Sanjiv Goenka Secures Manchester Originals in The Hundred for £107M, Outbidding IPL Rival

Kolkata-based business tycoon Sanjiv Goenka, owner of Lucknow Super Giants and Durban Super Giants, has successfully acquired the Manchester Originals franchise in The Hundred tournament. The chairman of RPSG Group outbid strong competition, including an IPL team, in an intense e-auction process.

According to reports, the acquisition deal is valued at £107 million, nearly half of what London Spirit fetched (£195 million) when it was sold to a group of US-based tech billionaires. Goenka had previously shown interest in purchasing London Spirit but later shifted his focus to Manchester Originals.

The identities of the other bidders remain undisclosed, but it was widely speculated that the Glazer family (owners of Manchester United) and CVC Capital might have been in the race. However, neither participated.

It is understood that Goenka faced stiff competition from an IPL franchise and a tech consortium before eventually securing the deal. While the rival IPL team was not officially named, strong speculation suggests it could have been the Knight Riders franchise, backed by Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan.

With this acquisition, Goenka further strengthens his presence in global cricket leagues, adding another high-profile team to his growing sports empire.