The Sun Group, owners of Sunrisers Hyderabad, have acquired full ownership of Northern Superchargers, making them the third IPL franchise owner to invest in The Hundred, according to ESPNcricinfo.
Their successful bid makes them the first to acquire 100% of a team, purchasing both the ECB’s 49% stake and Yorkshire’s 51% share.
Valued at £100 million, the Superchargers’ sale saw competition from two other bidders. Yorkshire will retain 80% of the proceeds from their share, injecting approximately £40 million into the club, which has been struggling with debts exceeding £20 million. Chairman Colin Graves had previously warned that Yorkshire was “fighting for its survival,” with around £15 million owed to his family trust. Both parties have eight weeks to finalize the agreement.
The Superchargers become the third T20 franchise in the Sun Group’s growing portfolio. The group acquired Sunrisers Hyderabad in 2012, leading them to an IPL title in 2016 and a runner-up finish last year. In 2023, they expanded further by launching Sunrisers Eastern Cape, who won the SA20 title in its first two seasons.
Kalanithi Maran, an Indian media mogul, owns the Sun Group, which successfully secured Sunrisers Hyderabad after the BCCI terminated Deccan Chargers’ ownership contract in 2012.
Yorkshire’s chief executive and former Hundred managing director, Sanjay Patel, expressed optimism about the deal, stating: “We are delighted to be entering into an exclusivity period with the Sun Group, and will be continuing our conversations with them in the coming weeks with a view to setting the Northern Superchargers up for long-term and sustained success.”
He emphasized the alignment between the club’s values and the Sun Group’s vision, adding: “Today is clearly a huge milestone for Yorkshire CCC, the Northern Superchargers and the Sun Group, but it is worth stressing that there is a lot of detail to be discussed alongside further due diligence and legal processes before a contract can be signed.”
Despite their acquisition, the Northern Superchargers are yet to claim a Hundred title in either the men’s or women’s competition, with both teams finishing fourth in 2024. The men’s team is led by captain Harry Brook and coached by Andrew Flintoff, while Lisa Keightley recently replaced Dani Hazell as the women’s coach. Mickey Arthur has also been appointed as the new director of cricket.
With this move, the Sun Group joins other IPL franchise owners investing in The Hundred. RPSG Group (Lucknow Super Giants) and Reliance Industries Limited (Mumbai Indians) have already secured stakes in Manchester Originals and Oval Invincibles, respectively. Meanwhile, GMR Group, co-owners of Delhi Capitals, is widely expected to acquire a stake in Southern Brave following their purchase of Hampshire last year.
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Name of Author: Cricexec Staff
