Sanjiv Goenka, chairman of the RPSG Group and owner of the Lucknow Super Giants (IPL) and Durban Super Giants, has expanded his sports portfolio with a significant investment in The Hundred. Goenka’s group has acquired a 49% stake in the Manchester Originals franchise for a reported £107 million.
This acquisition marks a major move in the nascent stages of privatizing The Hundred franchises. While the exact details of the deal remain undisclosed, sources indicate the price tag slightly exceeds £100 million. This valuation is roughly half of the £195 million paid for the London Spirit franchise by a US-based tech consortium. Goenka had previously expressed strong interest in the London Spirit.
The acquisition process involved a competitive e-auction, suggesting considerable interest from other parties. While the specific contenders haven’t been officially revealed, it’s understood that an IPL team and another tech consortium were among the finalists. Despite speculation linking the Glazer family (owners of Manchester United) and CVC Capital to the bidding process, neither ultimately participated. Early interest from IPL franchises like Rajasthan Royals, Chennai Super Kings, and Kolkata Knight Riders reportedly cooled, though it remains unclear if any re-entered the competition. Goenka ultimately emerged victorious, outbidding the competing IPL franchise.
This deal makes Goenka the second IPL owner, after the Ambanis (owners of the Mumbai Indians), to invest in The Hundred. The Ambanis acquired the Oval Invincibles. Of the eight teams in The Hundred, five have now been sold: Oval Invincibles, Welsh Fire, London Spirit, Birmingham Phoenix, and now Manchester Originals. Three franchises remain: Trent Rockets, Northern Superchargers, and Southern Brave. Rumors suggest the SunRisers franchise is a frontrunner to acquire one of the remaining teams, while the GMR Group (owners of Delhi Capitals), having recently acquired Hampshire County Cricket Club, are expected to retain control of the Southern Brave.
Goenka’s history of bold investments in sports is well-documented. His winning bid of ₹1090 crore (approximately $1 billion USD at the time) for the Lucknow IPL franchise three years ago was considered exceptionally high. He also previously owned the Pune SuperGiants in the IPL and currently owns a team in the Indian Super League (ISL). This latest acquisition of a stake in the Manchester Originals further solidifies Goenka’s commitment to the global sports market.
