GMR Group has completed its full acquisition of Hampshire Cricket. Rod Bransgrove, who guided the county for nearly 25 years, has stepped down from his last remaining role at the club. Kiran Kumar Grandhi, Chairman of GMR Sports, will be the new Chairman of the group from 1st June, 2026, and usher in a new era in one of England’s most prominent counties.
Rod Bransgrove Steps Down After 25 Years at Hampshire Cricket
Rod Bransgrove, 75, has officially stepped away from his last remaining role at Hampshire after nearly a quarter of a century of involvement with the club. The businessman is widely credited with saving Hampshire from insolvency and investing £15 million into the county over the course of his tenure.
Among his most significant contributions was overseeing Hampshire’s departure from Northlands Road in Southampton in 2000, their home ground for 116 years, and developing what is now the Utilita Bowl into a world-class venue. Bransgrove stepped down as Hampshire chair in 2023 but had held on to his position as Group Chairman and majority shareholder of the club’s parent company, Hampshire Sport & Leisure Holdings Limited.
With GMR’s acquisition now fully complete, that final role has also concluded. Bransgrove has been appointed Honorary Life President and will stay on the board as a director and advisor for the next three years.
“This moment brings to a close a chapter that has meant more to me than words can express,” Bransgrove said. “I have immense pride in what we have achieved here and unequivocal confidence that, under GMR’s full ownership, the club and venue are in the safest of hands.”
GMR Group Takes Full Control of Hampshire and Utilita Bowl
GMR Group, an Indian infrastructure conglomerate, first brokered its deal to acquire Hampshire with Bransgrove’s help in 2024. That deal covered the club and its holdings, including the Utilita Bowl site in Southampton.
In 2025, the group further strengthened its position in English cricket when it valued the Hampshire-based Hundred franchise, Southern Brave, at £98 million during the ECB’s equity sale. The completed acquisition now gives GMR full ownership and operational control over both the cricket club and the venue.
Kiran Kumar Grandhi, who has been described as a driving force behind GMR’s entry into the sports sector, takes the chair with considerable experience in cricket administration. He has overseen GMR’s management of Delhi Capitals, formerly Delhi Daredevils, in the IPL since the group’s acquisition of the franchise.
GMR’s Growing Cricket Portfolio Spans Four Continents
The Hampshire acquisition adds to what is already an extensive cricket operation for GMR. Beyond the IPL, the group is directly involved in Dubai Capitals in the ILT20 and Seattle Orcas in Major League Cricket, covering three of the world’s most competitive T20 leagues alongside their English interests.
Grandhi acknowledged Bransgrove’s contribution to building Hampshire into its current standing, stating that his leadership had transformed both the club and the Utilita Bowl into a world-class sporting and leisure destination.
Hampshire’s transition now moves forward fully under GMR’s ownership, with Grandhi at the helm from the start of June 2026.
For more cricket news and updates, follow JeetWin Blog!
The post Hampshire Fully Acquired by GMR Group; Kiran Kumar Grandhi Named Chair appeared first on JeetWin Blog.
