Hundred 2027 format vote private-equity rule changes ECB plan

The England and Wales Cricket Board faces a triple decision around The Hundred 2027 season: whether to admit IPL franchise minority stakes (Mumbai Indians, RCB, GT and PBKS owners have all expressed interest), whether to retain the 100-ball innings format, and whether to revert to a full 120-ball T20 model after seven seasons of the experimental 100-ball variant. The decision is the ECB board's largest commercial and competitive call since The Hundred launched in 2021.

The private-equity question and the IPL ownership angle

The Hundred's private-equity sale process opened in early 2026, with the ECB seeking minority stake buyers for each of the eight franchises. The valuation guidance: 65 to 95 million GBP per franchise (8-team total of approximately 600 to 760 million GBP). The IPL franchise owner expressions of interest include Mumbai Indians' parent Reliance, Royal Challengers Bengaluru's parent United Spirits, Gujarat Titans' parent CVC Capital Partners, and Punjab Kings's investor group. Other expressions of interest: Major League Cricket franchise owner group, two private US sports investment firms, and one Saudi sovereign wealth fund. The ECB's framework requires minority stake (up to 49 percent) with the existing ECB and host-venue partnership retaining majority. The IPL-franchise minority stakes question is the most politically sensitive because it creates cross-league commercial alignment.

The 100-ball format debate

The Hundred's signature 100-ball innings format (20 sets of 5 balls per side, with a 10-ball over option) has produced mixed reactions from the players and a stable but not exceptional broadcaster response. The proponents of the 100-ball format argue: differentiation from T20, faster scoring rates per ball (1.45 runs per ball average across past three seasons vs T20's 1.39), and a unique product for English summer audiences. The opponents argue: the 100-ball format complicates international player adaptation, the strategy game is constrained by the 10-ball over rule, and the unique format creates a barrier to product distribution in Indian subcontinent markets. The ECB has commissioned a stakeholder survey (broadcasters, players, fans, host venues) due by August 2026. Watch our Hundred 2026 schedule reference for the wider context.

The T20 conversion option

A T20 conversion (reverting to 120-ball innings under standard T20 rules) is the third option. The arguments for: simpler product distribution, easier broadcaster integration with T20 leagues globally, alignment with the men's and women's T20 World Cup formats. The arguments against: loss of differentiation, loss of the 100-ball brand investment, broadcaster contract complications with the SuperSport, Sky, and Disney Hotstar deals that priced specifically against the 100-ball product. The ECB's commercial team has modelled the T20 conversion scenario as producing 8 to 12 percent broadcast revenue uplift in subcontinent markets, but 4 to 6 percent broadcast revenue decline in UK markets. The net effect is roughly neutral, which is part of why the decision is genuinely open.

The scheduling tension and the ECB calendar

The Hundred occupies an 18-day window in late July through mid-August. The 2027 calendar's tension: the LA 2028 Olympic cricket window pulls senior players from the participating six men's nations in 2028, but in 2027 there is no Olympic conflict. The Hundred's strategic window is being protected. The County Championship calendar has been compressed to clear the Hundred window. The Women's Hundred runs in parallel with the men's competition. The T20 Blast, which the Hundred competes with for cricket-fan attention, has been moved to earlier in July to avoid the overlap. The scheduling tension is manageable, but the decisions around private-equity and format are not.

What changes and who benefits, who loses

The most likely outcome: ECB confirms minority private-equity sales (with IPL-franchise stakes capped at 35 percent to limit cross-league alignment), retains the 100-ball format for 2027 with a five-year review built in, and adjusts the franchise revenue-share structure to give private-equity stakeholders a 20 percent revenue share. The IPL franchise owners get the cross-league commercial alignment they seek. The ECB gets the cash injection (approximately 350 million GBP across the eight franchises). The host venues retain partnership majority. The losers: Major League Cricket franchise owner group, who lose out on the IPL-funded competition. The Sky Sports broadcast contract gets a five-year extension at premium rates conditional on format retention. For more context, see our Mumbai Indians ownership archive and the Hundred 2026 schedule reference.