Sundar Pichai Joins Indian Tech Leaders in 80 Million Pound London Cricket Bid

Sundar Pichai, the CEO of Alphabet Inc, is reported to be working with some high-profile Silicon Valley directors in an attempt to acquire a cricket team that's grounded in London. The institute is either targeting the London Spirit or the Oval Invincibles, two women's teams that contend in the Hundred, a cricket tournament in England and Wales.

Who is a part of this cricket consortium?

The institute, led by Nikesh Arora, CEO of Palo Alto Networks Inc, and Satyan Gajwani, vice president of Times Internet Ltd, is placing a shot exceeding GBP 80 million for one of the two teams.

Other notable members of this group include Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella, Adobe CEO Shantanu Narayen, and Egon Durban,co-CEO of Silver Lake Management LLC. Although the details are not public, interposers have verified the involvement of these tech leaders.

What is The Hundred cricket tournament?

According to the website, The Hundred is an action- packed cricket event that follows a 100- ball format. It's designed to attract both dedicated cricket followers and beginners.

This eight- city grounded team represents the most significant metropolises within the UK, made especially for the Hundred and which competes with each other throughout the summer seasons for five weeks, while simultaneously running the Men's and Women's events.

Each team consists of 15 players, with an outside of four transnational stars allowed. The men's teams can also include up to two centrally contracted England players.Teams are created through a Draft system for the men's competition, while the women's teams follow their own distinct player selection process.

In the 2024 edition of The Hundred, London Spirit won in the Women’s Competition, while Oval Invincibles secured their alternate successive palm in the Men’s Competition. The Hundred event will enter its fifth season in 2025, with ticket deals to commence soon. The competition is broadcasted on Sky Sports and the BBC.

The participating eight teams are:

Birmingham Phoenix (Edgbaston) London Spirit (Lord’s) Manchester Originals (Emirates Old Trafford) Northern Superchargers (Headingley) Oval Invincibles (The Kia Oval) Southern Brave (Utilita Bowl) Trent Rockets (Trent Bridge) Welsh Fire (Sophia Gardens)   Bidding process for the teams

The England and Wales Cricket Board launched an action in September to invite private investment into The Hundred’s eight teams, aiming to boost the sport’s fiscal health. Managed by Raine Group, the transaction has drawn significant interest, especially for the London Spirit teams, grounded at Lord’s Cricket Ground. The ECB is offering a 49 stake in each team, with an option for full power. The Hundred’s periodic profit is around GBP 60 million, showcasing its marketable potential.

Growing popularity of cricket

Cricket, with deep roots in England, is evolving to attract a wider followership. The Hundred, launched in 2021, aims to engage younger fans and families by simplifying the game to 100 balls per side. The event has drawn over two million attendees and generated significant profit through broadcasts, tickets, and auspices. Formerly popular in the Commonwealth, justice is gaining transnational traction, especially in the US.  According to USA Cricket, the sport’s governing body, over 400 leagues have been established in the United States, with more than 200,000 players and growing.

Global influence of cricket

Cricket, predating baseball in the US, was first proved in 1709, long before the conformation of the United States. Indian cricketer Virat Kohli, with 270 million social media followers, ranks third among global athletes, after Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi. Also, tech leaders Nadella and Narayen have invested in Major League Cricket in the US.