Sanjiv Goenka, the owner of Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) in the Indian Premier League (IPL) and chairman of the RPSG Group, has successfully acquired the Manchester Originals franchise in The Hundred. According to reports from Cricbuzz, Goenka outbid several competitors, including an IPL franchise, to secure ownership of the team.
Manchester Originals Joins Goenka’s Expanding Sports Portfolio
Manchester Originals, led by England’s Phil Salt, is a key team in The Hundred, the England and Wales Cricket Board’s (ECB) 100-ball competition. The estimated value of the acquisition is around £107 million, which is significantly lower than the £195 million valuation of London Spirit, recently sold to a consortium of US-based tech entrepreneurs.
Goenka had initially pursued a London-based franchise but later opted out. The franchise valuations were determined through an e-auction, though the identities of other bidders for Manchester Originals remain undisclosed.
This acquisition marks Goenka’s third franchise in global T20 leagues, adding to his ownership of Lucknow Super Giants (IPL) and Durban Super Giants (SA20).
Reliance Acquires Stake in Oval Invincibles
Meanwhile, Reliance Industries Limited (RIL), owned by the Ambani family, has expanded its cricket footprint by acquiring a 49% stake in Oval Invincibles. The deal, valued at £60 million, places the full valuation of the franchise at £120 million.
According to ESPNCricinfo, Reliance outbid a consortium of Silicon Valley tech executives, including CEOs from Google, Microsoft, and Adobe, along with private equity giant CVC.
Oval Invincibles, the reigning two-time champions in The Hundred, were the first team to be sold in the final phase of ECB’s sales process.
With this acquisition, the Invincibles become the sixth team under Reliance’s management, joining their existing franchises:
- Mumbai Indians (IPL & WPL)
- MI Emirates (UAE)
- MI Cape Town (SA20)
- MI New York (USA)
Global Expansion of Indian-Owned Franchises
With both Sanjiv Goenka and Reliance Industries making strategic investments in The Hundred, Indian business giants continue to expand their influence in international T20 leagues. These acquisitions highlight the growing commercial appeal of franchise cricket and reinforce India’s dominance in the global cricketing ecosystem.
