RPSG Group, owners of the Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise Lucknow Super Giants, has secured a 49% stake in The Hundred’s Manchester Originals. The deal, valuing the franchise at £100 million, marks RPSG’s latest expansion into global cricket.
The conglomerate, chaired by Sanjiv Goenka, reportedly agreed to pay around £50 million for the England and Wales Cricket Board’s (ECB) stake in the Old Trafford-based team. The acquisition follows RPSG’s unsuccessful bid for London Spirit last week but now strengthens its presence in the English cricket landscape.
With this sale, the ECB has now raised approximately £325 million from selling 49% stakes in its eight franchises, closing in on its £350 million target. Three teams—Northern Superchargers, Trent Rockets, and Southern Brave—are yet to be sold.
RPSG becomes the second IPL team owner to invest in The Hundred after Reliance Industries, owned by the Ambani family, acquired a stake in Oval Invincibles. Meanwhile, a consortium of US tech investors led by former SoftBank executive Nikesh Arora placed the highest bid so far, valuing London Spirit at £295 million.
Other recent sales include:
- Welsh Fire – Acquired by Sanjay Govil and Washington Freedom’s Major League Cricket owners for £40 million.
- Birmingham Phoenix – Sold to Birmingham City FC’s US-based owners, Knighthead Capital, for £40 million.
Lancashire had previously expressed interest in selling part of their 51% stake in Manchester Originals to reduce their bank debt. Following the agreement with RPSG, both parties have entered an eight-week exclusivity period to finalize the deal.
In a statement, Lancashire confirmed their goal of securing a long-term partner, preferably from the IPL. “We are delighted by the outcome and look forward to working together to create a very special cricket team for the people of Manchester and the wider North West region.”
RPSG Group has been expanding its cricket investments globally. In 2021, it acquired the Lucknow Super Giants for ₹7,090 crore and later secured the Durban franchise in South Africa’s SA20 league in 2022.
Meanwhile, the SUN Group, owners of Sunrisers Hyderabad, are reportedly eyeing a stake in Northern Superchargers. The money raised from the ECB’s franchise sales will be redistributed within domestic cricket, with host counties retaining the option to sell their 51% stakes.
This latest deal solidifies RPSG Group’s influence in global cricket while positioning Manchester Originals for future success in The Hundred.
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Name of Author: Cricexec Staff
