Kavya Maran confirmed on camera that becoming the 100 percent owner of the Hundred franchise was always the Sun Group’s intention, not a decision made after the opportunity arose.
Speaking to Michael Atherton during The Hundred 2026 broadcast, Maran was asked whether acquiring full ownership of the franchise was an easy decision.
“Absolutely. That was always our plan from the beginning. We also have a great relationship with Yorkshire, and they’ve been…”
Kavya Maran, The Hundred broadcast interview, July 26, 2026
The statement is significant because the Sun Group is the only franchise in The Hundred to hold a 100 percent stake. Every other team sold partial equity to private investors. Reliance Industries bought 49 percent of MI London. RPSG Group took 70 percent of Manchester Super Giants. The Sun Group bought all of it.
The deal was completed on July 30, 2025. The Sun Group purchased 49 percent from the ECB and 51 percent from Yorkshire County Cricket Club for a combined valuation of £100 million. Initial payments of approximately £50 million were made at completion, with the remainder due once operational control was assumed on October 1, 2025. In November 2025, the franchise was renamed from Northern Superchargers to Sunrisers Leeds.
🔴 NOTHING CAN STOP US NOW – KAVYA MARAN BIG STATEMENT 🤯
Michael Atherton🎙️: Was it an easy decision to become the 100% owners of the franchise?
Maran🎙️: Absolutely. That was always our plan from the beginning. We also have a great relationship with Yorkshire, and they’ve been… pic.twitter.com/V4XGBMDMNE
— Sam (@cricsam02) July 26, 2026
Maran’s use of the word “always” is worth noting. It confirms that the Sun Group entered the ECB’s private investment process with the goal of outright ownership, not a minority stake. That separates their approach from every other buyer in The Hundred.
The Sun Group has officially renamed Northern Superchargers as Sunrisers Leeds after acquiring a 100% stake in the franchise.
The media conglomerate also owns the IPL franchise Sunrisers Hyderabad and the SA20 team Sunrisers Eastern Cape, further expanding its global cricket… pic.twitter.com/jUuwsuzPAZ
— CricTracker (@Cricketracker) November 4, 2025
Why Yorkshire Sold Their Entire Stake
Yorkshire were the only host county to sell 100 percent of their holding in their Hundred franchise. Every other county retained a share. Yorkshire could not afford to.
The county had debts of approximately £25 million. Around £15 million was owed to the family trust of chair Colin Graves. Another £7 million sat in private loans. Roughly £3 million was owed to the bank. Reports indicated Yorkshire were heading towards administration without the cash injection from the Hundred sale.
“The deal puts the Club in a strong financial position, which has been far from the case for many years here, and we can start looking towards a very bright future.”
Sanjay Patel, Yorkshire CCC CEO, Yorkshire CCC official statement, July 30, 2025
Yorkshire received approximately £40 million from selling their 51 percent stake. A further £18 to £20 million came through their share of the ECB’s central sales pot. For the first time in years, Yorkshire could clear their debts entirely and begin planning ahead.
This financial reality is part of why Maran’s plan was achievable. Most counties held onto a share of their Hundred franchise because they could afford to. Yorkshire needed to sell everything. The Sun Group wanted to buy everything. The two positions aligned.
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When a franchise owner holds 100 percent, they control every decision that affects what happens on the field. Coaching appointments, player retention, auction strategy, academy development. There is no county board to consult, no co-investor to negotiate with.
In shared ownership setups, selection conversations often involve people protecting different interests. A county might want their local player for fan engagement. An investor might want the overseas marquee name for brand value. A coach wants the best eleven regardless of politics. At Sunrisers Leeds, that friction does not exist.
Maran’s confirmation that full ownership was always the plan tells you this is not just a financial investment. It is a deliberate move to build the kind of single-vision environment that the Sunrisers brand has operated across the IPL and SA20. Sunrisers Eastern Cape won three SA20 titles in four seasons under this exact model. The Hundred is now the third league where the Sun Group operates with total control.
Maran has spoken publicly about her vision for the franchise beyond results. At the time of the acquisition in July 2025, she said the investment was driven by a desire to bring more women and younger fans into cricket, calling The Hundred “a game changer.” Before the 2026 season, she shared a message with the fan base saying the team was “ready to go hard, ready to go fearless, ready to play with fire.”
The Sun Group now operates cricket franchises across three continents: Sunrisers Hyderabad in the IPL, Sunrisers Eastern Cape in the SA20, and Sunrisers Leeds in The Hundred. Hyderabad won the IPL title in 2016. Eastern Cape won the SA20 in 2023, 2024, and 2026. The Leeds franchise, under its previous name Northern Superchargers, finished third in the 2025 season with five wins in eight matches. This season, Sunrisers Leeds beat Southern Brave by five runs on July 25 for their first win of the 2026 campaign.
Maran’s statement to Atherton was not just a comment about a business decision. It was a public declaration of intent from the only franchise owner in The Hundred who holds complete control, confirming she planned it that way from the start.
Sources:
The Hundred broadcast interview, July 26, 2026 shared by @cricsam02, X, July 26, 202
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