In a landmark move for European cricket, former India captain Ajinkya Rahane has officially signed as the marquee player for the Amsterdam Flames in the upcoming European T20 Premier League (ETPL). Renowned for his calm leadership and technical mastery across more than 190 international appearances, Rahane joins the Steve Waugh-co-founded franchise to anchor its inaugural campaign. His arrival signals a major step forward for the ETPL, combining elite international expertise with a mission to accelerate cricket’s growth across emerging European markets.
With an international career spanning more than 190 appearances across formats, Rahane has consistently earned the respect of teammates, opponents and fans alike through his calm leadership, technical excellence and commitment to the game. His decision to join Amsterdam Flames reflects a belief that Europe represents one of cricket’s greatest opportunities for expansion and that experienced global players have an important role to play in helping accelerate that journey.
Steve Waugh, Co-Founder and Chief Cricket Officer of Amsterdam Flames: “Ajinkya Rahane represents everything you want in a professional cricketer—skill, resilience, humility and leadership. His experience, leadership and character will be invaluable as we build Amsterdam Flames into one of Europe’s premier cricket clubs.”
Ajinkya Rahane, Marquee Player: “Europe is entering an exciting phase and has the potential to become one of cricket’s most promising frontiers. What impressed me about Amsterdam Flames is the ambition to build something meaningful that creates a lasting impact both on and off the field.”
Abhishek Bachchan, Co-owner of the ETPL: “Ajinkya Rahane joining Steve Waugh’s Amsterdam Flames is a significant moment for both the franchise and the ETPL and another important milestone in our vision to accelerate the growth of cricket across Europe. We are delighted to welcome him to the ETPL family.”
Tim Thomas, Chief Executive Officer of Amsterdam Flames: “Signing a player of Ajinkya Rahane’s calibre is a defining moment for Amsterdam Flames. Ajinkya’s professionalism, experience and leadership perfectly align with our vision of building a franchise that competes at the highest level while making a lasting contribution to the growth of cricket across Europe.”
Rahane’s signing reinforces Amsterdam Flames’ ambition to become one of the flagship franchises in the ETPL while contributing to the league’s broader mission of accelerating cricket’s growth across Europe. His experience, leadership and stature add significant momentum to a competition that is bringing together established cricketing excellence with one of the sport’s most exciting emerging regions.
Co-founded by Australia cricket legend Steve Waugh, Amsterdam Flames is building a high-performance organisation with a long-term vision to compete at the highest level while helping expand cricket’s reach across Europe and beyond. The addition of Rahane reflects that philosophy, bringing together elite cricketing excellence and purposeful leadership to help shape the future of the game in Europe.
Rahane’s signing marks a transformative chapter for both the Amsterdam Flames and the ETPL, positioning European cricket for unprecedented growth and global visibility. With elite leadership on and off the field, the franchise is primed to set a new standard for the sport across the continent.
