New Delhi: While growing up in Hyderabad Satya Nadella the CEO of Microsoft had three posters on his bedroom wall that might seem an unusual combination. They featured philosopher Karl Marx the Goddess of wealth Lakshmi and the attractive cricketer ML Jaisimha who was well-regarded among cricket enthusiasts. In a past interview Nadella mentioned that he missed the exciting period of Sachin Tendulkars debut after relocating to the United States in 1988. Nikesh Arora a prominent figure in the US corporate landscape and CEO of Palo Alto Networks recently shared that he and his fellow Silicon Valley associates many of whom are of Indian descent and work for Fortune 1000 companies rise at 4 AM to watch the Indian Premier League. They also make time to watch Test matches. During the intense discussions surrounding anti-trust laws in 2021 Google CEO Sundar Pichai managed to keep up with Rishabh Pants impressive performance in Brisbane tweeting about it as “one of the greatest Test series wins ever.” A shared love for cricket and a desire to revisit childhood interests in the realm of baseball unites many Indians including those who are business competitors. Recently 11 Indian-American cricket enthusiasts gained the title of part-owners of the historic Lord’s cricket ground in London a significant milestone as they became the first private partners at this venue in over two centuries. This opportunity came with a hefty cost of 144 million pounds which translates to approximately Rs 1500 crore a figure that is quite staggering for many in India. The opportunity arose when the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) decided to auction 49 percent of the eight teams playing ‘The Hundred’ – the contest for supremacy in cricket’s latest variation the four-year-old barely breathing format in need of a cylinderful of fiscal oxygen. This created opportunities for certain elite cricket clubs. Cricket fans in Silicon Valley likely seized this opportunity. Although it involved only a small ownership share for a single tournament without any additional rights or influence it appears to have been a valuable investment. A unique opportunity has led to the formation of a consortium that resembles a corporate Dream Team. Named Cricket Investor Holdings Limited this group is led by Arora from Palo Alto and includes notable figures such as Pichai and Nadella as well as the CEOs of Adobe and Silver Lake Management Shantanu Narayen and Egon Durban. Additionally Satyan Gajwani the vice-chairman of Times Internet is also a member of this consortium. It is important to note that these are personal investments made by prominent cricket fans and there is no connection to the organizations they are associated with. The identities of the other investors in the group have not been disclosed yet. This season of The Hundred will see not only American NRIs but also numerous other Indians holding ownership positions at prominent English venues. Could this signal the beginning of an Indian influence in the English cricket scene? It was evident from the beginning that bidders at the auction were primarily interested in the two London teams the London Spirit and the Oval Invincibles. While teams from Leeds Birmingham Manchester Southampton Nottingham and Cardiff were also available they could not compete with the appeal of Lord’s Oval or London. While wealthy investors from Silicon Valley acquired a prestigious asset for a significant sum the Oval in London has now become the new base for the Mumbai Indians a major cricket franchise supported by Reliance Industries. In a deal considered a significant bargain MI acquired a London team for 60 million pounds approximately Rs 650 crore which is only half of what the Silicon Valley consortium spent. This team boasts the strongest record in The Hundred and has a partnership with a county that has a more favorable financial standing than Lord’s along with a considerably larger stadium. With MI looking to expand into a multi-team global franchise this auction was essential. Sanjeev Goenka the new owner of the Lucknow SuperGiants in the IPL invested approximately Rs 885 crore to become the majority owner of Manchester Originals at Old Trafford. He acquired a 70 percent stake marking Lancashire as the first county to sell its share. The Sunrisers Hyderabad an IPL team has made a significant move by becoming the first team to acquire full ownership of a Hundred franchise. On Wednesday they reportedly invested Rs 1100 crores in the Northern Superchargers which is based in Yorkshire. Additionally the Welsh Fire franchise from Cardiff has also attracted an Indian investor Sanjay Govil a former IBM employee and IT entrepreneur who invested approximately Rs 437 crore. Does this imply that the new investors from Silicon Valley who partnered with Lord excessively spent Rs 1500 crore? Were they overly enthusiastic or driven by the aspiration to join an impressive legacy? Experts suggest that it is unwise to critique the expenditures of a group of business magnates recognized for their forward-thinking approach. “This is not a P&L (Profit and Loss) game this is all about valuation. This is a strategic investment you are putting your money in cricket how can you miss out on England? It’s where every innovation has started” a source says. But in a world where T20 rules was The Hundred the wrong horse to back? Though the MoUs remain classified and dots not placed on i’s and t’s yet to be crossed the grapevine has it that nothing is etched in stone. “It can start as The Hundred but things can always change. It can one day become a T20 tournament since it’s the most popular format. The investors have paid a lot their voice will be important” said someone in the know. Is it possible for another T20 league to significantly impact the sport or justify a substantial financial commitment given the numerous leagues already in existence globally? The investment in Indian T20 leagues is not exclusive as many IPL franchises also participate in leagues across South Africa the USA and the Emirates. Additionally prominent figures from Silicon Valley are funding Major League Cricket indicating that this trend is not particularly novel either. The primary factor contributing to the IPLs status as the leading global limited-over franchise tournament is the involvement of prominent Indian players. The BCCI has rigorously maintained its exclusive control preventing its players from participating in other leagues. Players only get the opportunity to join other leagues after they retire and are no longer part of the IPL. A recent instance of this is wicketkeeper Dinesh Karthik who is now playing for the Paarl Royals in the SA20.