Reigning champions Oval Invincibles were the first of the eight Hundred teams to agree a private investment deal on Thursday when the owners of Mumbai Indians secured a 49 per cent stake for £60million. The Ambani family, whose cricket umbrella also houses teams in Twenty20 leagues in the United States, United Arab Emirates and South Africa, will now enter an eight-week exclusivity period as winning bidders for the first of eight lots.
![[The ECB have vouched to share the 49 per cent sales of each of the eight teams between the entire professional game]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/30/21/94702055-0-image-a-2_1738272540343.jpg)
The ECB have vouched to share the 49 per cent sales of each of the eight teams between the entire professional game, gifting the remaining 51 per cent to the controlling counties. It is understood that the Invincibles’ landlords Surrey have opted to retain control rather than sell proportions of their majority share. Following the landmark auction, the ECB declined to comment but a source suggested they were pleased with the start of a momentous week for English domestic cricket.
![[A source suggested the ECB were pleased with the start of a momentous week for English domestic cricket]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/30/21/94702071-0-image-a-3_1738272545452.jpg)
All eight teams are scheduled to be bought by parties from various parts of the globe by next Wednesday in a process that is expected to benefit each of the first-class counties to the tune of £15-20million. Reigning champions Oval Invincibles were the first of the eight Hundred teams to agree a private investment deal. The ECB have vouched to share the 49 per cent sales of each of the eight teams between the entire professional game.
A source suggested the ECB were pleased with the start of a momentous week for English domestic cricket. In August, the Invincibles retained their Hundred title after a stunning burst from Saqib Mahmood tore Southern Brave apart at Lord’s. Watched by a near-capacity crowd of nearly 29,000, Mahmood – left out by the Invincibles earlier in the competition – took the big wickets of Leus du Plooy, Kieron Pollard and Laurie Evans in seven balls at a cost of just one run.
