Cricket is not just a sport in India, but a religion. And true to form even Indians abroad believe so. One such is Google’s Indian American CEO Sundar Pichai.

According to Bloomberg, Pichai along with other Silicon Valley executives, have placed a bid of over £80 million GBP or close to $100 million USD for two London-based franchises—Oval Invincibles and London Spirit—both part of The Hundred, a unique short-form cricket tournament held across several venues in England and Wales.

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The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB), seeking to bolster the sport’s finances, announced plans in 2024 to auction stakes in The Hundred’s eight teams. Managed by the Rain Group, the auction has attracted international interest, with the ECB offering a 49% stake in each franchise.

The Oval Invincibles and London Spirit have garnered the most attention due to their potential for revenue, particularly London Spirit, which plays at the iconic Lord’s stadium.

As per the report, the group of Indian American executives is led by Palo Alto Networks Inc. CEO Nikesh Arora and Indian media veteran Satyan Gajwani, the vice president of Times Internet Limited, the digital arm of the Times of India media group, and also includes Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella, Adobe Inc. chief Shantanu Narayan and Silver Lake Management LLC co-CEO Egon Durban.

Pichai has often shared his admiration for cricket, a sport that is extremely popular in his home country of India. Pichai, who grew up in India, has mentioned his love for the game in interviews and public appearances. Cricket has been a significant part of his upbringing, and like many Indians, Pichai enjoyed watching and playing the sport during his childhood.

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However, there is no extensive public record of Pichai being heavily involved in professional or competitive cricket as an adult. His focus has primarily been on his work at Google, where he has led the company to significant innovations and growth.