A new identity for Oval Invincibles
In a major move reshaping the identity of The Hundred, Surrey County Cricket Club and Reliance Strategic Business Ventures Limited (a wholly owned subsidiary of Reliance Industries Limited) have announced a landmark 51%-49% partnership in The Hundred’s Oval Invincibles franchise, which will be rebranded as MI London starting the 2026 season. This collaboration adds another chapter to the growing portfolio of Reliance’s cricket ventures and signals a pivotal shift in the commercial and cultural direction of English franchise cricket.
“We are glad to be part of Oval Invincibles — the most successful team in The Hundred — and welcome them into the Mumbai Indians family,” said Akash M. Ambani in an official statement, issued as part of the England and Wales Cricket Board’s announcement confirming the successful conclusion of The Hundred’s franchise investment deals.
The partnership marks a significant strategic step for both entities. For Surrey CCC, the collaboration offers a chance to turbocharge its growth through global reach and proven sporting expertise. “We’re pleased to have reached an agreement with the Reliance team over our partnership in the Hundred franchise team. Reliance bring a significant depth of cricket and business expertise and have had great success with their franchise teams in India and around the world – there’s no doubt that they are here to win. They are passionate cricket people and together we will continue the success of our two teams,” said Oli Slipper, Chair of Surrey CCC, in an official statement.
The decision to rename the team to MI London was reached jointly, aimed at amplifying both international appeal and local relevance. “We have worked very closely with Reliance over the name of the new team and believe that MI London will give us the best opportunity to build the fanbase at home and across the world. We also believe that the team brand will help to grow the commercial value of our franchise, in turn boosting investment into the long-term sustainable growth of Surrey and of cricket in our community,” added Slipper.
Reliance Industries, which owns the IPL’s Mumbai Indians (MI) through its sports arm Indiawin Sports, views the move as an expansion of its cricketing legacy. “We are delighted to welcome MI London into the #OneFamily and take the MI legacy to new frontiers. London holds a special place in the heart of cricket, and we are honoured to be part of its rich heritage. Together with Surrey, we look forward to nurturing young talent, engaging diverse communities, and uniting fans through their shared love of the game,” said Mrs Nita M. Ambani in an official statement.
The optimism was echoed by Akash Ambani, who noted the synergy between the Invincibles’ legacy and the Mumbai Indians brand: “We are happy to welcome MI London into the #OneFamily, marking a new chapter in our journey of uniting cricket fans, nurturing talent, and growing the game across continents. The Invincibles’ winning record and spirit of excellence perfectly embody the MI ethos of passion, resilience, and teamwork. Building on our shared passion for cricket, we look forward to collaborating with our partners at Surrey CCC and building on the legacy of The Hundred’s most successful team.”
MI’s expanding cricket empire units with The Hundred’s most successful franchise and the most dominant county
Reliance’s cricket footprint now spans several continents. MI’s empire now includes seven teams across four continents and five countries, featuring both men’s and women’s sides.
With a total of 13 championship titles, Mumbai Indians are the most successful franchise in global T20 leagues — including five IPL titles, two Women’s Premier League titles (already the most successful team in WPL history), two Major League Cricket titles (MI New York, including this past season’s title), two Champions League T20 titles, and one each in the ILT20 (MI Emirates) and SA20 (MI Cape Town).
On the other side, the Oval Invincibles are the most successful side in the history of the Hundred with five titles in five years, two for the women’s team and three-in-a-row for the men from 2023-25.
The Kia Oval is one of the most iconic grounds in world cricket and is the birthplace of the Ashes Series, after the 1882 Test Match between England and Australia led to the start of the great rivalry between the two nations. Since then, the Kia Oval has hosted more than 100 men’s Test Matches and has hosted more women’s Test Matches than any other major international venue.
Surrey County Cricket Club are one of the most successful sides in English cricket, with more than 30 domestic trophies in the Club’s 180-year history. The Club is renowned for nurturing home-grown talent who go on to represent the Club and then England; in recent years Sam Curran, Will Jacks and Alice Capsey have all developed into global stars having started their cricketing journeys at Surrey.
The addition of MI London and the partnership with the Surrey family strengthen MI’s European presence and underscores its ambition to unify its cricket holdings under a single, globally resonant identity.
A strategic moment for The Hundred
This deal is the last of the sales of ownership stakes in the to be completed for The Hundred’s eight franchises. This was the result of the England and Wales Cricket Board’s (ECB) decision to bring in external capital to revitalise the county game.
“With these new partners on board, we’re entering a seminal moment for cricket in England and Wales. This investment will not only fuel The Hundred’s growth but also deliver transformative funding across our counties and grassroots game,” said ECB Chair Richard Thompson previously in an official statement announcing the completed deals.
Global capital arrives
As confirmed in the ECB’s official announcement of The Hundred’s completed team investment deals, each of the eight franchises has now welcomed new investors, each bringing a distinct vision and an excitement to participate in the England and Wales ecosystem:
Nikesh Arora and Egon Durban (Tech Titans) – London Spirit:
“We are proud to partner with MCC for the first time in 238 years and aim to take Lord’s and London Spirit to 1B+ global fans.”
Andrew Shannahan & Kyle Kneisly (Knighthead Capital) – Birmingham Phoenix:
“This investment reflects our belief in Birmingham’s future and in sport’s power to unify communities.”
Dr Sanjiv Goenka (RPSG Group) – Manchester Originals:
“This is about building a society beyond cricket — a unified, passionate community.”
Kaviya Maran (Sun TV Network) – Northern Superchargers:
“Tradition meets innovation in The Hundred. We’re excited to grow the game and connect with younger fans.”
Kiran Kumar Grandhi (GMR Group) – Southern Brave:
“We see massive potential in Hampshire’s ecosystem. The Brave can become a global cricketing brand.”
Sanjay Govil (Washington Freedom) – Welsh Fire:
“Our values align perfectly. We’re excited to bring a culture of growth and player support to Welsh Fire.”
Mark Affolter & Jonathan Goldstein – Trent Rockets:
“We believe in The Hundred’s long-term future and will back Trent Rockets to lead this next chapter.”
These statements point to a clear ambition: leveraging cricket’s popularity to foster community development, global outreach, and sustainable business models.
Franchise expansion across cricketing markets has reshaped the financial and competitive terrain. The ECB’s move to open up The Hundred to external investors is now complete and the 2026 season will display the impact of this move.
