The Hundred is set to make its return for the 2026 season, with live coverage on Sky Sports running from Tuesday, July 21, through Sunday, August 16. As the competition heads back to the cricketing calendar, several notable changes have been introduced that affect everything from trophy awards to team ownership, kit designs and even the way points are tallied across the men's and women's tournaments.
One of the most striking innovations this year is the introduction of a combined men's and women's trophy. In addition to the traditional separate titles awarded to the winners of the men’s and women’s competitions, the franchise that accumulates the highest total points across both genders will claim an overall Hundred trophy. This move is designed to encourage clubs to invest equally in both squads and to celebrate a unified club success story.
The points system has been tweaked to reflect this new approach. Every match win—whether it occurs during the group stage, the eliminator or the final—carries four points. The points earned by a club’s men’s side and women’s side are then added together to produce a combined score for the franchise. On top of that, four bonus points are on offer for the men’s and women’s teams that finish at the top of their respective league tables, bypass the the eliminator and head straight into the final.
These bonus points can prove decisive in a tightly contested season. In the event that two franchises end the tournament level on points, the tie‑breaker will be the number of finals a squad has won. If both clubs have either both won a final or both failed to do so, the next criteria will be the total number of finalists each franchise has produced. Should a further deadlock remain, the combined net run‑rate across both the men’s and women’s competitions will be used to determine the overall winner.
Ownership of the eight franchises has undergone a significant transformation, with all clubs now featuring overseas investors. The most high‑profile deals include a 49 per cent stake in MI London—previously known as the Oval Invincibles—acquired by the Ambani family’s Reliance Industries Limited, and a similar 49 per cent share in the Trent Rockets purchased by Todd Boehly’s Cain International, a co‑owner of Chelsea FC. These transactions were completed in late 2025, marking the first season where the new investors can fully exercise their influence.
Earlier deals had already been sealed for the remaining six teams, but 2026 is the inaugural year in which those investors are able to imprint their brand identity on the clubs. The influx of foreign capital has also led to a noticeable shift in kit aesthetics. Teams with Indian Premier League (IPL) backing are now wearing colours that mirror their Indian counterparts, creating a visual link between the two competitions. For example, MI London will abandon the green kit they wore as the Oval Invincibles and adopt a blue uniform with gold trim, echoing the colour scheme of the Mumbai Indians.
SunRisers Leeds—formerly the Northern Superchargers—will replace their purple attire with orange, matching SunRisers Hyderabad. Southern Brave will trade their traditional green for a blue and red combination reminiscent of the Delhi Capitals, while Manchester Super Giants will swap a black‑grey palette for the red and blue stripes of the Lucknow Super Giants.
Birmingham Phoenix will sport an all‑black strip this season, a departure from their previous orange‑yellow kit, and London Spirit will retain their blue base but add an MCC‑style "egg and bacon" yellow and red stripe down the jersey. Welsh Fire and Trent Rockets will keep their existing red and yellow‑orange designs respectively.
The financial firepower behind these changes is substantial. New owners collectively poured more than £500 million into The Hundred, either by purchasing full ownership or significant minority stakes. This capital was also evident during the competition’s first auction of the year, where several high‑profile players fetched sizable contracts. In the men’s auction, Sussex all‑rounder James Coles—who recently featured for England’s white‑ball side against India—was snapped up by London Spirit for a record £390 000.
Welsh Fire invested £200 000 in Jordan Cox after his standout performances that earned him player‑of‑the‑tournament honours with the Oval Invincibles in 2025. The women’s auction saw England’s own Dani Gibson secure a £190 000 deal with SunRisers Leeds, while Australian legend Beth Mooney and New Zealand star Sophie Devine each earned £210 000 from Trent Rockets and Welsh Fire respectively. One of the most compelling stories from the auction was the signing of 18‑year‑old England spinner Tilly Corteen‑Coleman by Southern Brave for £105 000, underscoring how participation in The Hundred can be a lucrative stepping stone for emerging talent. Off the field, footballer Jude Bellingham has taken a 1.2 per cent stake in Birmingham Phoenix, with a view to boosting cricket participation in the local community.
His investment aligns with Knighthead Capital Management—owners of Birmingham City and minority shareholders of NFL icon Tom Brady—who hold a 48.4 per cent share in the Phoenix. The overseas investors also bring a cross‑sporting pedigree.
MI London is one of four teams backed by IPL‑linked capital, while SunRisers Leeds is wholly owned by the Sun Group, the same entity behind SunRisers Hyderabad. The R PSG Group, which controls Lucknow Super Giants, now possesses a 70 per cent stake in Manchester Super Giants (formerly the Originals). GMR Group, with holdings that include the IPL’s Delhi Capitals and England’s Hampshire, holds a 49 per cent share of Southern Brave.
Meanwhile, American‑based Tech Titans own 49 per cent of London Spirit, and Indian‑American entrepreneur Sanjay Goval—who runs Major League Cricket’s Washington Freedom—holds a 50 per cent stake in Welsh Fire. Fans can enjoy every match live on Sky Sports, with each day featuring a double‑header: a women’s game followed by a men’s contest at the same venue.
The opening fixtures will see defending women’s champions SunRisers Leeds face MI London at The Oval on July 21 at 2.45 pm, with MI London then launching their campaign for a fourth consecutive men’s title against SunRisers Leeds at 6.30 pm the same day. Overall, the 2026 edition of The Hundred promises a more integrated, financially robust, and globally connected competition, with new trophies, revamped kits, and a fresh ownership landscape all set to reshape the future of this innovative 100‑ball format.