The Hundred 2025: IPL Franchises Invest Big in ECB’s 100-Ball Tournament

Massive Investment Transforms The Hundred as IPL Owners Secure Major Stakes

In a game-changing move for global cricket, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has secured a £975 million (~₹10,600 crore) investment in The Hundred, its premier franchise-based 100-ball tournament. A major portion of this investment—nearly £300 million (~₹3,257 crore)—comes from four prominent IPL franchise owners, marking a historic shift in the global cricket landscape.

With this investment, IPL franchises have now expanded their influence beyond India into England’s premier white-ball tournament, solidifying their presence in major leagues worldwide.

🏏 The Hundred Teams & Their New Owners

The Hundred features 8 city-based teams, and now, four of them are owned by IPL franchise owners:

🔹 Half of the eight teams are now co-owned by IPL franchises, which strengthens the financial and global reach of The Hundred.
🔹 ECB will continue to control the remaining four teams, but private investment might expand to all eight teams in the future.

📌 What Is The Hundred?

The Hundred is a 100-ball cricket tournament launched by the ECB in 2021 to make the game faster, more engaging, and accessible to newer audiences. The tournament features both men’s and women’s editions and has 8 city-based franchise teams competing in a unique format that is shorter than T20 cricket.

📝 Key Rules & Format of The Hundred

✔ 100 balls per innings – Each team gets to play a total of 100 deliveries.
✔ 10-ball overs – Instead of 6-ball overs, each over can have 5 or 10 consecutive balls bowled by the same bowler.
✔ Powerplay – The first 25 balls are designated as a powerplay, with only two fielders allowed outside the 30-yard circle.
✔ Strategic timeout – A 90-second timeout is allowed for the batting side to adjust strategies.
✔ Bowling limits – A bowler can deliver a maximum of 20 balls per match.
✔ Fast-paced game – The entire match is completed in approximately 2.5 hours, making it quicker than traditional T20 cricket.

🎯 Why Was The Hundred Created?

📌 To attract younger and new audiences to cricket.
📌 To create faster and more exciting gameplay than T20s.
📌 To offer a new format that appeals to casual sports fans and TV audiences.

📢 What IPL’s Investment Means for Global Cricket

1️⃣ Strengthening The Hundred’s Commercial Viability
💰 The influx of private investment ensures bigger sponsorships, better player contracts, and a more competitive league.
📺 Broadcast rights for The Hundred in India are expected to see a surge in value due to IPL owners’ involvement.

2️⃣ Pakistan Players Allowed, Indian Players Unlikely
A major question after IPL teams’ involvement was whether Pakistan players would be allowed. Unlike in SA20 (South Africa), where IPL teams excluded Pakistani players, ECB Chief Executive Richard Gould confirmed that:

“Pakistan players will be considered for selection in The Hundred.”

However, Indian cricketers remain banned from participating in The Hundred, as the BCCI continues to prohibit its players from overseas franchise leagues. Gould stated:

“The BCCI’s position has been very clear. We’d love to see Indian players play in England, but it is not something we have predetermined in this process.”

3️⃣ Expansion of IPL’s Global Dominance
✅ IPL franchises now have stakes in every major franchise league, including:

• The Hundred (England)
• SA20 (South Africa)
• ILT20 (UAE)
• MLC (USA)
• CPL (Caribbean Premier League)

This move marks a massive step toward a football-style global club system, where franchise teams compete in multiple leagues worldwide.

📌 What’s Next for The Hundred?

🚀 Possible Expansion to 10 Teams – With major investments, ECB may consider adding more teams.
💰 Higher Player Salaries – A richer league attracts top players and increases competition.
🌍 More International Attention – The Hundred now competes with IPL, Big Bash League (BBL), and SA20 for top talent.

🎯 Could The Hundred Become a Premier League Rival to IPL?

With the financial backing of IPL franchises, The Hundred could become one of the biggest global franchise tournaments, rivaling IPL, BBL, and PSL.

📺 The 2025 season will be the first under IPL-backed ownership, making it a must-watch tournament worldwide.

🌍 The Bigger Picture: A Shift in Global Cricket

With private investment flowing into The Hundred, cricket is rapidly moving toward a global franchise model, just like football.

📌 Will BCCI allow Indian players in overseas leagues?
📌 Could The Hundred expand to other countries?
📌 Will The Hundred become a serious rival to IPL?

These are key questions as franchise cricket evolves into a truly international business.

📌 Tags:

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