Venky Mysore Kavya Maran. Image Credits: AFP/X
The ever-expanding landscape of the IPL has seen its franchise owners steadily extend their footprint into other leagues. After acquiring teams in South Africa’s SA20, USA’s MLC, UAE’s ILT20 and the West Indies’ CPL, the upcoming edition of The Hundred will also witness as many as four IPL-backed takeovers.
With IPL franchise owners such as Delhi Capitals, LSG, Mumbai Indians and Sunrisers Hyderabad each acquiring stakes in different Hundred franchises, three-time IPL winners KKR have opted to stay away from the competition.
Ahead of the IPL 2026 season, KKR CEO and managing director Venky Mysore has shed light on the rationale behind the franchise’s decision of keeping itself away from The Hundred.
Valuation an issue for KKR in The Hundred
A few days after the SRH's Sungroup Owned-Sunrisers Leeds stoked a huge controversey by signing in Pakistan's Abrar Ahmed for The Hundred 2026 season, KKR CEO and managing director Venky Mysore was asked why the franchise does not have a team in the ECB’s 100-ball phenomenon.
Mysore responded that acquiring a team in The Hundred did not make any “financial sense” for the franchise, adding that they were not keen on raising funds externally.
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He said, “In England, the issue was valuation again. It became a valuation exercise, and at those numbers it didn’t make financial sense for us. A spreadsheet is only as good as the assumptions you make. We don’t want to borrow, we don’t want to raise money outside. You tell me how much you want I’ll put in the money. I want to sleep well at night.”
IPL’s presence in The Hundred
Even though the KKR found “no sense” in acquiring a team in The Hundred, as many as four different IPL owners have already invested in England’s elite 100-ball competition.
For instance, the owners of the Mumbai Indians franchise acquired stakes in the Oval Invincibles and rebranded it into MI London.
The Northern Superchargers became Sunrisers Leeds after the Sun Group (owners of SRH) acquired a stake in the franchise and integrated it into their expanding T20 ecosystem.
Earlier this month during The Hundred 2026 auction, the Sunrisers Leeds was even subjected to much criticism from Indian fans and cricket experts for acquiring Pakistan spinner Abrar Ahmed.
The Manchester Originals became the Manchester Super Giants, i.e., the sister franchise of IPL’s LSG after Indian businessman Sanjiv Goenka purchased majority ownership of the Lancashire-based team.
The Southern Brave, however, retained its original brand name, even though the GMR Group from Delhi Capitals became its co-owners alongside the Hampshire County Cricket Club.
KKR’s existing franchise footprints across leagues
The KKR franchise already has an expansive T20 footprint in several leagues over the world. In the UAE-based ILT20, the KKR owners own the Abu Dhabi Knight Riders team.
In the Caribbean Premier League as backed by Cricket West Indies, the Knight Riders Group is the owner of its most-successful team, the Trinbago Knight Riders. Notably, the TKR has won five CPL titles to date, and will enter the CPL 2026 season this year as defending champions.
In the USA-based MLC, the group owns the Los Angeles Knight Riders.
KKR gears up for IPL 2026
The KKR franchise is now gearing up for the upcoming IPL 2026 season in India. A few days ago, the team management confirmed senior pro Ajinkya Rahane to continue as captain this year.
As per the IPL 2026 schedule, the KKR team will be taking on Mumbai Indians first up in match number two of the tournament on March 28 at Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium.
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