London – The Silicon Valley collective that paid £144 million for a 49 per cent share in London Spirit believes English cricket’s short-form competition can grow into “a mutli-billion dollar product” comparable to the Indian Premier League.
Nikesh Arora, chief executive of cyber-security firm Palo Alto Networks and head of the group trading as Cricket Investor Holdings, spent this week at Lord’s meeting players, members and Marylebone Cricket Club officials. The consortium, nicknamed the Tech Titans, now runs the Spirit in a joint venture with MCC, assuming day-to-day control from 1 October.
“We’ve never had buyer’s remorse. We’ve never been stressed about what we paid,” Arora said while watching Spirit’s opening fixtures. “I have more people who want to be part of the consortium now than I had before I made the investment, so it’s not a problem. Many of them are here; they flew from the US to come watch it. This is a passion for every one of us… It’s going to be fun.”
Around 15 members of the group – including the chief executives of Google, Adobe and YouTube – flew in for the double-header on Tuesday. Satyan Gajwani, vice-chair of Times Internet, remarked that “not even the World Economic Forum could bring them all together.” They joined a Spirit training session on Monday, chatting with head coach Justin Langer and new captain Kane Williamson, then took dinner in the Long Room before occupying an Edrich Stand suite for match day. Spirit’s women edged out Oval Invincibles; the men stumbled to 80 all out.
Spirit chair Mark Nicholas has already promised members a “major relaunch” once the handover is complete. The club name is expected to stay, at least for next season, but new sponsors and a kit redesign are on the way, with early sketches featuring discreet MCC egg-and-bacon trim.
For Arora, the appeal is partly romantic – “This is a way to get involved with one of the most storied and hallowed grounds in the world,” he said – yet the investment case is hard-nosed. The eight franchises were valued at roughly £975 million earlier this year. Six deals are now signed, with Cain International and Reliance Industries close to sealing stakes in Trent Rockets and Oval Invincibles once the 2025 campaign ends.
Arora argues that eight fresh owners arriving at the same time gives the tournament “momentum and alignment” that the IPL enjoyed in its early years. “The IPL started from nowhere, and became a multi-billion dollar product. Why couldn’t this be that product? It’s not just us, there are eight new shareholders, give or take, across eight new franchises.”
He talks about data-driven fan engagement – second-screen apps, dynamic ticket pricing, AI-generated highlights – but stresses that the cricket has to come first. “It’s like bringing our passions to our work,” he noted, emphasising that the consortium will lean on MCC’s tradition while modernising the off-field experience.
Those inside the Hundred bubble know the challenges: a crowded calendar, resistance from parts of the county game, and, crucially, capturing global television money without alienating local supporters. Still, investor appetite is clear. One senior ECB official, speaking privately, believes the new owners could double the league’s value inside five years if international stars keep turning up and domestic scheduling remains favourable.
For the Spirit, immediate priorities are simpler: lifting the men’s side off the foot of the table and defending last year’s women’s title. Langer, never shy of a blunt assessment, called Tuesday’s 80 all out “a reality check”. Williamson, still adjusting to the 100-ball tempo, sighed: “Plenty to work on, mate.”
The Tech Titans insist hiccups on the field won’t derail the broader vision. Arora, boarding a late flight back to California, smiled when asked about the comparison with cricket’s richest league. “Why not aim high?” he shrugged, before adding, with a nod to the pavilion, “There’s nowhere better to start.”
