Kevin Pietersen, former England captain, helped Hampshire broker a deal with GMR Group in what is the first Indian company’s investment in an English county club. GMR Group is also a co-owner of the IPL franchise, Delhi Capitals, along with JSW Limited.
A deal worth around £ 120 million has been struck between Hampshire and Indian conglomerate GMR, which is set to become the first overseas owner of a county as well as acquire the club’s Utilita Bowl ground.
Pietersen, who played for Hampshire from 2005 to 2010, spent three years under contract with the Delhi franchise in the IPL, formerly known as the Daredevils, and captained them in 2014.
He has now developed a personal friendship with GMR's chairman, Kiran Kumar Grandhi, and the two visited England's T20I against Australia at the Utilita Bowl earlier this month. While Pietersen has no active economic interests in GMR or Hampshire, he is believed to have introduced the two parties informally.
“HISTORIC DAY in English Cricket! Congrats to everyone on this journey. It’s only the start…. LFG!”- Pietersen posted on X in response to the deal's formal announcement.
Rod Bransgrove, chair of Hampshire's parent business, stated that he had spent 18 months meeting with possible investors from "all over the world" and that "four or five" parties had made official bids.
Bransgrove stated that GMR was eventually picked due to its "ethos," "family orientation," and dedication to "social responsibility." Bransgrove confirmed that Pietersen had a role in the deal.
"Kevin takes an ambassadorial role for GMR and we've certainly spoken to him once or twice. He's been very interested in the potential for this because he knows the GMR culture, he knows our culture, and he knows that they're very well-suited to each other. In that respect, yes, he has been involved,” Bransgrove was quoted by ESPNCricinfo.
Kiran Kumar Grandhi also acknowledged Kevin Pietersen’s role in brokering the deal.
“He is a good friend. He knows Rod. He knows me. He is the common link: he is a mutual friend,” Grandhi said.
Bransgrove and David Mann will continue to serve as Hampshire's chair and CEO, respectively, as part of a gradual takeover designed to ensure a peaceful transition of power over the next couple of years.
Some of the monies obtained from the takeover will be used to reduce the club's debt and improve facilities at its home field, which will host an Ashes Test in 2027.
“It’s going to be business as usual for Hampshire, except with the confidence of having GMR behind us. I think this is a landmark occasion in English cricket. Having got to the top table of Test match cricket with an Ashes Test in 2027, our major concern now must be to consolidate that position and expand it.
We’ve got work to do. Although we’re the newest ground, we’re 24 years old now and some bits are beginning to crack a bit. There’s work to be done in and around the ground. Hopefully, with GMR behind us, we’ll be able to raise the capital to get that work done much more quickly than we normally would have done,” Bransgrove stated.
The deal between Hampshire and GMR has been given the green light by the England and Wales Cricket Board.
(ESPNCricinfo/ portsmouth.co.uk inputs)
