The Hundred 2026 Announces Major Changes

New Ownership and Team Rebranding

The ECB finalised deals for all eight teams late in 2025, valuing each at over £975 million. More than £500 million of that cash is earmarked for reinvestment into English and Welsh cricket. Four of the franchises now sit under ownership groups that also run Indian Premier League clubs, linking the competition more tightly to a global brand. Chelsea co‑owner Todd Boehly joined the investor pool by purchasing a 49 % stake in the Trent Rockets.

Three sides have switched names to mirror their IPL partners. The Northern Superchargers are now SunRisers Leeds, the Oval Invincibles have become MI London, and the Manchester Originals have been rebranded as the Manchester Super Giants. Each of these clubs has updated logos and kits to match the new identity.

Other colour changes reflect IPL ties: Southern Brave moved from green‑black to blue‑red, MI London adopted blue‑gold, and London Spirit shifted from dark blue to purple‑black with red‑yellow trim. SunRisers Leeds swapped purple‑white for orange‑black, while Manchester Super Giants unveiled a red‑white‑yellow badge featuring an elephant.

Updated Kit and Badge Designs

Trent Rockets, Welsh Fire and Birmingham Phoenix are the only clubs to keep their existing badges and shirt colour schemes unchanged. The visual refresh is part of a broader push to align The Hundred’s look with its growing international ownership. The new branding was launched amid a splashy event captured in an image of all eight teams together.

2026 Schedule and Finals

The women’s opener kicks off at 14:45 BST on Tuesday, 21 July, between MI London and SunRisers Leeds at The Oval, followed by the men’s match later that evening. Daily fixtures run through to Wednesday, 12 August, when the group stage concludes for both competitions. An eliminator on Friday, 14 August, pairs the second‑ and third‑placed sides, with the winners meeting the group‑stage winners in the final two days later.

The finals take place as a double header at Lord’s on Sunday, 16 August, showcasing the women’s contest first, then the men’s showdown. The exact match‑times are laid out in the broadcast guide below.

Record‑Breaking Player Signings

The March auction saw teams pre‑sign up to four players each, generating a series of high‑value deals. England white‑ball captain Harry Brook stayed with SunRisers Leeds for £460 k, the most expensive retention. Phil Salt joined Welsh Fire for £450 k, while Jofra Archer remained with Southern Brave for £400 k.

James Coles broke the previous auction record by signing with London Spirit for £390 k, and Jordan Cox also moved to Welsh Fire for £300 k. England veterans Joe Root (£240 k) and Adil Rashid (£250 k) shifted to Welsh Fire and Southern Brave respectively, joining a host of other marquee names.

Key Retentions and Notable Additions

In the women’s block, England captain Nat Sciver‑Brunt and Lauren Bell each stayed for £140 k. Alice Capsey was sold to Birmingham Phoenix for £130 k, while Smriti Mandhana returned after a year’s break with Manchester Super Giants for £90 k. Sophie Devine (£210 k) and Beth Mooney (£210 k) both set the highest women’s price tags, joining Welsh Fire and Trent Rockets respectively.

Southern Brave also secured Issy Wong (£130 k) and local spinners Tilly Corteen‑Coleman (£105 k) and Sarah Glenn (£75 k). Tammy Beaumont, who retired from international duty, signed with Birmingham Phoenix for £70 k, capping off a busy transfer window.

How to Watch on BBC

Coverage spans the BBC’s television, radio and digital platforms, ensuring fans can follow every moment. Sixteen matches will air live on BBC Two and iPlayer, with Isa Guha, Alex Hartley and Amber Sandhu presenting from the sidelines. Veteran pundits Michael Vaughan, Sir Alastair Cook and Phil Tufnell return, joined by newcomers Emilio Gay, Mark Wood, Ajinkya Rahane and Katey Martin.

The broadcast also features World Cup winners Tymal Mills, Ebony Rainford‑Brent, Dawid Malan, Amanda Jade‑Wellington and Carlos Brathwaite as part of the analysis team. Ball‑by‑ball audio commentary runs on BBC Sounds, while radio coverage is spread across BBC Radio 5 Live and 5 Sports Extra.

Fans can stay updated via the BBC Sport website and app, which publish match reports, daily highlights and live text for the knock‑out stages. Social channels—BBC Cricket Instagram, WhatsApp and YouTube—deliver extra snippets, and a new ‘Ravi meets’ series will spotlight a partially‑sightful supporter who captured audiences in 2025.

Full TV Schedule (BST)

• Tuesday, 21 July: MI London v Sunrisers Leeds (14:45 & 18:30)

• Wednesday, 22 July: Southern Brave v Welsh Fire (14:45 & 18:30)

• Sunday, 26 July: Trent Rockets v London Spirit (14:30 & 18:00)

• Sunday, 2 August: MI London v Manchester Super Giants (14:30 & 18:00)

• Tuesday, 4 August: Sunrisers Leeds v London Spirit (15:00 & 18:30)

• Wednesday, 5 August: Trent Rockets v Birmingham Phoenix (15:00 & 18:30)

• Sunday, 9 August: London Spirit v Birmingham Phoenix (14:30 & 18:00)

• Sunday, 16 August: Finals (14:15 & 18:00)

Past Champions Overview

Men’s competition

• 2025 – MI London (formerly Oval Invincibles)

• 2024 – MI London (formerly Oval Invincibles)

• 2023 – MI London (formerly Oval Invincibles)

Women’s competition

• 2025 – Sunrisers Leeds (formerly Northern Superchargers)

• 2022 – MI London (formerly Oval Invincibles)

• 2021 – MI London (formerly Oval Invincibles)

The 2026 campaign promises fresh competition on and off the field, with renewed branding, star‑studded signings and widespread broadcasting across the BBC’s platforms.