Surrey's Oval Invincibles Franchise Gets New Name as Indian Co-owners Take Over
The Hundred's most successful franchise, Oval Invincibles, is set to undergo a significant name change ahead of next year's season. The team will now be known as MI London, following an agreement with new co-owners from the Ambani family.
As part of the deal, Surrey will retain a 51% stake in the franchise, while the Reliance company – owned by the wealthy Indian business dynasty – will hold a 49% share worth £123m. The sale completes the final piece of the puzzle for the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) as it offloads equity stakes in its Hundred franchises.
The rebranding has already been welcomed by Surrey's chairman, Oli Slipper, who praises the partnership with Reliance as bringing a "significant depth of cricket and business expertise" to the franchise. With this new name change, both the men's and women's teams will now compete under the MI London banner.
This significant development marks another expansion of the Ambani family's portfolio, which currently includes Mumbai Indians in the Indian Premier League, MI Cape Town in SA20, and MI Emirates in ILT20, with a foray into Major League Cricket with the new arrival, MI New York. The partnership also highlights Reliance's growing ambitions to expand its cricket presence globally.
For Surrey, the rebranding is seen as an opportunity to boost the fanbase at home and abroad. With this change, the franchise aims to capitalize on the support of its Indian co-owners, who are known for their significant investments in international sports. The impact of this new partnership will be closely watched by cricket enthusiasts, with MI London set to take center stage in the Hundred tournament from 2026.
The Hundred's most successful franchise, Oval Invincibles, is set to undergo a significant name change ahead of next year's season. The team will now be known as MI London, following an agreement with new co-owners from the Ambani family.
As part of the deal, Surrey will retain a 51% stake in the franchise, while the Reliance company – owned by the wealthy Indian business dynasty – will hold a 49% share worth £123m. The sale completes the final piece of the puzzle for the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) as it offloads equity stakes in its Hundred franchises.
The rebranding has already been welcomed by Surrey's chairman, Oli Slipper, who praises the partnership with Reliance as bringing a "significant depth of cricket and business expertise" to the franchise. With this new name change, both the men's and women's teams will now compete under the MI London banner.
This significant development marks another expansion of the Ambani family's portfolio, which currently includes Mumbai Indians in the Indian Premier League, MI Cape Town in SA20, and MI Emirates in ILT20, with a foray into Major League Cricket with the new arrival, MI New York. The partnership also highlights Reliance's growing ambitions to expand its cricket presence globally.
For Surrey, the rebranding is seen as an opportunity to boost the fanbase at home and abroad. With this change, the franchise aims to capitalize on the support of its Indian co-owners, who are known for their significant investments in international sports. The impact of this new partnership will be closely watched by cricket enthusiasts, with MI London set to take center stage in the Hundred tournament from 2026.
... I mean, Oval Invincibles was a sick brand 
! Surrey's been around for ages and had an iconic identity, and now it's just gonna be some generic MI London? It feels like they're losing their history and culture 
. Don't get me wrong, the new co-owners are probably gonna bring in some fresh cash and expertise, but can't we keep a little bit of that old Surrey charm? 
Also, have they thought through how this might affect Surrey's identity as a franchise? I mean, are the fans really going to be swayed by the fact that their team has an Indian co-owner with deep pockets? 
It's definitely interesting to see how MI London will fare in the Hundred tournament next year... but let's keep an eye on it and make sure Surrey's interests aren't being sacrificed at the altar of Ambani's business ambitions 
the data is insane! Surrey's Oval Invincibles just went from £0 value to £123m worth 
, and now they're getting a new name change 
... did you know that Reliance's Ambani family has already got their hands on franchises in IPL, SA20, ILT20 & soon ML Cricket? 
in 2020... and with MI London now on board, it's gonna be lit 
for fans at home & abroad! 
Surrey's been doin alright w/ oval invincibles, so its prob a good move 4 them 2 get some extra cash 
This rebranding news has got me intrigued - I mean, can you imagine Surrey's Oval Invincibles being known as MI London? It's like a fresh coat of paint on an old building 
. The partnership with Reliance is definitely going to bring some new energy to the franchise, especially with their extensive experience in managing sports teams globally. But I'm curious, will this change affect the team's identity and fanbase in Surrey? Will they be able to maintain that sense of local pride amidst this global rebranding? 
This name change might seem like a big deal, but I think it's actually an opportunity for Surrey to grow and attract more fans to their franchise! The new co-owners from Reliance are bringing some serious expertise and investment to the table. Can't wait to see how MI London does in the Hundred tournament next year 
I guess time will tell if MI London can live up to the hype... 
Guess only time will tell if MI London lives up to the hype 
) to help take their franchise to the next level. And can we talk about how awesome it is for Indian cricket fans to have more representation? 
It's all about connection and community, you know? The fact that MI London is going to be a hub for international talent and support is so exciting 
. I'm curious to see how this new partnership will manifest in the world of cricket – and beyond! 
just heard that Oval Invincibles is getting a name change to MI London! 
but i trust the decision of the chairman and the new co-owners from Reliance. 51% stake for Surrey is a great deal btw 
The Hundred is about bringing new excitement to cricket, not about selling out to big corporations 
. And now there's MI New York in Major League Cricket? I still remember when the Big Bang was all the rage 
. The Hundred is just one of those things that's happening so fast, it's hard to keep up!
The fact that Reliance is on board is amazing, can you imagine the cricket expertise and business acumen they'll bring? 
... but hey, maybe this new name will bring some fresh energy to the team 
️!
? On a serious note though, this partnership with Reliance is interesting, especially since they're already killing it in IPL. Will the fans of Surrey be able to handle a new name and ownership