Jai Moondra Top Pick in Historic European T20 Premier League Draft

The inaugural European T20 Premier League completed its historic first player draft in Dublin, where Irish bowler Jai Moondra emerged as the headline opening selection for the Rotterdam Dockers as all six franchises finalized their core rosters for the upcoming maiden season.

Irish bowler Jai Moondra, fresh from winning the Player of the Series award during the national team’s recent T20I matches against India, emerged as the marquee selection during the historic first player draft of the European T20 Premier League held in Dublin on Thursday, July 2, 2026. The Rotterdam Dockers secured the rising star as their opening choice for the competition’s maiden season.

The historic draft concluded with the league’s six founding franchises selecting a total of 36 players. The talent pool was divided evenly, featuring 12 cricketers each from Cricket Ireland, Cricket Scotland, and the Royal Dutch Cricket Association. The opening round featured marquee selections including Curtis Campher for the Amsterdam Flames, Matthew Humphreys for the Irish Wolves, Benjamin Calitz for the Dublin Guardians, Gareth Delany for the Edinburgh Castle Rockers, and Brad Currie for the Glasgow Cosmic. While talent was evenly distributed, franchises showed regional preferences, with Scottish teams drafting nine of the 12 Scotland players, and Dutch teams picking most Netherlands players.

Following their primary selections, the franchises rapidly filled their rosters with established international talent. The Amsterdam Flames secured Kyle Klein and Tim Pringle, while the Irish Wolves added veteran opening batter Paul Stirling alongside Fred Klaassen. The Dublin Guardians strengthened their squad with George Dockrell and Craig Young. The Edinburgh Castle Rockers secured Ross Adair and Safyaan Sharif, while the Glasgow Cosmic picked up Matthew Cross and Paul van Meekeren. The Rotterdam Dockers reinforced their bowling unit by adding Michael Levitt and Ryan Klein to complement their top selection.

Rotterdam Dockers co-owner Jonty Rhodes stated that securing the young Irish bowler had been a top priority for the franchise management. Rhodes explained that the coaching staff was incredibly keen to bring the bowler into the squad following his exceptional international breakthrough performances against India. He described the player as an exciting young talent possessing immense potential. Rhodes expressed delight with the balanced squad, noting that the combination of players from Ireland, Scotland, and the Netherlands gives them the depth required to be highly competitive when the tournament begins.

Dublin Guardians captain and mentor Ravichandran Ashwin emphasized that squad balance and overall player utility governed their selection process far more than geographic nationality. Ashwin remarked that while the majority of their roster selections were Irish players, nationality remains secondary to absolute quality and team fit. The veteran spin bowler asserted that every single player picked in a draft must represent a highly playable resource, ensuring that any squad member can seamlessly step into the playing eleven to fulfill a specific role if another player becomes unavailable.

Co-owners from other franchises shared their satisfaction regarding the historic draft process. Amsterdam Flames co-owner Steve Waugh noted that selecting first required tactical flexibility and rapid improvisation once their initial targets were secured. Waugh stated that the management had to analyze the draft board closely during long gaps between picks. Meanwhile, Irish Wolves co-owner Glenn Maxwell expressed great satisfaction with their strategy, highlighting that building a brand-new franchise from scratch was an excellent risk-management experience that successfully brought depth and the required playing skills to their squad.

Amsterdam Flames: Curtis Campher, Kyle Klein, Tim Pringle, Aryan Dutt, Jordan Neill, and Max O’Dowd

Irish Wolves: Matthew Humphreys, Fred Klaassen, Tim Tector, Paul Stirling, Zainullah Ihsan, and Alexander Roy

Dublin Guardians: Benjamin Calitz, George Dockrell, Matthew Hollard, Craig Young, Noah Croes, and Chris Greaves

Edinburgh Castle Rockers: Gareth Delany, Ross Adair, Jack Jarvis, Charlie Tear, Safyaan Sharif, and Finlay McCreath

Glasgow Cosmic: Brad Currie, Matthew Cross, Paul van Meekeren, Michael Leask, Oliver Davidson, and Chris McBride

Rotterdam Dockers: Jai Moondra, Michael Levitt, Ryan Klein, Jasper Davidson, Vikramjit Singh, and Saqib Zulfiqar

Future Outlook

The completion of the inaugural player draft sets the stage for a highly anticipated tournament backed by major global cricket icons. With star-studded ownership groups including Rahul Dravid, Matthew Hayden, Faf du Plessis, and Heinrich Klaasen, the league is positioned to elevate cricket across continental Europe. The upcoming tournament will showcase a unique blend of established international stars and emerging associates, providing a competitive platform for regional talent to shine on a global broadcast stage.

FAQs

Who was the first pick in the ETPL draft?

Irish bowler Jai Moondra was selected as the first pick by the Rotterdam Dockers following his excellent performances against India.

How many players were selected in the inaugural draft?

A total of 36 players were selected, with 12 players chosen from each of the three participating nations: Ireland, Scotland, and the Netherlands.

Which cricket legends are involved as franchise owners in the ETPL?

The league features prominent cricket icons as franchise backers, including Steve Waugh, Glenn Maxwell, Jonty Rhodes, Rahul Dravid, Matthew Hayden, Faf du Plessis, and Heinrich Klaasen.