Four IPL Franchise Owners Secure Strategic Partnerships in ECB’s The Hundred.
Four Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise owners have been confirmed as strategic partners for teams in The Hundred, marking a major commercial milestone for the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB). These owners — GMR Group, Sun TV Network Limited, RPSG Group, and Reliance Group — will assume operational control of their respective teams by October 1, 2025.
The ECB announced the development on Wednesday, describing it as a “landmark achievement” in the tournament’s evolution. The partnerships are expected to bring in over £500 million, with significant investment pledged to both grassroots cricket and professional counties.
“This is the first time a UK sporting competition has secured franchise partnerships of this scale,” the ECB said. “These investors bring world-class expertise from global sport, media, tech, and finance.”
Team-by-Team Ownership Details
Manchester Originals: 70% stake acquired by RPSG Group (Lucknow Super Giants owners)
Northern Superchargers: 100% ownership by Sun TV Network (Sunrisers Hyderabad)
Southern Brave: 49% stake acquired by GMR Group (Delhi Capitals co-owners)
London Spirit: 49% stake acquired by Tech Titans
Birmingham Phoenix: 49% stake held by Knighthead Capital Management
Welsh Fire: 49% stake acquired by Washington Freedom
Pending Completions
Two deals remain in final stages:
Oval Invincibles: 49% stake by Reliance Group (Mumbai Indians)
Trent Rockets: 49% stake by Cain International & Ares Management
Financial Impact
Collectively, the deals value the eight teams at over £975 million. The ECB confirmed that:
£500+ million will be invested in English and Welsh cricket overall
£50 million is earmarked specifically for grassroots development
Structure and Oversight
While investors will operate the teams, the ECB retains full ownership of The Hundred competition itself, including control over regulations, scheduling, and wider governance. A new board comprising ECB officials, host clubs, and investors will oversee strategic and commercial growth.
ECB Chair Richard Thompson said: “The scale of global interest we’ve seen highlights the vast potential still to be unlocked in the game.”
Background and Global Expansion
- The Indian owners involved already have experience managing overseas teams:
- MI, LSG, and SRH also run franchises in South Africa’s SA20 league
- These partnerships mark further IPL influence in global franchise cricket
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