Knight Riders Group Open to Hundred Investment if League Expands

The owners of Indian Premier League team Kolkata Knight Riders would consider buying a stake in a new Hundred franchise if the English competition expands. BBC Sport reported that Knight Riders Group remains interested in the market after taking part in the bidding process when the England and Wales Cricket Board sold stakes in the existing eight teams last year. No new investment or expansion agreement has been announced.

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Knight Riders Group previously competed for a stake in Trent Rockets. That process ended with Cain International, the investment company founded by Chelsea co-owner Todd Boehly and British businessman Jonathan Goldstein, purchasing 49% of the Rockets for just under £40m. BBC Sport understands that senior Knight Riders Group officials chose not to advance their bid because they considered the franchise slightly overvalued.

The group's position could change if The Hundred moves from eight franchises to 10. Its return would potentially give the ECB another significant bidder connected to the IPL when new teams are offered. The report presents that interest as conditional: Knight Riders Group would consider re-entering the process if expansion happens, rather than being committed to a current transaction.

Two possible locations have previously been discussed for additional franchises. Durham has been identified as one option, while a south-west team could potentially be based in Bristol or Taunton. BBC Sport did not report that either location has been selected, and the competition is not expected to add teams in the immediate future.

The Hundred's current media-rights period runs through the end of 2028, making expansion before then unlikely. A move to 10 teams could be possible from 2029. Adding franchises and fixtures could also increase the value of the competition's next broadcast agreement, although the timing and structure remain prospective rather than confirmed.

IPL-linked ownership already has a substantial presence in The Hundred. Sunrisers Leeds, Manchester Super Giants, MI London and Southern Brave are wholly or partly owned by groups with connections to the Indian league. Knight Riders Group has teams in India, the Caribbean, the United Arab Emirates and the United States, giving it an extensive international franchise portfolio. Its stated willingness to revisit The Hundred adds another potential participant to any future expansion process, but that opportunity depends first on the ECB deciding to grow the competition.