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The Hundred: Oval Invincibles valued near £125m as Mumbai Indians owners clinch 49 per cent stake in franchise

India's Ambani family has sealed a landmark agreement to become the first external shareholder in one of English cricket's eight Hundred franchises; Watch The Hundred live this summer on Sky Sports Cricket

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Highlights from the men's final in The Hundred as Oval Invincibles beat Southern Brave to retain the title.

The owners of Mumbai Indians have won the race to land a stake in Oval Invincibles, according to Sky News.

All eight of the competition's eight city-based teams will be matched with preferred investors over the next week, with Invincibles the first to go on Thursday.

Reliance Industries Limited, which owns the Mumbai Indians stable, is said to have seen off competition from a consortium involving executives from Google, Microsoft and Adobe, as well private equity group CVC, to land a 49 per cent share of the Invincibles.

The price that the Ambani family agreed to pay for the ECB stake was unclear, although sources said it was understood to have valued 100 per cent of Oval Invincibles at approximately £125m.

Former Gloucestershire spinner Vikram Banerjee, now director of business operations at the ECB, is leading the sale process on behalf of the governing body, with the project being run in concert with Raine Group and Deloitte.

The ECB declined to comment and are planning to announce the result of all eight tenders when the process is completed in the coming days. Once matched, chosen investors will enter a period of exclusivity with the host county to complete due diligence and finalise the deal.

Having initially attracted a field of more than 100 potential investors, it is understood 15 were left at the table at the start of this final bidding round. Another three IPL owners are also thought to be involved.

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The mooted valuation of the Invincibles bodes well for the ECB to beat its basement valuation of around £350m for all eight teams.

A 10 per cent share of funds raised will be steered towards the recreational game, with all 18 first-class counties - including non-hosts - and the Marylebone Cricket Club sharing the remainder.

The ECB hopes for a smooth end to what has been a protracted process but is understood to be prepared for public gripes from groups that are not successful.

Oval Invincibles won successive Hundred titles in 2023 and 2024
Image: Oval Invincibles won successive Hundred titles in 2023 and 2024

The Hundred 2024 full fixture list (all games men's and women's double-headers)

  • Tuesday August 5: London Spirit vs Oval Invincibles, Lord's
  • Wednesday August 6: Manchester Originals vs Southern Brave, Emirates Old Trafford
  • Thursday August 7: Northern Superchargers vs Welsh Fire, Headingley
  • Friday August 8: Birmingham Phoenix vs Trent Rockets, Edgbaston
  • Saturday August 9: Oval Invincibles vs Manchester Originals, Kia Oval
  • Saturday August 9: Welsh Fire vs London Spirit, Sophia Gardens
  • Sunday August 10: Southern Brave vs Birmingham Phoenix, Utilita Bowl
  • Sunday August 10: Trent Rockets vs Northern Superchargers, Trent Bridge
  • Monday August 11: Manchester Originals vs London Spirit, Emirates Old Trafford
  • Tuesday August 12: Birmingham Phoenix vs Oval Invincibles, Edgbaston
  • Wednesday August 13: Southern Brave vs Northern Superchargers, Utilita Bowl
  • Wednesday August 13: Welsh Fire vs Manchester Originals, Sophia Gardens
  • Thursday August 14: London Spirit vs Trent Rockets, Lord's
  • Friday August 15: Northern Superchargers vs Birmingham Phoenix, Headingley
  • Saturday August 16: Trent Rockets vs Southern Brave, Trent Bridge
  • Saturday August 16: Oval Invincibles vs Welsh Fire, the Kia Oval
  • Sunday August 17: Manchester Originals vs Northern Superchargers, Emirates Old Trafford
  • Sunday August 17: Birmingham Phoenix vs London Spirit, Edgbaston
  • Monday August 18: Southern Brave vs Oval Invincibles, Utilita Bowl
  • Tuesday August 19: Trent Rockets vs Manchester Originals, Trent Bridge
  • Wednesday August 20: Welsh Fire vs Southern Brave, Sophia Gardens
  • Wednesday August 20: London Spirit vs Northern Superchargers, Lord's
  • Thursday August 21: Oval Invincibles vs Trent Rockets, the Kia Oval
  • Friday August 22: Birmingham Phoenix vs Welsh Fire, Edgbaston
  • Saturday August 23: Northern Superchargers vs Oval Invincibles, Headingley
  • Saturday August 23: London Spirit vs Southern Brave, Lord's
  • Sunday August 24: Welsh Fire vs Trent Rockets, Sophia Gardens
  • Sunday August 24: Manchester Originals vs Birmingham Phoenix, Emirates Old Trafford
  • Monday August 25: Oval Invincibles vs London Spirit, the Kia Oval
  • Tuesday August 26: Northern Superchargers vs Manchester Originals, Headingley
  • Wednesday August 27: Trent Rockets vs Birmingham Phoenix, Trent Bridge
  • Thursday August 28: Southern Brave vs Welsh Fire, Utilita Bowl
  • Saturday August 30: The Hundred Eliminator, the Kia Oval
  • Sunday August 31: The Hundred Final, Lord's

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