Jude Bellingham Receives Grand Welcome from Ravi Shastri at The Hundred
Real Madrid and England midfielder Jude Bellingham made a special appearance at The Hundred in Edgbaston, where he was welcomed by Ravi Shastri, greeted by fans, and celebrated his growing role as Birmingham Phoenix co-owner ahead of the new La Liga season.
August 02, 2026: Real Madrid midfielder Jude Bellingham received a warm welcome from former India head coach and renowned commentator Ravi Shastri during his visit to Edgbaston on Saturday. The England football star attended The Hundred double-header between Birmingham Phoenix and Welsh Fire, delighting fans with his appearance.
Bellingham was introduced on the field before the start of play alongside Birmingham Phoenix men's captain Donovan Ferreira and Welsh Fire skipper Phil Salt. As Ravi Shastri welcomed the 23-year-old, the Edgbaston crowd responded with loud cheers, giving the Real Madrid midfielder a memorable reception.
The England international shared a brief conversation with Shastri before spending time with supporters around the stadium. He signed autographs, posed for photographs, and interacted with fans who had gathered in large numbers to catch a glimpse of one of football's biggest stars.
Shastri later shared pictures of the meeting on social media and praised Bellingham's achievements.
"Great to have Birmingham's own galáctico, @BellinghamJude, in the house for the toss at The Hundred. What a player. What a World Cup. Class written all over him. Good luck for the season ahead!"
The visit came just a day after Bellingham attended his boyhood club Birmingham City's pre-season friendly against Barcelona at St Andrew's. He was accompanied at Edgbaston by his parents, Mark and Denise, as he watched Birmingham Phoenix's women's team edge Welsh Fire in a thrilling contest.
Ravi Shastri with Jude Bellingham.
What is this crossover ðŸ˜pic.twitter.com/9Tq3HWz4eK
— Dr Yash  (@YashRMFC) August 1, 2026
Bellingham Strengthens His Connection with Birmingham Phoenix
Bellingham's appearance reflected his growing commitment to Birmingham Phoenix, a franchise in which he became a co-owner earlier this year. The England midfielder purchased a 1.2 per cent stake in the team, reportedly worth around £1 million.
The franchise is jointly owned by Warwickshire County Cricket Club and American investment firm Knighthead Capital. To complete the investment, Bellingham acquired a 0.6 per cent stake each from Warwickshire and Knighthead. Following the deal, Knighthead's ownership was reduced from 49 per cent to 48.4 per cent.
Knighthead also owns Birmingham City Football Club, where Bellingham developed through the academy before establishing himself as one of Europe's finest midfielders.
The Real Madrid star has a long-standing connection with cricket. Having grown up in Stourbridge, he played junior cricket for Hagley Cricket Club during his teenage years and has remained a passionate follower of the sport.
Bellingham is currently enjoying a well-earned break after helping England secure a third-place finish at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. He played a key role throughout the tournament, scoring seven goals and providing one assist in eight appearances.
The 23-year-old is expected to rejoin his Real Madrid teammates soon for pre-season training as the Spanish giants prepare for the start of the new La Liga campaign. His appearance at The Hundred once again highlighted his close ties with Birmingham and his passion for cricket beyond the football field.
