The process of selling stakes in the eight teams of The Hundred is nearing completion, bringing a significant financial boost to English cricket. The franchises have been sold either partially or fully to private investors following a bidding process conducted by Deloitte and the Raine Group, in collaboration with the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB).
The ECB launched The Hundred in 2021, and the resulting deals are seen as a mixed blessing—while investors now hold a strong influence over the sport’s operations, the financial windfall is welcomed by struggling counties and the recreational game, which will also benefit from increased funding.
Several high-profile investors have joined the competition, with many coming from the Indian Premier League (IPL) and other global competitions, seeking to expand the reach and appeal of this divisive tournament. As the bidding process concludes, the final list of investors for each team is shaping up as follows:
A Silicon Valley-based tech consortium, led by Nikesh Arora, CEO of cybersecurity firm Palo Alto, has invested in the London Spirit, securing a 49% stake valued at nearly £300m. The Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) retains the majority share, working alongside a group that includes key figures from Microsoft, Apple, and Adobe, and has prior experience with Major League Cricket in the United States.
Reliance Industries Limited, chaired by Mukesh Ambani, Asia’s richest man, has purchased a 49% stake in the Oval Invincibles for £60m. With a well-established cricket portfolio that includes Mumbai Indians in the IPL, MI Cape Town in the SA20, and MI Emirates in the ILT20, Reliance is poised to leverage its expertise to strengthen the Invincibles, who are the most successful franchise in The Hundred with two men’s and two women’s titles.
Knighthead Capital, owners of Birmingham City, have made a £40m investment in the Birmingham Phoenix, securing a near 50% stake in the team. The consortium, led by co-founder Tom Wagner, also counts NFL legend Tom Brady as a minority shareholder, further enhancing the Phoenix’s prospects.
RPSG Group, founded by Sanjiv Goenka, has taken control of 70% of the Manchester Originals in exchange for £81m. RPSG, which owns the Lucknow Super Giants in the IPL and Durban’s Super Giants in the SA20, now holds the majority stake in the Manchester franchise, adding another prestigious team to its growing portfolio.
The Sun Group has acquired the entire stake in the Northern Superchargers, buying out both the ECB’s 49% and Yorkshire’s 51%. The deal was made to help Yorkshire address financial difficulties, with the club receiving 80% of the revenue from the sale—an estimated £40m. The Sun Group, owners of the IPL’s Sunrisers Hyderabad, now control the entire team.
Indian-American businessman Sanjay Govil has purchased a 49% stake in the Cardiff-based Welsh Fire for £40m. Govil’s portfolio also includes the Washington Freedom in Major League Cricket. While Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney, co-owners of Wrexham, were in talks with Glamorgan regarding a potential deal, they ultimately withdrew before the final bidding round.
The Southampton-based Southern Brave could be bought by GMR Group, the owners of Delhi Capitals. After completing a takeover of Hampshire last year, GMR Group is likely to continue expanding its influence in English cricket by acquiring the Brave, who play at the Utilita Bowl.
The investors for the Nottingham-based Trent Rockets are still to be confirmed, with an announcement expected soon.
As the ownership structures take shape, the influx of high-profile investors is expected to help elevate The Hundred, although the competition continues to spark mixed opinions within the cricketing world.
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Name of Author: Cricexec Staff
