In a landmark moment for franchise cricket, Lancashire County Cricket Club has sold 70% of the Manchester Originals in The Hundred to the RP‑Sanjiv Goenka Group (RPSG) – owners of Indian Premier League side Lucknow Super Giants – for approximately £80 million. This marks the first-ever majority stake sale in a Hundred franchise and represents a strategic pivot toward greater commercialisation and cross-market growth.
A Bold Strategic Alignment
Lancashire – in selling a majority interest – makes history as the first host county to relinquish its controlling stake in a franchise; other counties had previously retained at least majority ownership. It’s a turnaround from earlier indications that Lancashire would keep long-term control of the Originals. Instead, they’ve opted to cash in and invest in cricket infrastructure and debt reduction.
RPSG had initially aimed to buy the Lord’s-based London Spirit franchise but shifted to Manchester after losing that bid. The firm plans to rebrand the franchise – likely to Manchester Super Giants – aligning it with their existing IPL and SA20 teams. With Manchester cited among the world’s top five sporting cities, the group now targets positioning the Originals as Manchester’s third largest sports brand, adding to their global sports portfolio.
Commercial & Cultural Synergy
RPSG’s acquisition introduces IPL-style branding, marketing acumen, and global sports data strategies to an English cricket franchise. Lancashire’s chief executive, Daniel Gidney, has cited a desire to embrace more dynamic sports marketing and challenge Manchester’s dominant football brands – not just in ambition, but in infrastructure and fan engagement. The Original’s new owners intend to bring IPL-style innovations – branding, colour, fan data, and content storytelling – to Old Trafford and The Hundred’s English foundation.
Valuation Signal & Financial Framework
The £80 million valuation sets Manchester Originals’ worth at approximately £110 million, positioning it as the third most valuable Hundred franchise behind London Spirit and Oval Invincibles. Five franchises now total about £685 million in equity value across the competition.
Beyond immediate returns, Lancashire is set to receive approximately £23 million plus a future share (3%) of the new TV rights deal beginning in 2029, to support improvements in facilities and grassroots development. It’s a significant capital injection into county infrastructure – not just a windfall.
Globalisation and Opportunity
This deal underscores the accelerating globalisation of English cricket. IPL owners and high-net-worth investors from India, the US, and Silicon Valley have snapped up equity in multiple Hundred franchises. Recent deals include major stakes in London Spirit (~£145m), Birmingham Phoenix (£40m), Northern Superchargers (£100m), and Southern Brave (£98m). The Originals franchise joins this rapidly maturing ecosystem, linking English regional cricket to global investor capital and broadcaster interest.
Strategic Playbook for Sports-Media Leaders
The Originals case offers a blueprint for modern bidding in franchise sport:
First-mover advantage: Being first to a majority equity model delivers control premium.
Brand expansion: Rebranding to align with international portfolio firms increases recognition.
Capital infusion: Up-front and future revenue share enables infrastructure and expansion.
Fan engagement: IPL-style production, data tools, and storytelling strategies drive new fandom.
Monetisation: Cross-border sponsorship, content sales, licensing, and streaming opportunities align with westward expansion.
Cultural & Commercial Ambitions
At a press event at Old Trafford – broadcast live from India – RPSG vice‑chairman Shashwat Goenka emphasised ambition:
“We want the Manchester franchise in the Hundred to become the third biggest sports team in Manchester and challenge those two sports teams in Manchester.”
Lancashire’s CEO echoed the sentiment, referencing the late former chairman David Hodgkiss, who urged the club to see the passion in the crowd and seize the opportunity:
“Look at how this crowd celebrates a single cricket match… that’s what we need in Lancashire, that’s what we need in Manchester…”
What Happens Next
The Originals are expected to be rebranded to reflect the RPSG identity, likely joining the Super Giants franchise family. Kit and name changes could roll out in 2026 once final contracts and ECB approvals are complete. The path is open for expanded content rights, live streaming activation, and multi-touchpoint fan engagement strategies aligned to IPL success.
Behind Sport Take‑Away
This isn’t just a cricket story – it’s another signal of how English sport is opening up to global ownership, private equity, and franchise-first thinking.
With RPSG’s majority acquisition of the Manchester Originals, we’re seeing a shift from those early days of The Hundred to globally branded, commercially aggressive entities. The IPL influence is clear: data-led fan engagement, cross-continent brand alignment, and content that travels well beyond the pitch.
What stands out here isn’t just the money – it’s the intent.
RPSG want the Originals to rival Manchester’s football giants. That’s not just a bold statement – it’s a commercial blueprint. Through rebranding, production value, and unified storytelling across their sports portfolio, they’re positioning the Originals as a media-first, multi-market property.
For other counties and sports clubs, the lesson is simple: ownership and storytelling go hand in hand. If you’re not thinking globally, someone else will be – and they’ll bring a strategy with scale, story, and serious capital behind it.
The future of The Hundred – and perhaps English cricket more broadly – is being written right now. And the clubs willing to think beyond tradition are the ones who’ll shape it.
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