"One of the members of this investment group is NFL legend Tom Brady," MLC Team owner Sanjay Govil highlights the impact of US investors in Cricket

“One of the members of this investment group is NFL legend Tom Brady,” MLC Team owner Sanjay Govil highlights the impact of US investors in Cricket

Posted by author February 3, 2025 Cricket

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One of MLC (Major League Cricket) team owner Sanjay Govil recently discussed the involvement of the NFL legend Tom Brady’s in cricket and the impact of US investors in this sport. Cricket has long been a popular sport, deeply rooted in countries like India, Australia, England, Pakistan, South Africa, and the West Indies. However, its global reach has been somewhat limited. Efforts are now underway to expand the sport’s presence, and the progress is evident. The United States cricket team made history at the ICC T20 World Cup last year by defeating one of the sport’s powerhouses, Pakistan.

Additionally, Major League Cricket (MLC) was launched in the U.S. to further propel cricket onto the global stage. Recently, Indian-American businessman Sanjay Govil, who owns the Washington Freedom team in MLC, spoke exclusively with Sports Tak about the growing presence of U.S. investors in cricket, including none other than NFL legend Tom Brady.

Tom Brady joins the Cricket revolution: Sanjay Govil sheds light on the sport’s growth in the U.S.

Sanjay Govil appeared in an exclusive interview with Sports Tak’s Vikrant Gupta on Monday, discussing the evolution of cricket in the United States and other regions where the sport has not traditionally been a major attraction. During the conversation, Govil highlighted the growing trend of American investors backing cricket leagues, viewing them as promising business opportunities.

In one particular segment, Govil spoke about The Hundred, a professional cricket league launched in the United Kingdom. The league features eight teams, and acquiring ownership required investors to participate in a competitive bidding process.

Mumbai Indians, one of the most successful franchises in the Indian Premier League (IPL) with five championship titles, secured ownership of the Oval Invincibles. Meanwhile, the Birmingham Phoenix team was acquired by a U.S.-based investment group, which notably includes seven-time Super Bowl champion Brady.

Discussing this game-changing development, Govil stated:

“As you know, The Hundred, a cricket league in the United Kingdom, features eight teams. In a recent bid, Mumbai Indians acquired Oval Invincibles, while the Birmingham team was secured by US investors. Notably, one of the members of this investment group is Tom Brady, the legendary American football player with seven Super Bowl titles. The involvement of American investors in cricket is a significant development, as it has led to a shift in perception—these cricket teams are now being viewed as valuable assets, much like stocks and cryptocurrency.” [4:31 onwards]

The entry of high-profile figures like Brady into cricket investments signals a major shift in how the sport is perceived outside its traditional markets. With growing financial backing and a rising fanbase in the U.S., cricket is steadily positioning itself as a global sport, with leagues like MLC and The Hundred playing a pivotal role in its expansion.