Sanjay Krishnamurthi, Chris Wood
