The buildup to The Hundred tournament is underway with exciting cricketing action that ensures thrilling entertainment and promising displays with the bat and ball. As the tournament soon going to enter in its 5th year, a major change has occurred within the ownership of Manchester Originals– a prominent Hundred side.
The Hundreds tournament is currently undergoing a major overhaul in its ownership ranks with teams being acquired by the highest bidder through e-auction. Something of a similar sort happened with the Lancashire based side who was finally bought by Sanjiv Goenka after failing to get hold of the London Spirits, which was ultimately acquired by a consortium of US-based tech billionaires.
Sanjiv Goenka- The new owner of Manchester Originals
According to Cricbuzz report, Goenka, who is the owner of the RPSG group and has already bought teams like Lucknow Super Giants in the Indian Premier League (IPL) and Durban’s Super Giants in the SA 20 league has now acquired 49 percent of the stakes in the Manchester Originals for a price of 107 million pounds.
The report further stated that, initially, the full list of contenders was unclear, but the final valuation emerged through an e-auction process, indicating that more than two parties were vying for the opportunity. While it was widely speculated that the Glazer family, associated with Manchester United, and CVC Capital were among the frontrunners, it has now been confirmed that neither of them participated in the bidding.
Report suggested that an IPL franchise was in direct competition with Goenka’s consortium, alongside another tech-focused group. Ultimately, Goenka triumphed, emerging victorious over the IPL team. However, the identities of the competing IPL franchises have been kept under wraps by the authorities. Earlier speculation included Rajasthan Royals (RR), Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) among the initial interested parties, though it is believed that they have since withdrawn from the race. Whether one of these teams has re-entered the bidding remains to be seen.
Also Read: IPL 2025: Sanjiv Goenka reveals the names of players he wanted in Lucknow Super Giants
A major reshuffle in The Hundred tournament
Five teams of The Hundreds tournament have been sold so far- Oval Invincibles, Welsh Fire, London Spirit, Birmingham Phoenix, and Manchester Originals. Out of these, two have been acquired by IPL franchise owners: the Ambanis and Goenka. There are still three teams up for grabs like the Nottingham-based Trent Rockets, Yorkshire-owned Northern Superchargers, and Hampshire’s Southern Brave.
Among the potential bidders, the Sunrisers franchise is believed to be a strong contender to secure one of these remaining teams. Meanwhile, the GMR Group, which owns Delhi Capitals and recently purchased Hampshire County, is expected to retain ownership of the Southern Brave. This leaves the remaining two franchises likely to see intense competition as the auction progresses.
