KKR's owners eye a stake in a future Hundred franchise if the league expands

Knight Riders Group, which runs the IPL franchise Kolkata Knight Riders, was among the bidders when the England and Wales Cricket Board sold stakes in the eight Hundred teams last season. The group pursued a share in Trent Rockets, which ultimately sold a 49% stake to Cain International for just under £40 million, but senior officials deemed the valuation excessive and stepped back. They have now signaled willingness to re-enter negotiations should the competition expand from eight to ten franchises.

Potential new locations include Durham and a southwestern city such as Bristol or Taunton. The Hundred is unlikely to grow before the present broadcast-rights agreement expires at the end of 2028, though adding two clubs could boost the value of the next deal from 2029 onward. Several existing Hundred teams already have IPL-linked owners, and KRG’s global cricket portfolio spans India, the Caribbean, the UAE and the United States.