IPL Franchise Owners Show Decreased Interest in Investing in The Hundred League

Interest from IPL franchise owners in investing in The Hundred league has declined, with at least two major franchises—Kolkata Knight Riders and Chennai Super Kings—deciding to withdraw from their plans to purchase teams in the league.

According to a report by Cricbuzz, the IPL franchise owners have expressed dissatisfaction with The Hundred's business model, finding it unrealistic. The key issue for investors is the media rights shared by the ECB, particularly the revenue from overseas broadcasting rights.

While there has been no official confirmation from Kolkata and Chennai, it is now unlikely that Shah Rukh Khan’s Kolkata Knight Riders will participate in the league. Similarly, the Super Kings are also considering pulling out from The Hundred League.

Out of the 10 IPL franchises, three—Royal Challengers Bangalore, Punjab Kings, and Gujarat Titans—had already shown no interest in The Hundred from the beginning. With the withdrawal of two more franchises, this could be a significant setback for the ECB. However, third-round discussions are currently ongoing to explore potential solutions.

For the 2025 edition of The Hundred, the ECB is expecting new ownership for the teams, which are currently owned and operated by eight county clubs. These teams include Birmingham Phoenix, London Spirit, Manchester Originals, Northern Superchargers, Oval Invincibles, Southern Brave, Trent Rockets, and Welsh Fire.