Indian-Origin Tech Titans Bid for Stakes in London Cricket Teams
In a landmark move, a group of Indian-origin tech leaders from Silicon Valley is bidding to acquire stakes in two prominent cricket teams based in London. The high-profile consortium has set its sights on either the Oval Invincibles or London Spirit, both of which compete in The Hundred, a premier franchise cricket tournament. Among the notable names in the group are Sundar Pichai, CEO of Alphabet (Google), and Satya Nadella, CEO of Microsoft.
Tech Leaders Eyeing The Hundred
The bidding group is spearheaded by Nikesh Arora, CEO of Palo Alto Networks, and Satyan Gajwani, Vice Chairman of Times Internet Ltd. Joining them are Sundar Pichai, Satya Nadella, Shantanu Narayen (CEO of Adobe), and Egon Durban (Co-CEO of Silver Lake Management). Together, they’ve submitted a bid exceeding £80 million (around ₹844 crore) for a stake in one of the London-based teams.
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Expanding Cricket’s Global Footprint
Indian tech leaders have already played a significant role in promoting cricket in the U.S., notably through investments in Major League Cricket (MLC). Satya Nadella, for instance, is a co-owner of the Seattle Orcas team in MLC.
The Hundred, launched by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) in 2021, aims to simplify cricket’s rules and attract a broader audience. Featuring just 100 balls per innings and five-ball overs, the tournament has drawn over two million fans to matches across England and Wales since its inception.
This ambitious bid underscores the growing synergy between cricket and global tech leaders, further cementing the sport’s expanding global appeal.