Archive · 27 Aug 2026
Rahul Dravid’s Franchise Debut Ends in Dublin Guardians Defeat
Rahul Dravid’s new cricket team, Dublin Guardians, played its first match as a franchise.
They faced Belfast Wolves in the European T20 Premier League.
Dublin chose to bowl first after winning the toss.
Belfast lost four early wickets but recovered strongly.
Mark Chapman and Glenn Maxwell scored many runs to help Belfast reach 184.
Dublin then lost six wickets for only 36 runs.
Ashwin tried to help the team but could not turn his start into a big score.
Belfast eventually won by 52 runs.
Rahul Dravid’s Dublin Guardians lost their European T20 Premier League debut by 52 runs.
Belfast Wolves scored 184/7 after Mark Chapman and Glenn Maxwell added 84 runs.
Chapman made 54 off 33 balls, while Maxwell scored 60 off 38.
Dublin Guardians collapsed to 36/6 during their chase after early wickets from Fred Klaassen and Mark Adair.
Ravichandran Ashwin won the toss and chose to bowl in the rain-delayed match.
- Who
- Dublin Guardians, led by Ravichandran Ashwin and owned by Rahul Dravid, played Belfast Wolves.
- What
- Belfast Wolves defeated Dublin Guardians by 52 runs in an European T20 Premier League opener.
- When
- Thursday, during the European T20 Premier League 2026.
- Where
- Sportpark Duivesteijn in Voorburg.
- Why
- Belfast recovered from early wickets through an 84-run fifth-wicket stand and then took six Dublin wickets for 36 runs.
- Result
- Belfast Wolves won by 52 runs.
- Belfast Wolves score
- 184/7 in 20 overs.
- Top Belfast partnership
- Mark Chapman and Glenn Maxwell added 84 runs from 49 deliveries.
- Mark Chapman
- 54 runs from 33 balls, including six fours and two sixes.
- Glenn Maxwell
- 60 runs from 38 balls on his ETPL debut.
- Dublin bowling
- Chris Wood took three wickets and Joshua Little took two.
- Early Dublin collapse
- Dublin Guardians fell to 36/6 inside the first eight overs.