The Hundred 2026: Complete Guide to Team Rebranding, Star Signings, and the Future of English Cricket's Premier Franchise League

The Hundred is undergoing its most significant transformation since the competition's inception, with 2026 marking a watershed moment for English cricket's flagship franchise tournament. Overseas investment has arrived for the first time, bringing with it sweeping changes to team identities, a revolutionary player auction system, and a dramatic increase in salary caps that signals the league's ambition to compete with the world's elite T20 competitions.

Three Franchises Embrace New Identities

In a move that has sent shockwaves through the cricketing world, three of The Hundred's eight franchises have unveiled completely new identities for the 2026 season. Manchester Originals, Oval Invincibles, and Northern Superchargers have been transformed into Manchester Super Giants, MI London, and Sunrisers Leeds respectively.

These rebranding efforts align the English franchises with their new owners' Indian Premier League counterparts, creating global cricket franchise families that span continents. The visual transformation extends beyond names, with all four IPL-owned sides expected to adopt colour schemes that mirror their Indian sister franchises.

The Elephant in the Room: Manchester's Bold New Logo

Perhaps the most talked-about element of the rebranding has been Manchester Super Giants' new logo, which prominently features an elephant's head. The choice has sparked considerable debate on social media, given that elephants are not traditionally associated with north-west England.

Interestingly, the elephant motif doesn't appear on the badges of the Indian or South African sides owned by the same ownership group, making Manchester's choice all the more distinctive and controversial.

Southern Brave, controlled by the owners of Delhi Capitals, have opted for continuity, retaining their existing name while updating their visual identity. The four remaining franchises, backed by American investment groups, are currently in the process of revealing their refreshed branding.

Star-Studded Pre-Auction Signings Reshape the Competition

England's Elite Commit to New Era

The Hundred's new era has attracted—and retained—some of cricket's biggest names. England captain Jos Buttler headlines the Manchester Super Giants' roster, while fellow internationals Jacob Bethell (Birmingham Phoenix), Harry Brook (Sunrisers Leeds), and Jofra Archer (Southern Brave) have committed to their respective franchises.

The women's competition has secured equally impressive talent, with Sophie Ecclestone joining Manchester Super Giants alongside Australian legend Meg Lanning and Indian superstar Smriti Mandhana. Lauren Bell, Kate Cross, and Nat Sciver-Brunt are among the England women's stars who have been retained.

High-Profile Moves Shake Up the Competition

While retentions have dominated headlines, several marquee players are changing allegiances. In the men's competition, Rehan Ahmed, Liam Livingstone, Ben Duckett, Jamie Smith, and Phil Salt have all swapped franchises, promising fresh dynamics across the league.

The women's tournament will see Alice Capsey, Danni Wyatt-Hodge, Sophia Dunkley, and Freya Kemp in new colours, with their moves likely to significantly impact the competitive balance.

International Stars Add Global Flavour

The increased overseas player quota—now four per squad, up from three—has allowed franchises to assemble truly world-class rosters:

• MI London boasts Rashid Khan and Nicholas Pooran alongside Sam Curran and Will Jacks
• Manchester Super Giants have secured Heinrich Klaasen and Afghan spinner Noor Ahmad
• Welsh Fire have captured New Zealand sensation Rachin Ravindra and South African pace ace Marco Jansen
• Southern Brave feature Australian all-rounder Marcus Stoinis and South African power-hitter Tristan Stubbs

Revolutionary Auction System Debuts in March

A Seismic Shift from Draft to Auction

The Hundred is abandoning its previous draft system in favour of a player auction, bringing it in line with established T20 leagues like the IPL, which has used this format since 2008. Any players not signed in the pre-auction window will have both their team and salary determined by the auction process.

Salary Caps See Dramatic Increases

The financial commitment to the competition has grown substantially:

• Men's competition: Salary pot increased by 45% to £2.05 million per franchise
• Women's competition: Salary pot doubled to £880,000 per franchise

These increases represent a significant statement of intent and should help The Hundred attract and retain top-tier talent from around the world.

Star Names Available at Auction

Several high-profile players remain unsigned heading into the auction. England veterans Joe Root, Jonny Bairstow, Adil Rashid, Chris Woakes, and James Anderson are all available, presenting intriguing opportunities for franchises.

The three-time champions MI London (formerly Oval Invincibles) have seen their squad disrupted, with Tom Curran, Jordan Cox, Saqib Mahmood, Sam Billings, and Gus Atkinson all heading to auction.

In the women's game, international stars including Australia's Alana King, Beth Mooney, and Megan Schutt, plus New Zealand captain Sophie Devine, await their auction fate. Emerging talents Sonny Baker, Farhan Ahmed, Davina Perrin, and Tilly Corteen-Coleman could prove bargain acquisitions for shrewd franchises.

Coaching Carousel: A Complete Transformation

Only Two Coaches Retained

The coaching landscape has been revolutionised, with just two head coaches retained from the 2025 season: Ali Maiden at Birmingham Phoenix Women and Mike Hussey at Welsh Fire Men.

IPL Connections Drive Appointments

Justin Langer and Daniel Vettori have moved to franchises aligned with their IPL employers—Lucknow Super Giants and Sunrisers Hyderabad respectively. Andy Flower joins London Spirit, reuniting him with director of cricket Mo Bobat, who holds the same role at Royal Challengers Bengaluru.

Kieron Pollard takes charge at MI London, linking the franchise with Mumbai Indians' cricket operations. Lisa Keightley, coach of Mumbai Indians in the Women's Premier League, brings her expertise to MI London's women's team.

Diversity Challenges Remain

Keightley remains the only female head coach across all sixteen teams, while the number of English coaches employed has decreased from five to four. These statistics highlight ongoing challenges in promoting diversity within coaching ranks.

The Future: Streaming Rights and Beyond

2028 Broadcasting Rights Loom Large

The current broadcasting partnership with Sky Sports runs until 2028, but franchise owners are already looking ahead. Nikesh Arora, heading the Silicon Valley-backed consortium with a 49% stake in London Spirit, has indicated openness to streaming platforms entering the bidding.

"When the opportunity comes up in 2028, they'll be looking at the evolution of the fanbase, viewership and interest. If that means streaming platforms, a little competition never hurt anyone."

Momentum Building for The Hundred

The 2025 season delivered record viewership figures, providing optimism for the competition's trajectory. With increased investment, higher salaries, and global franchise connections, The Hundred appears positioned to challenge the IPL and other major T20 leagues for the world's best talent.

Looking Ahead: What to Watch in 2026

The auction date will be announced on January 26, with fixtures released the following day. Key storylines to follow include:

• How the rebranded franchises perform under new identities
• Whether the auction system produces competitive balance or consolidates power among wealthier franchises
• The impact of increased overseas player quotas on squad dynamics
• Performance of high-profile coaching appointments
• Continued growth in viewership and commercial metrics

The Hundred's fifth season promises to be its most transformative yet, with the competition taking bold steps to establish itself among cricket's elite franchise tournaments. Whether these changes enhance or diminish the competition's unique character remains to be seen, but one thing is certain: English cricket's most controversial creation is entering uncharted territory.