GMR Group, co-owners of the Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise Delhi Capitals, has acquired Hampshire County Cricket Club.
The Kiran Kumar Grandhi-owned company has reached an agreement to acquire 100 per cent stakes of the Hampshire Sport & Leisure Holdings Limited (HSLHL), the parent company of the County Cricket Club. As per a report in Cricbuzz. the takeover will be completed in phases within the next 24 months.
The infrastructure company will shell out INR 450 crore initially and will later clear around 50 million pounds locally that the County Cricket Club owes to the local council in Southampton. The pact will also see GMR group settling a liability of INR 1300 crore over a period of time.
The principal terms and conditions were agreed by the parties nearly a year ago, with the Indian company set to get possession of the County’s home ground and golf course, along with the Hilton hotel which is close by to the Utilita Bowl.
It is understood that the leadership group will remain in place after the acquisition with Rod Bransgrove set to continue as chairman until September 2026 and David Mann set to retain his role as the group CEO.
“We are thrilled to welcome Hampshire Cricket into the GMR family. This acquisition is a testament to our commitment to global sports and our belief in the power of cricket to unite people. We look forward to working with the Hampshire team to create a sustainable and successful future for the club,” Grandhi said.
This is the fulfilment of a dream for me and, I hope, for all Hampshire Cricket supporters. Beyond our team’s accomplishments on the field over the past 24 years, we have transformed our stadium into a premier Test Match and events venue and one of the most exceptional cricket and leisure facilities in the country. We have also been pioneers in the development of women’s cricket and have consistently innovated throughout our relatively short history,” Bransgrove said.
