Real Madrid's Jude Bellingham Joins Cricket Race In Direct Competition With MI Owner Mukesh Ambani

Mukesh Ambani Jude Bellingham. Image Credits: AFP

After significant investments from IPL franchises, The Hundred has now secured England and Real Madrid midfielder Jude Bellingham as an investor in the league. As per a report from The Cricketer, Bellingham is set to become a minority investor in the franchise Birmingham Phoenix. 

The footballer has bought a 1% stake in the team, bringing one of English football’s biggest names, Jude Bellingham, into cricket ownership. This adds another high-profile name to The Hundred’s growing investor base.

Bellingham Steps Into The World Of Cricket

Although the percentage of Bellingham’s stake is small, its value is substantial. Birmingham Phoenix was valued at around £82 million during the competition’s recent investment round, which means that a 1% stake is roughly worth £820,000.

As for Phoenix, the majority stake is still retained by the host county Warwickshire with 51%, while a significant portion of the franchise’s commercial value is held by Knighthead Capital, which owns the remaining 49%.

Jude Bellingham’s investment stands out as a strong personal and symbolic connection. He began his career at Birmingham City before moving to Borussia Dortmund and then Real Madrid, making his association with Birmingham Phoenix particularly meaningful, as it ties him back to the city where his rise began.

Just days earlier, IPL founder Lalit Modi had criticised The Hundred for its profitability and unusual rules. However, the league’s ongoing investment drive has now pushed franchise cricket in England into a more stable and profitable financial space. 

Significantly, earlier, the ECB has also stated that the eight completed team partnerships across the competition represent a combined valuation of more than £975 million.

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Bellingham Beside Mukesh Ambani And Sanjiv Goenka!

Jude Bellingham’s involvement, even at a smaller level, highlights the growing cross-sport and cross-league interest in the tournament. Key investors in The Hundred include Reliance Industries, RPSG Group, and Knighthead Capital.

Reliance, owned by Mukesh Ambani, runs the Mumbai Indians franchise, while RPSG Group, owned by Sanjiv Goenka, has taken over the Manchester Super Giants team with a rebrand in January 2026.

With the league continuing to expand, this growth signals positive news for a tournament that started on a relatively smaller scale and is now evolving into a billion-pound industry in England.

The IPL Blueprint And Global Expansion Strategy

The rebranding of teams like Manchester Super Giants and Sunrisers Leeds clearly mirrors the proven Indian Premier League model, where franchise identity extends beyond a single tournament.

This approach is building a “follow-the-sun” ecosystem, allowing fans to support the same brand across multiple leagues such as the IPL, SA20, Major League Cricket (MLC), and now The Hundred. It ensures year-round engagement, brand loyalty, and global visibility.

More importantly, these investors are not merely purchasing cricket teams, they are strategically entering the England and Wales Cricket Board ecosystem.

This includes access to broadcast rights, commercial partnerships, and a gateway into the lucrative UK sports market. The move reflects a long-term vision where cricket franchises evolve into global sports brands rather than tournament-specific entities.

Commercial Boost To English Domestic Cricket

A key highlight is the £50 million grassroots pledge, where 10% of the total investment has been ring-fenced to support recreational cricket, local clubs, and school-level development. This ensures that the growth at the top trickles down to the foundation of the sport.

Additionally, the 18 first-class counties, many of which have struggled financially over the years, are set to receive a significant financial boost. This windfall secures their long-term sustainability and reduces dependence on traditional revenue streams.

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