Bollywood actor Abhishek Bachchan was among the high-profile spectators at India’s crucial second-round match against the Netherlands at the FIH Hockey World Cup in Amstelveen on Saturday.
Bachchan was joined in the stands by former India cricket captain Rahul Dravid and Australia cricket legend Steve Waugh as they watched the Indian hockey team battle the Netherlands.
While Bachchan’s presence may have surprised some fans, there was a clear cricket connection behind the visit.
Abhishek Bachchan’s cricket connection
Bachchan is a co-founder of the European T20 Premier League (ETPL), a new cricket league designed to promote the sport in Europe.
The league is scheduled to begin on August 26, with Rotterdam Dockers set to face Amsterdam Flames in the opening match at Voolburg.
Dravid and Waugh are also in the Netherlands in connection with the ETPL, bringing together some of cricket’s biggest names as the tournament prepares for its launch.
Bachchan expected to meet Indian hockey players
The actor was also expected to interact with members of the Indian hockey team following the match at the Wagener Stadium.
His appearance came during an important stage of India’s Hockey World Cup campaign. The Netherlands clash was a must-win encounter for India as the team looked to keep its hopes of reaching the semifinals alive.
The presence of Bachchan, Dravid and Waugh added a touch of cricketing glamour to the hockey tournament while highlighting the growing efforts to promote cricket in Europe.
Hockey meets cricket in the Netherlands
The visit also reflects the crossover between sporting communities as the Netherlands prepares to host the inaugural ETPL.
With Bachchan involved in the new cricket venture and Dravid and Waugh bringing their international cricket pedigree, the trio’s appearance at the Hockey World Cup provided an interesting meeting point between two major sports.
