£520m boost sparks sponsorship buzz for The Hundred in 2026

The England and Wales Cricket Board’s (ECB) recent £520 million capital injection into The Hundred, via partial and full sales of all eight franchises, has redefined the tournament’s commercial trajectory. With ownership now including global sporting heavyweights such as the Ambani family (Mumbai Indians), Sun Group (Sunrisers Hyderabad), and RPSG Group (Lucknow Super Giants), this investment is expected to be transformative, particularly for sponsors.

According to Jason Schretter of the Raine Group, which brokered the deals, the goal is to elevate The Hundred’s commercial model to “Premier League levels.” While acknowledging the Premier League’s significantly higher global reach, Schretter points to The Hundred’s family-oriented and youth-friendly audience as a unique proposition for sponsors. The demographic reach, combined with high-profile investors and rising player salaries (up 60% for men and 30% for women in 2025) suggests a platform primed for greater global visibility.