The Hundred, England’s 100-ball competition, is set to undergo a significant transformation with strategic partnerships involving IPL franchise owners. The ECB has confirmed that GMR, Sun TV Network, RPSG Group, and Reliance Industries will be taking operational control of their teams from October 1, 2025. These partnerships are projected to contribute hundreds of millions of pounds to English cricket, with a portion dedicated to grassroots initiatives. The ECB highlighted that this is the first instance of a UK sporting competition attracting franchise partnerships of such scale, attracting global leaders in sports, media, technology, and finance. The ECB will retain ownership of the competition, with a new governing board to manage strategy and commercial development. ECB Chairman Richard Thompson expressed excitement about the global engagement and the potential for English cricket.
