Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise Delhi Capitals (DC) is all set to expand its roots to English county cricket by considering an investment in the Hampshire County cricket club.

According to reports, the GMR Group, co-owners of the Delhi Capitals (DC), is in talks with the Hampshire County cricket club about buying stakes in the club.

The former Hampshire chairman, Rod Bransgrove, who currently owns the majority share of the club, is reportedly close to finalizing the deal with the GMR Group. Bransgrove was in charge of Hampshire for nearly 23 years and holds more than 60 percent of the shares in the Hampshire CCC.

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The report said: “Hampshire County Cricket Club’s majority shareholder is in advanced talks to sell his stake to the part-owners of Indian Premier League team Delhi Capitals. If the deal comes to fruition, it will make Hampshire the first county side “to be owned by an overseas franchise.”

This move could provide GMR, the potential buyer, with a strategic position in English cricket, especially with the rising popularity of The Hundred tournament. It may also offer a "first-mover advantage" for GMR and help the DC in nurturing and developing their own players.

Additionally, there are reports that the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) is considering opening up 50% stakes in some Hundred teams and allowing host counties to sell their shares.

Notably, GMR holds a 50% ownership in the Delhi Capitals for both the IPL, and the Women’s Premier League (WPL). They are also the owner of Dubai Capitals in the UAE’s ILT20 and have a stake in the Seattle Orcas, a team in the USA's Major League Cricket.

(With PTI Inputs)