The Hundred 2025: Private Investment to Transform the 100-Ball Competition – Changes Expected in 2026
Major private stakes sales in The Hundred franchises mark a turning point for English cricket, but significant changes won't arrive until the 2026 season.
It’s that time of year again.
As school holidays begin and football’s transfer window heats up, cricket fans can look forward to the fifth edition of The Hundred running from 5–31 August. The familiar cycle of debate over its value, format and role in English cricket is set to resume—only with fresh elements in play.
Private Investment Shakes Up Franchises
Six of the eight teams have now sold stakes to private investors, with deals for Oval Invincibles and Trent Rockets “on track.” ECB chair Richard Thompson described it as a “seminal moment for cricket in England and Wales.”
Under the current broadcast agreement with Sky running until 2028, the number of teams will remain unchanged. But future expansion has not been ruled out. ECB managing director Vikram Banerjee called new franchises a “no-brainer.”
IPL Owners Influence Team Identities
Three IPL-backed groups have acquired minority or majority stakes: Sun Group (Sunrisers Hyderabad) bought Northern Superchargers outright; RPSG Group (Lucknow Super Giants) took 70% of Manchester Originals; and GMR Group (Delhi Capitals) acquired 49% of Southern Brave. Reliance Industries (Mumbai Indians) is set to take 49% of Oval Invincibles.
Change could extend to team names and branding before 2026, aligning Hundred sides with their IPL counterparts—imagine MI Oval or Sunrisers Northern gracing fixtures at home grounds.
Potential Format and Salary Overhaul
Player salaries have already risen—top men’s earners now at £200,000 and women’s at £65,000. Private capital might drive further increases and attract elite global talent. Shifting from a draft to an auction-style system, akin to the IPL, is under consideration now that a new Hundred Board, including investor and county representatives, will oversee salaries and selection.
Although the ECB retains regulatory control, partners may push for a swap from 100-ball matches to T20 or seek a longer tournament window, forcing tough decisions.
Looking Ahead to The Hundred’s Final Season?
This summer’s tournament, with double-headers and current draft rules still in place, could be the last under the original model. Direct signings have already brought in stars like Steve Smith, Meg Lanning, David Warner and Rashid Khan to boost the line-up.
Private investment marks a new era for The Hundred, with IPL owners shaping team identities and new governance paving the way for bigger salary budgets and possible auction-style drafts, yet meaningful changes won’t land until the 2026 competition.
This topic was reported by BBC Sport.
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