Historic Change in Hampshire Cricket
In late November, a modest crowd at Providence Stadium in Guyana witnessed a historic moment: when Tom Prest guided an offbreak from Mahedi Hasan to the leg side, Hampshire made history as the first English county cricket club to compete under foreign ownership.
The logo of GMR Sports, a part of the Indian infrastructure giant GMR Group, adorned Prest’s jersey, reflecting the club’s recent majority shareholder change. While Prest dashed back for two runs, few recognized that this match in Guyana’s Global Super League represented the commencement of Hampshire’s new chapter.
Just two months prior, Rod Bransgrove had disclosed that he had sold his shares in Hampshire Sports and Leisure Holdings Limited. Though UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak sent him a congratulatory letter on what was mistakenly labeled his “retirement,” Bransgrove, now 75, continues as chairman of the club’s parent company until at least September 2026, and will likely maintain some involvement beyond that.
Officially, Bransgrove lost significant control last October, as GMR’s corporate chairman, Kiran Kumar Grandhi, became the majority owner, marking a significant shift in the landscape of English cricket. The deal, valued at approximately £120 million (around $159 million), reflects a surge in Indian investments within the sport and signals a transition away from the traditional model of member-owned county clubs.
GMR’s presence on the south coast solidified in February when they acquired full ownership of Southern Brave, adding the franchise to their expanding cricket network that includes clubs like the Dubai Capitals and Seattle Orcas, along with their flagship team, the Delhi Capitals.
Looking back, Bransgrove, who took over as chairman 25 years ago, transformed Hampshire from a struggling club into a premier cricket entity. His pivotal decisions enabled the club to make striking advances in various formats, establishing a foundation for future success under GMR’s leadership. As the club begins this new era, the future looks promising for Hampshire cricket.
