In a major development that signals growing synergy between global T20 leagues, four Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise owners have been officially confirmed as “strategic partners” for teams in England’s The Hundred competition. The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) made the announcement as part of its broader plan to commercialize and globalize the 100-ball format tournament.
According to the ECB, owners of the IPL franchises Rajasthan Royals, Delhi Capitals, Mumbai Indians, and Kolkata Knight Riders have entered into strategic partnerships with four men’s and women’s teams in The Hundred. These partnerships are expected to infuse both capital and expertise, while ensuring a cross-league exchange of ideas, players, and fan engagement strategies.
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The confirmed partnerships include:
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Mumbai Indians (Reliance Industries) with the Trent Rockets
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Rajasthan Royals with the Southern Brave
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Delhi Capitals (JSW-GMR Group) with the Oval Invincibles
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Kolkata Knight Riders (Red Chillies Entertainment – Shah Rukh Khan) with the London Spirit
These deals are structured to give the IPL owners a role in managing, marketing, and developing the associated Hundred teams, though the ECB will retain central control over the competition.
ECB CEO Richard Gould hailed the move as a “transformational step” for the tournament. “The involvement of some of the most successful IPL franchise owners will accelerate the growth of The Hundred and broaden its global appeal,” he said.
Industry analysts believe this move could lead to a more unified global T20 calendar in the future, especially as the IPL owners now hold stakes across multiple franchise leagues including SA20 (South Africa), ILT20 (UAE), CPL (Caribbean), and Major League Cricket (USA).
The next edition of The Hundred is set to return in 2025, and with this new infusion of international business muscle, the competition may gain renewed momentum in what had been a challenging phase of sustainability and fan traction.
Cricket fans can now expect a more interconnected world of franchise cricket, with familiar owners, players, and even team cultures starting to overlap across continents.
