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Sun TV Network, a titan in India‘s media landscape and the driving force behind a burgeoning global cricket empire, is making a momentous stride onto the international stage.
Kavya Maran’s Sun TV Network makes big move in franchise cricket with The Hundred team purchase
According to CNBC TV18, in a strategic maneuver that significantly broadens its cricketing footprint, the Chennai-based broadcaster has secured a 100% equity stake in Northern Superchargers, a prominent franchise competing in The Hundred, England’s innovative professional cricket league. This substantial acquisition, valued at an impressive £100.5 million, not only formalizes Sun TV’s entry into the competitive UK sports market but also deepens its commitment to building a diverse portfolio of cricketing assets across continents. Overseen in part by the influential Kavya Maran, the move solidifies Sun TV’s position as a key player in the burgeoning global franchise cricket ecosystem, demonstrating a clear vision for expansion beyond its already established ventures in India and South Africa.
Sun TV’s global cricket expansion and financial strategy
Sun TV Network’s decision to acquire the Superchargers for a considerable sum underscores its aggressive strategy to become a dominant force in international sports entertainment, a vision largely championed within the family by Kavya Maran.
As the CEO of Sunrisers Hyderabad (IPL) and Sunrisers Eastern Cape (SA20), and an Executive Director of Sun TV Network Limited, Kavya Maran has been the public face and a key strategist in the Maran family’s expanding sports empire. Her active involvement in IPL auctions and team management has made her a recognizable and respected figure in the cricketing world. This latest acquisition, approved by the board on July 18, 2025, will integrate Northern Superchargers as a wholly-owned subsidiary, further streamlining Sun TV’s operational control over its cricketing assets under the broader “Sunrisers” brand.
As R. Ravi, Company Secretary and Compliance Officer, stated in a regulatory filing: “We are enhancing our global footprint in sports and are investing in a club that is part of The Hundred, a limited-overs cricket league promoted by the England and Wales Cricket Board, the equivalent of the BCCI in the UK. The foreign entity we are acquiring, Northern Superchargers Limited, is already profitable, and we believe that with growing global interest, The Hundred is poised for greater financial success,”
The CNBC TV18 report further stated, the transaction, valued at approximately INR 1,181 crore, reflects a premium valuation of 53 times Northern Superchargers’ FY24 turnover of £1.89 million, indicating Sun TV’s, and by extension the Maran family’s, strong belief in the future returns from this significant international investment. The deal is being processed through the Reserve Bank of India’s automatic route for overseas acquisitions and is expected to be finalized by December 31, 2025.
The hundred attracts major Indian and global investors
The sale of stakes in The Hundred franchises has become a significant avenue for the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) to attract substantial investment from across the globe, particularly from India, the US, and Silicon Valley. This influx of capital signifies a growing confidence in the 100-ball format and its commercial appeal, transforming it into a truly global sporting asset. Beyond Sun TV’s full acquisition of Northern Superchargers, other major Indian corporate entities, many with existing ties to franchise cricket through the IPL, have also made significant inroads into the league’s ownership structure.
Reliance Industries, the powerhouse behind the Mumbai Indians in the IPL, has acquired a 49% stake in Oval Invincibles for £60 million. Similarly, the GMR Group, co-owners of the Delhi Capitals, has purchased 49% of Southern Brave for £48 million, while the RPSG Group, owners of the Lucknow Super Giants, secured a 70% stake in Manchester Originals.
The league has also drawn interest from the tech world, with a high-profile Silicon Valley consortium including Satyan Gajwani (Times Internet Vice Chairman), Nikesh Arora (Palo Alto Networks CEO), Sundar Pichai (Google CEO), Satya Nadella (Microsoft CEO), and Shantanu Narayen (Adobe CEO) investing £145 million for a 49% share in London Spirit. These diverse and high-profile investments underscore the increasing globalization of cricket and the strategic value seen in acquiring stakes in popular, fast-paced cricket leagues like The Hundred, confirming the format’s growing stature on the international stage.
Also READ: Reason why Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan and Shaheen Afridi didn’t register for The Hundred 2025 Draft
