Kolkata Knight Riders owners interested in Hundred franchise if tournament expands

The owners of Indian Premier League side Kolkata Knight Riders would be interested in buying a stake in a new Hundred franchise if the competition expands.

Knight Riders Group (KRG) were among those involved in the bidding when the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) auctioned off stakes in the eight franchises last year.

KRG were in the running for Trent Rockets, who eventually sold a 49% stake to Cain International - the investment firm founded by Chelsea co-owner Todd Boehly and British businessman Jonathan Goldstein - for just under £40m.

BBC Sport understands senior KRG officials decided not to progress with their interest because they felt the franchise was slightly overvalued.

However, they would consider returning to the table again if The Hundred expands from eight franchises to 10.

KRG's interest would potentially give the ECB another major bidder with IPL links when it looks to add new franchises.

Durham and a team in the south west, potentially based in Bristol or Taunton, have previously been touted as possible bases for two new franchises.

The Hundred is unlikely to increase the number of teams before the end of the current media rights cycle, which runs until the end of 2028.

However, adding two teams and more fixtures could increase the value of the next broadcast deal, with expansion possible from 2029.

Sunrisers Leeds, Manchester Super Giants, MI London and Southern Brave are all owned, or part-owned, by groups with IPL links.

KRG own franchises in India, the Caribbean, the UAE and the United States, giving them one of the most extensive portfolios in global franchise cricket.