Cricket has always been close to Sundar Pichai’s heart. A fan of Sunil Gavaskar and later Sachin Tendulkar, Pichai once dreamt of becoming a cricketer himself. Although that dream didn’t materialize, it didn’t dim his love for the sport. Now, as the CEO of Google, Pichai continues to follow cricket passionately, often sharing his enthusiasm on social media and making appearances at high-profile matches. His viral photo with Tendulkar during the India-England clash at the 2019 World Cup remains a testament to his fandom.
Pichai’s cricket love has now extended to the business domain. According to Bloomberg, he and a group of Silicon Valley executives are exploring the purchase of a franchise in England’s The Hundred cricket league. The group, comprising Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella, Adobe CEO Shantanu Narayen, Palo Alto Networks CEO Nikesh Arora, and Times Internet’s Satyan Gajwani, plans to invest $97 million. They are reportedly targeting the Oval Invincibles, the current men’s champions, or London Spirit, the reigning women’s champions.
All members of this coalition share Indian roots and a deep connection to cricket. Nadella and Narayen already hold significant stakes in the USA’s Major League Cricket, further emphasizing their commitment to the sport.
With its fast-paced 100-ball matches, The Hundred has gained immense popularity since its inception in 2021. Pichai’s potential involvement could bring a new dimension to the league, blending his tech expertise with his enduring cricket passion, as fans eagerly await developments in this exciting venture.
