The Hundred revolution is underway! Get ready for the most explosive, action-packed season yet as the 2026 tournament bursts into life on Tuesday. A staggering £500 million injection from new private investors has sent shockwaves through the domestic game, leaving a trail of changes in its wake.
While the familiar format remains intact – eight teams, 100-ball innings, and the same playoff drama concluding with the final on August 12 – the under-the-surface upheaval is nothing short of seismic. Three teams have undergone radical rebranding, ditching their old identities for new ones that scream IPL authenticity: MI London has replaced Oval Invincibles, SunRisers Leeds now boasts the Northern Superchargers' badge, and Manchester Originals are reborn as Manchester Super Giants, complete with a majestic elephant-inspired logo.
The purse strings have been flung wide open. Men's salary pots have skyrocketed by 45% to £2.05 million per team, while women's teams will see their funds double to £880,000 – leading to eye-watering figures for top male stars (up to £465,000) and a welcome boost to the minimum salaries for both men (£31,000) and women (£15,000). Women's superstars Beth Mooney and Sophie Devine are set to reap rewards of up to £210,000.
The influx of fresh funds and the player auction system has sent squads into chaos. A mere one in five men's players from last season remain with their old teams – a stark decline from over half just 12 months ago. London Spirit has undergone the most dramatic reshuffle, retaining only three of their 34 signed players from 2025 – including some world-class talent! The new-look line-up boasts an unprecedented international presence: four top-five T20 bowlers and five top ten batters among men, alongside all the women's top-five batsmen and five top-ten bowlers.
Coaching staff have been given the axe – or at least a new challenge – with just two of 16 head coaches returning from last year. Several big-name coaches are on the move: Andy Flower joins London Spirit from Trent Rockets, while Justin Langer makes the switch to Manchester Super Giants. It's not just about the cricket either – with England's Test team searching for a new coach, all eyes will be on these high-profile figures.