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Former England captain Kevin Pietersen praised India’s substantial financial commitment to English cricket, particularly through the recent auction for The Hundred teams conducted by the England & Wales Cricket Board (ECB). Several Indian investors, including Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise owners, secured stakes in various teams during the high-profile bidding process.
As a cricketer-turned-commentator, Pietersen emphasized India’s remarkable influence on global cricket, expressing his belief that this fresh influx of capital would greatly benefit English county cricket.
Kevin Pietersen shared his thought
“At the end of the day, if you don’t think that India runs the world of cricket, then you are an absolute idiot, and anyone arguing otherwise is clearly deluded. So, when you actually look at what India is doing for global cricket and the amount of cash that has been injected into English cricket over the last couple of weeks, it’s simply amazing—brilliant for both world and English cricket,” Pietersen said while speaking to reporters at an event.
Pietersen also shared his thoughts on South Africa’s SA20, where all six teams in the league are owned by IPL franchise owners. The 44-year-old expressed his hope that The Hundred, following its association with Indian investors, would flourish just as successfully as the SA20.
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“I think it’s amazing what’s happening in English cricket, especially considering that many counties are really struggling. Now, with this cash injection—most of it coming from India—it’s incredible. Just look at what they’ve accomplished in South Africa. I was there last week covering the SA20, and the stadiums were packed. The ownership is entirely IPL teams, everyone is happy, and the quality of cricket is outstanding. So, I believe this can only be a positive development,” the 44-year-old concluded.
Last week, the owners of Mumbai Indians secured a 49% stake in The Hundred franchise, Oval Invincibles, through a successful bid. Meanwhile, on Monday, February 3, Sanjiv Goenka’s RPSG Group, which operates Lucknow Super Giants, emerged as the winner in the race to acquire a stake in the franchise.
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