New Delhi: Delhi Capitals co-owner GMR Group has secured a stake in the Southern Brave to conclude the England Cricket Board’s (ECB) process of selling equity in The Hundred franchises.

The GMR purchased the Hampshire County last year and are expected to strike a deal for the 100 per cent ownership of the team.

GMR Group, an Indian infrastructure conglomerate, owns franchises in multiple T20 leagues around the world, including Delhi Capitals in the Indian Premier League (IPL) and Women’s Premier League (WPL), Pretoria Capitals in SA20 and Dubai Capitals in the ILT20.

They are also the principal investors in the Seattle Orcas in the MLC.

Brave won the first season of the men’s Hundred in 2021 and finished as runners-up last year. They were also the two-time runners-up in the women’s competition and lifted the trophy in 2023.

Total valuation surpasses £900 Million

The England and Wales Cricket Board has raised more than £450 million and a total valuation approaching £1 billion, the equity sales of the Hundred’s franchises have exceeded initial expectations and is set to deliver a significant windfall to the English cricket.

The Delhi Capitals’ co-owner joined three IPL franchises, Mumbai Indians (Oval Invincibles), Lucknow Super Giants (Manchester Original) and Sunrisers Hyderabad (Northern Superchargers) to own a team in the Hundred.

The league also attracted international investors with Birmingham Phoenix (Knighthead Capital), Welsh Fire (Sanjay Govil), London Spirit ( a Silicon Valley consortium), and Trent Rockets (Cain International) joining the IPL owners to have stakes in the ECB-run tournament.

GMR also became the first overseas owner of Hampshire County Club which they acquired from former owner Rod Bransgrove in September last year but the acquisition did not guarantee a stake in the Southern Brave and they were required to pay fair market value of 49% for Brave before the ECB would sanction the remaining 51% being transferred to Hampshire.