'Will struggle to match even CPL': IPL founder warns team owners against investing in The Hundred

In a scathing critique, Lalit Modi, the founder of the Indian Premier League ( IPL ), has dismissed the England and Wales Cricket Board's (ECB) financial projections for The Hundred as "disconnected from reality." Modi, who conceptualized the IPL in 2008, cast doubt on The Hundred's ability to attract an international audience and achieve the ECB's lofty revenue targets.

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Lalit Modi warns IPL team owners

Lalit Modi's criticism comes as the ECB seeks investment from deep-pocketed Indian investors, including IPL team owners, to bolster The Hundred's financial prospects. However, Modi's analysis suggests that even the most optimistic valuations for The Hundred franchises would pale in comparison to IPL teams, which are valued at over USD 1 billion.

The ECB's projections for The Hundred's international TV rights and sponsorship growth post-2027 have been labeled as "overly optimistic" and "wishful thinking" by Modi. He points out that The Hundred's teams are projected to be worth a mere GBP 5 million to GBP 25 million, with Manchester potentially reaching GBP 8.5 million, a far cry from the IPL 's media rights deal of USD 6.2 billion.

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Furthermore, Modi claims that The Hundred's financial projections are even less convincing when compared to the Caribbean Premier League (CPL), which he believes The Hundred struggles to match in terms of profitability. This stark assessment raises concerns about the long-term viability of The Hundred, with Modi concluding that the competition is on "shaky financial ground" with "dangerously overambitious and unsustainable" projections.

“By contrast, as per my analysis The Hundred’s teams are projected to be worth a mere GBP 5 million to GBP 25 million in the best-case scenario in my MOST CONSIDERED VIEW, with Manchester maxing out at GBP 8.5 million.” 

“Worse still, 'The Hundred' struggles to match even the Caribbean Premier League’s profitability, a sobering indication of its financial frailty.