ECB finalises landmark Hundred deals

The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has secured six strategic partners for The Hundred, unlocking over £500m of investment into cricket in England and Wales.

The eight partnerships represent a collective team valuation of over £975m, with the ECB stating it is the first UK sports competition to secure franchise partnerships on this scale.

The investment includes a dedicated £50m commitment to grassroots cricket, with the remainder to be distributed to the professional counties.

The six completed deals, with investors taking majority or minority stakes, are:

• London Spirit (Tech Titans, 49%)
• Birmingham Phoenix (Knighthead Capital Management, 49%)
• Manchester Originals (RPSG Group, 70%)
• Northern Superchargers (Sun TV Network Limited, 100%)
• Southern Brave (GMR Group, 49%)
• Welsh Fire (Washington Freedom, 50%)

Manchester Originals is the most recent investment after being acquired on the 28th July in a joint deal between the RP-Sanjiv Goenka Group (RPSG Group) and Lancashire Cricket.

Under the terms of the agreement, the Indian conglomerate has acquired a 70% stake in the team, with Lancashire Cricket taking the remaining 30%.

The investment, part of a venture valued at over £100m, will also provide Lancashire Cricket with additional funds for infrastructure projects at Emirates Old Trafford.

RPSG Group currently operates the Lucknow Super Giants in the Indian Premier League (IPL) and the Durban Super Giants in the South Africa T20 (SA20) competition.

Deals for Oval Invincibles (Reliance Group) and Trent Rockets (Cain International & Ares Management) are set to be formally completed at a later date.

The new partners will take over operational control of their respective teams from 1st October. The ECB will retain full ownership of the competition itself, with a new The Hundred Board, featuring representatives from the ECB, investors and host clubs, being established to oversee the strategic and commercial direction of the tournament.

Richard Thompson, ECB Chair, said, “The Hundred has already played a vital role in growing cricket in England and Wales — attracting new audiences, elevating the women’s game, and delivering high-quality entertainment.

“With these new partners on board, we’re entering an exciting new phase and a seminal moment for cricket in England and Wales. Their global perspective and track record in elite sport and business will help us reimagine what’s possible — from deepening fan connections to attracting even more world-class players.

“Crucially, this investment will not only fuel the competition’s growth but also channel transformative levels of funding into our professional counties and grassroots game. This will ensure cricket continues to thrive at all levels across England and Wales for generations to come, supporting our broader ambitions to become the country’s most inclusive sport and driving cricket into harder to reach and under-served communities.”

The Hundred was awarded The Business Moment of the Year at FEVO Sport Industry Awards in 2025.

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