The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) controlled the men’s and women’s teams in The Hundred till 2025. But from the 2026 edition onwards, the teams will have new ownership in place.
The ECB transferred 51 per cent stakes to host counties, while the other 49 were up for private investment. And all eight franchises saw massive investments from private entities, with a few bagging majority controls.
So who are the owners of every The Hundred team?
Birmingham Phoenix
Owners: Warwickshire County Cricket Club & Knighthead Capital Management
Birmingham Phoenix will see the majority of its control in the hands of the Warwickshire County Cricket Club (CCC). The host county owns 51 per cent of shares in the team.
Warwickshire CCC negotiated the other 49 per cent share with Knighthead Capital Management. It’s a USA-based investment group. They shelled out 40.2 million pounds for the 49 per cent stake in the Phoenix.
The group has further interest in Birmingham. They operate the football club (FC) based in the city – Birmingham City FC.
London Spirit
Owners: Marylebone Cricket Club & Tech Titans
London Spirit, the most costly team in The Hundred, have seen a huge inflow of private investment. The reason?
The franchise has its base at Lord’s, the Home of Cricket. And most importantly, the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) holds the majority control.
So investors were ready to splash handsome money to partner with the historic club. And the Tech Titans won the race. The American consortium paid 145.5 million pounds for its 49 per cent share in the franchise.
Manchester Originals
Owners: RPSG Sports Private Limited & Lancashire Cricket Club
IPL team owners have made investments in overseas T20 leagues. And The Hundred is no exception either.
Lucknow Super Giants owners, RPSG Sports Private Limited, have bought majority stakes in Manchester Originals. They splurged 81.2 million pounds to secure 70 per cent rights.
The other 30 per cent will remain with the host county, Lancashire Cricket Club. The RPSG Group also owns the SA20 team – Durban’s Super Giants.
Northern Superchargers
Owner: Sun TV Network Limited
Another investment from an IPL team owner. And this one’s a complete takeover.
Sun TV Network Limited purchased a 100 per cent stake in Northern Superchargers. The host county, Yorkshire CCC, decided not to retain any share in the franchise. So Northern Superchargers fall under complete private ownership.
Sun TV fully operates Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) in the IPL. It also has interests in the SA20, owning the Sunrisers Eastern Cape.
Oval Invincibles
Owners: Surrey County Cricket Club & Indiawin Sports Private Limited (Reliance Industries)
Oval Invincibles, the other London-based team, had a lot of interest. And India’s Reliance Industries had the final say.
The Indian conglomerate will operate the Invincibles through its subsidiary, Indiawin Sports Private Limited. They spent 60.3 million pounds for 49 per cent control.
Now, if you remember, the company owns Mumbai Indians (MI) in the IPL. It also operates several franchises under its MI brand in overseas T20 leagues.
Southern Brave
Owners: Hampshire Cricket Club & GMR Group
Southern Brave will have complete Indian control. GMR Group has bought a 49 per cent stake for 48 million pounds in the Southampton-based franchise.
Although the host county, Hampshire Cricket Club, holds a 51 per cent stake, the county is itself owned by GMR Group. So the GMR Group indirectly controls the complete franchise.
The group has a wide cricket franchise portfolio. They co-own Delhi Capitals in the IPL and WPL. Likewise, they own Dubai Capitals in the ILT20 and are part owners of Seattle Orcas in the MLC.
Trent Rockets
Owners: Nottinghamshire County Cricket Club & Cain International & Ares Management
Trent Rockets will have three-way ownership. And the majority of the control will remain with Nottinghamshire CCC.
The host county has retained its 51 per cent stake. US-based Cain International and Ares Management will share the other 49 per cent stake bought for 38.7 million pounds.
Jonathan Goldstein and Todd Boehly co-own Cain International, a real estate company. Boehly also owns Chelsea, the English Premier League football club, through his company, Eldridge Industries. Ares Management, on the other hand, is an asset management company.
Welsh Fire
Owners: Glamorgan County Cricket Club & Washington Freedom
Welsh Fire will have a 50-50 ownership. One half will belong to the host county, Glamorgan CCC. And the other will remain with Washington Freedom.
Does Washington Freedom sound familiar? Well, they feature in the USA’s MLC. And Sanjay Govil owns the franchise.
Now he will operate Welsh Fire in The Hundred through Washington Freedom. Govil purchased the 50 per cent control for 41.5 million pounds.
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