Phoebe Litchfield has called Kaviya Maran a genuinely passionate owner who cares about women’s cricket, not just as a business venture but as something personal. The Australian batter, part of Sunrisers Leeds’ first ever women’s team, praised the franchise CEO after spending time with her during The Hundred 2026.
“Kaviya’s great, very passionate and very happy that we finally got a women’s side. She’s always had a soft spot for women’s cricket, and is really excited to get in the game.”
Phoebe Litchfield, interview with ESPNcricinfo, August 2026
Litchfield’s words come at a time when Sunrisers Leeds are defending the title they won as Northern Superchargers in 2025. The Sun Group completed a full takeover of the franchise earlier this year, becoming the only owner in The Hundred to hold 100 per cent control of both the men’s and women’s sides. The rebrand brought Sunrisers orange to Headingley, linking the Leeds team to Kaviya Maran’s growing global cricket empire that already spans SRH in the IPL and Sunrisers Eastern Cape in the SA20.
What stood out from Litchfield’s account was not the scale of Maran’s business. It was the personal involvement. Litchfield described meeting Maran in Leeds during the group stage, when the team had lost three of their first four matches and qualification looked unlikely.
“We saw her in Leeds when we’d lost… She was like, ‘Well, I’ll be in London [for the knockout stages]…’ and we were like, ‘We’ll be there,’ saying it half-heartedly. But we’re actually going to be here now.”
Phoebe Litchfield, interview with ESPNcricinfo, August 2026
Sunrisers Leeds are now in London. Since Litchfield moved up from No. 3 to open the batting, the defending champions have won four consecutive matches to reach the Eliminator against Southern Brave at The Oval. Litchfield herself has scored 183 runs off 87 balls in her last four innings. Her fifty against Birmingham Phoenix came in just 20 balls, the fastest in women’s Hundred history, and she finished that innings unbeaten on 71 off 33 balls.
After that turnaround, Maran did not just watch from a distance. She sent a personal message to head coach Adrian Birrell.
“She sent a message to Adi the other night that she was very proud. It’s cool to have that connection, and it is nice when the owner really cares, and you can tell that she does.”
Phoebe Litchfield, interview with ESPNcricinfo, August 2026
Litchfield is one of only three players, along with Kate Cross and Annabel Sutherland, who remain from the squad that won last year’s title. The 2026 side operates under new coach Birrell and new captain Dani Gibson, yet Litchfield credits the environment as relaxed and effective. The ownership’s presence during losses, not just celebrations, is part of what creates that environment.
What Kaviya Maran wants to build beyond The Hundred
Maran herself confirmed the long-term vision during her commentary box debut on Sky Sports in late July. Speaking about the Sun Group’s decision to take full control of the franchise, she pointed to the working relationship with Yorkshire County Cricket Club as a foundation.
“I don’t think anything can stop us now. It is a good beginning. I see a lot of orange and I think that is a great start for us.”
Kaviya Maran, Sky Sports commentary, July 26, 2026
“We’ll only grow from here.” 🙌
Sunrisers Leeds owner Kavya Maran shares her thoughts on sole ownership, relationship with the ECB, and the franchise’s vision for the future. 🧡
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— Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) July 26, 2026
The Sunrisers ecosystem now covers three continents. SRH have won one IPL title and reached two more finals. Sunrisers Eastern Cape have won three of the four SA20 seasons. Sunrisers Leeds, in their first season under the new brand, are in the knockout stages of both the men’s and women’s competitions. No other entity in The Hundred controls both sides outright the way Maran’s Sun Group does.
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When a franchise owner sends a personal message to the women’s team coach after a loss-filled group stage, it changes something inside the dressing room. Players notice. It is the difference between an owner who sees the women’s side as a mandatory add-on and one who treats it as a team worth investing emotion into.
Litchfield did not describe a corporate figure making scheduled appearances. She described someone who showed up when the team was losing, who stayed engaged when qualification seemed impossible, and who celebrated privately with the coaching staff when things turned around.
That kind of involvement does not guarantee results, but it builds the trust that allows players to take risks. Litchfield volunteering to move up the order, taking on the powerplay when the top order was struggling, is exactly the kind of decision a player makes when she feels backed by the people above her.
In franchise cricket, where women’s teams often exist as an obligation rather than a priority, an owner who personally tracks results and reaches out to the coach is rare. Litchfield’s words were not just praise. They were confirmation that players can tell the difference.
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Litchfield and Sunrisers Leeds face Southern Brave in the Eliminator on August 14 at The Oval. A win would take them to a Lord’s final, Litchfield’s second in six weeks after winning the T20 World Cup with Australia. For Kaviya Maran, it would mean the first knockout win under the Sunrisers Leeds women’s brand she built from the ground up.
Sources:
SportzWiki, Instagram, August 2026
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