A new era for The Hundred looms as pre-auction signings finalised ahead of sixth season

It will be a landmark year for The Hundred as the controversial city-based competition gets set to enter a new era with overseas investment that promises to deliver the biggest season to date.

The unique identity of three franchises since inception in 2021 have been altered to reflect the global IPL influence entering the English game, squad rosters will undergo the biggest shake-up yet to render past editions unrecognisable and even the iconic KP Snacks branding has been reduced to the sleeves of the kits.

Ahead of the first auction in major UK sport, which will see a minimum of 96 players sold in the men’s section, we recap all the key changes that have already been implemented.

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The elephant in the room

The sales process last year saw deals agreed with global strategic partners to each acquire a stake in one of the eight franchise teams, worth a combined total value in the region of £975 million.

Four of the franchises are now fronted by IPL-led investment, whilst the remaining four have been backed by American private equity firms and tech entrepreneurs.

There have been a number of branding changes revealed to align with new ownership, including Oval Invincibles – the most successful side across both the men’s and women’s competition – who will now be called MI London.

Manchester Originals and Northern Superchargers also have new identities to mirror their new franchise family – becoming Manchester Super Giants and Sunrisers Leeds respectively – but owners of the Delhi Capitals, who now control Southern Brave, opted against such a name change.

New identities

They say all publicity is good publicity, but the decision by the RPSG Group to unveil the head of an elephant on MSG’s new badge, in place of a cricket bat as seen on the Lucknow and Durban equivalent, generated widespread noise online around the clear lack of association to the North-West city and also provided a rather awkward Jos Buttler reaction video.

Meanwhile, Sunrisers adopting the Leeds identity has also raised questions around alienating a fanbase across the rest of Yorkshire, as well as Durham, for whom they are currently intended to represent – a danger of undoing any progress made in the quest for tribalism and an example as to how the franchise model struggles to gain traction amongst a majority of UK sports fans.

The Hundred is now the fifth global T20 league in which IPL owners have expanded their presence, with Australia’s Big Bash League also anticipated to seek privatisation in the future.

Squads begin to take shape

The new era has signalled a reset in squad composition, providing the opportunity to restore a greater competitive balance in the league with a larger salary pot and an additional overseas player permitted.

Each team have maximised their four pre-auction signings – including two England centrally contracted players and two overseas players – with plenty of movement and new additions to the league.

Birmingham Phoenix

Rehan Ahmed (previously Trent Rockets), Jacob Bethell (retained), Donovan Ferreira (South Africa) and Mitchell Owen (Australia).

An exciting youthful core and already the makings of a highly destructive batting line-up on their day.

London Spirit

Dewald Brevis (South Africa), Liam Livingstone (previously Birmingham Phoenix), Jamie Overton (retained) and Adam Zampa (Australia).

The eye-catching additions of Brevis and Livingstone should help solve the Spirit’s six-hitting troubles with the short square boundaries at Lord’s.

Manchester Super Giants

Noor Ahmad (Afghanistan – retained), Jos Buttler (retained), Liam Dawson (previously London Spirit) and Heinrich Klaasen (South Africa – retained).

Two proven match-winners with the bat – despite Klaasen’s indifferent recent form – and a formidable spin partnership to exploit home conditions at Old Trafford.

MI London

Sam Curran (retained), Will Jacks (retained), Rashid Khan (Afghanistan – retained) and Nicholas Pooran (West Indies).

A settled squad has been dismantled for now, but a new captain in Sam Curran and a high-quality base to build towards a fourth successive title under the Mumbai Indians’ winning ethos.

Southern Brave

Jofra Archer (retained), Jamie Smith (previously London Spirit), Marcus Stoinis (Australia) and Tristan Stubbs (South Africa).

Their batting stocks have been refreshed with plenty of power already locked in.

Sunrisers Leeds

Harry Brook (retained), Brydon Carse (retained), Nathan Ellis (Australia) and Mitchell Marsh (Australia).

More top-order fireworks to come from the Orange Army with both England and Australia’s white-ball captains lining up together, as well as being one of the only sides to secure a premier T20 pace bowler.

Trent Rockets

Tom Banton (retained), Ben Duckett (previously Birmingham Phoenix), Tim David (Australia) and Mitchell Santner (New Zealand).

A solid opening partnership assembled, and one of the most sought-after explosive white-ball batters in the world, who should enjoy the Trent Bridge ground dimensions.

Welsh Fire

Marco Jansen (South Africa), Rachin Ravindra (New Zealand), Phil Salt (previously Manchester Originals) and Chris Woakes (retained).

Perennial strugglers are eyeing another fresh start and have made two statement signings in Welsh-born England opener Salt – the competition’s leading run-scorer – and South African gun all-rounder Jansen.

As for the coaching staff, Andy Flower (London Spirit), Justin Langer (Manchester Super Giants) and Daniel Vettori (Sunrisers Leeds) have all moved from one franchise to another, whilst T20 globetrotter Kieron Pollard has been named in charge of MI London.

A new player selection model awaits

The Hundred’s inaugural IPL-inspired Player Auction will take place across March 11 and 12, replacing the previous draft system with pre-determined salary tiers.

After a deduction of £950,000 for exhausting their pre-auction budget, each franchise will have a remaining pot of £1.1 million to strategically build their men’s squad size of 16-18.

Whilst targets may already be lined up, given the existing global franchise network, the upcoming T20 World Cup will provide a timely shop window for overseas players to put themselves in the frame for the 16 remaining slots.

England’s Joe Root and Adil Rashid represent the most high-profile domestic names that will go under the hammer, whilst veteran Jonny Bairstow, 2025 star batter Jordan Cox, as well as international quicks Josh Tongue and Luke Wood are also expected to attract significant bids.

The sixth season of the ECB’s 100-ball competition gets underway at The Kia Oval on July 21 as MI London Men and Sunrisers Leeds Women begin their respective title defences.

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