In a groundbreaking move for global cricket governance, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has officially confirmed the entry of four Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise owners as strategic partners in The Hundred. GMR Group, Sun TV Network Limited, RPSG Group, and Reliance Group will now hold operational stakes in teams participating in the 100-ball competition, gaining full operational control by October 1, 2025. The ECB said in its official statement “These deals will collectively inject hundreds of millions of pounds for game-wide growth." Notably, two additional partnerships—including Reliance Group’s 49% stake in Oval Invincibles—are expected to reach formal completion shortly. These developments mark an important phase in the evolution of The Hundred, as the ECB pushes for commercial scalability without relinquishing ownership. "The ECB retains full ownership of the competition itself," the board added, emphasizing control over key areas like rules, scheduling, and wider cricket ecosystem impact. Read also: Deepak Chahar Training with Team India Ahead of 5th Test vs ENG Breakup of Stakes and Financial Implications Detailed by ECB RPSG Group, owners of IPL's Lucknow Super Giants, will control 70% of Manchester Originals. Sun TV Network, the group behind Sunrisers Hyderabad, will have 100% ownership of Northern Superchargers. GMR Group, co-owner of Delhi Capitals, will hold a 49% stake in Southern Brave. Reliance’s partnership for Oval Invincibles awaits finalization. Additional partners include Tech Titans (49% of London Spirit), Knighthead Capital (49% of Birmingham Phoenix), and Washington Freedom (49% of Welsh Fire). Meanwhile, Cain International & Ares Management are expected to invest in Trent Rockets. ECB Chairman Richard Thompson remarked, “The sheer scale of global interest we've seen throughout this process highlights just how much potential remains to be unlocked.” Once all deals close, over £500 million will be funneled into English and Welsh cricket—£50 million of which is committed to grassroots cricket, with the remainder going to professional counties. A new governance board, consisting of ECB, investors, and host clubs, will guide commercial growth under delegated authority.