IPL Franchises Show Interest in Owning Teams in The Hundred
At least seven Indian Premier League (IPL) franchises, including Chennai Super Kings, Mumbai Indians, Kolkata Knight Riders, Sunrisers Hyderabad, Lucknow Super Giants, Delhi Capitals, and Rajasthan Royals, have officially bid to own a team in The Hundred, the ECB’s innovative limited-overs tournament. These IPL giants are joined by UP Warriorz, a Women’s Premier League (WPL) franchise, which is owned by the Dubai-based Capri Capitals group. This marks a significant expansion of IPL franchises into international leagues, reflecting their growing interest in global cricketing investments. However, Royal Challengers Bangalore and Punjab Kings have distanced themselves from this opportunity.
Ownership Dynamics and ECB’s Evaluation Process
The ownership model for The Hundred will see IPL franchises hold a 49% stake in the teams, with the remaining 51% controlled by the counties in the UK. This ensures that the counties maintain a majority stake, although the IPL owners do have the option to purchase the remaining shares over time. This arrangement is expected to keep a local influence on the operations while also integrating the financial power of IPL teams. The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) will review all bids before selecting eight successful contenders who will then engage in detailed commercial discussions about their teams. The final decisions will likely come after the IPL 2025 mega-auction, slated for November 2024.
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Additionally, there have been reports suggesting that Avram Glazer’s Lancer Capitals, co-owners of Manchester United and the Desert Vipers in the ILT20, have also submitted a bid. While Lancer Capitals have not yet chosen a specific team, their involvement signals a growing interest from major global investors in the UK cricket scene. This further highlights the appeal of The Hundred as a profitable venture, with expected valuations ranging from 75 million pounds to 100 million pounds.
