Sunrisers Leeds handed Oval opening as new-look Hundred takes shape

Previously known as Northern Superchargers, the Leeds-based franchise will face MI London women at 2.45pm, with the men’s Indian Premier League-owned teams clashing at 6.30 m.

Heralding a new era with external investors now across all eight franchises, The Hundred 2026 will also stage its landmark inaugural player auction in London on March 11-12.

Embracing its new IPL-like auction format, squads will be made up of between 16 and 18 players. A salary cap and salary collar – requiring teams to meet a minimum spend – will be in place for the 2026 season. The Hundred is also introducing multi-year contracts this season.

Rising to £2.05m per men’s team, the overall salary pot will increase 45 per cent for the 2026 season. The overall salary pot in the women’s tournament (£880,000 per team) will jump 100 per cent in the next edition.

Teams were tasked to secure up to four pre-auction signings before the end of January. With no right-to-match available this season, franchises are limited to two England centrally contracted players and two overseas players in these early deals. The Wildcard Draft enables men’s and women’s teams to reward domestic form with two final selections in June.

Sixty-four (split evenly 32/32 between men’s and women’s) group-stage matches have set the stage for an intense Hundred. The group phase ends on August 12, paving the way for the high-stakes Eliminator on August 14 with the final following two days later, with reserve days secured for both knockout ties.

Sunrisers Leeds have locked in captain Harry Brook and pace bowler Brydon Carse as retentions, while adding Australian firepower with the signings of Mitchell Marsh and Nathan Ellis.

The rebranded side earlier named Daniel Vettori as their new men’s head coach. Having secured their first-ever title last year, the women’s side retained their core trio of Kate Cross, Annabel Sutherland and Phoebe Litchfield for the 2026 season.