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The landscape of The Hundred competition has been finalised, with the England and Wales Cricket Board ECB confirming the conclusion of the final two franchise ownership agreements. All eight teams in the innovative tournament now have strategic investment partners in place, a milestone achieved following six earlier deals in July.
The major announcement confirms that the Oval Invincibles will be officially renamed MI London starting from the 2026 season.
Ownership Details and Partnerships
The final transaction saw Reliance Strategic Business Ventures Limited RSBVL secure a 49% ownership stake in the Oval Invincibles franchise, partnering with Surrey County Cricket Club (Surrey CCC), which retains the majority 51% share.
The other remaining agreement involved Trent Rockets, whose investment partnership with Cain & Ares (Nottinghamshire CCC retaining the 51% stake) was successfully closed in October.
The ECB released the full list of completed partnerships, showing a clear majority-minority split in most franchise operating companies (“TeamCos”):
The ownership structure across the league shows a strong pattern:
- Majority Control (51%-49%): Seven teams, including Oval Invincibles, Trent Rockets, Birmingham Phoenix, London Spirit, and Southern Brave, see the host county or venue retain a 51% stake, ensuring local governance.
- Outliers: Manchester Originals operates under a 30%-70% arrangement, with the RPSG Group holding the majority 70% share. The Northern Superchargers are unique, having ceded 100% ownership to the Sun TV Network (0%-100% split).
Unprecedented Financial Injection
The completed sales signify a massive financial boost for cricket in England and Wales. The confirmed that the combined valuation for the eight teams surpasses .
Crucially, this process guarantees that over will now be channeled into the English and Welsh cricket structure. This funding includes a dedicated commitment of earmarked specifically for grassroots cricket development, ensuring the sport thrives at all levels.
Vikram Banerjee, Managing Director of The Hundred, emphasized the forward momentum: “This is an exciting moment now that all eight deals are complete. The world-leading partners we have secured will be vital in elevating The Hundred to its next phase, establishing it as the unmissable summer event.”
The newly formed TeamCos, comprising the investors and the host venues, will now assume operational management of their respective franchises as preparations intensify for the 2026 season.
Image Credits : CricBuzz
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