The Hundred 2026 is set to introduce a major change in its player selection process as the tournament prepares to host its first-ever player auction. The auction replaces the previous draft system and will bring traditional bidding excitement to England’s popular 100-ball cricket competition.
More than 400 players across men’s and women’s categories are expected to go under the hammer during the two-day event in London. The auction will help all eight franchises finalize their squads ahead of the tournament, which is scheduled to begin in July 2026.
This move marks a new chapter for the competition as teams get the chance to build their squads through open bidding.
Auction Schedule and Start Time
The Hundred 2026 auction will take place over two days, with separate events for women’s and men’s teams.
| Event | Date | Time (GMT) | Time (IST) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Women’s Auction | March 11, 2026 | 9:45 AM | 3:15 PM |
| Men’s Auction | March 12, 2026 | 9:45 AM | 3:15 PM |
The auction will be held in London, where franchises will compete to secure key players for the upcoming season.
Teams Participating in The Hundred 2026
Eight franchises will participate in the auction and compete in the tournament later this year.
- Birmingham Phoenix
- London Spirit
- Manchester Super Giants
- MI London
- Southern Brave
- Sunrisers Leeds
- Trent Rockets
- Welsh Fire
Each team will use its remaining purse to complete its squad after earlier retentions and direct signings.
Team Purse and Squad Building
Teams enter the auction with different purse values depending on the players they have already retained.
For the men’s competition, franchises have a purse of around £2.05 million per team, while the women’s teams have approximately £880,000 available after pre-auction signings.
Before the auction, each team retained or directly signed several players to form the core of their squads. The remaining slots will now be filled through bidding during the auction.
Key Players Already Signed or Retained
Several well-known players have already been retained or signed by franchises ahead of the auction.
For example, Birmingham Phoenix secured players such as Alice Capsey, Ellyse Perry and Lauren Filer, while MI London added Hayley Matthews and Danni Wyatt-Hodge.
Another major signing was Smriti Mandhana, who joined Sunrisers Leeds through a direct contract.
These signings give teams a strong base before the auction begins.
Big Names Available in the Men’s Auction
The men’s auction will feature several well-known international cricketers who are expected to attract strong bidding interest.
Players such as Joe Root, Jonny Bairstow, Usman Khawaja and Aiden Markram are among the big names available in the auction pool.
Franchises will compete to secure these players in order to strengthen their squads for the upcoming tournament.
Where to Watch The Hundred 2026 Auction Live
Fans in the United Kingdom can watch the auction live on Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Cricket.
For viewers around the world, the auction will be available through live streaming on The Hundred’s official YouTube channel, allowing global audiences to follow the event for free.
There will be no television broadcast in India, but fans can watch the auction online through YouTube streaming.
The Hundred 2026 Tournament Dates
The Hundred 2026 season is scheduled to run from July 21 to August 16, with the final taking place on the closing day of the tournament.
With a new auction system, exciting player signings and competitive squads, the upcoming edition promises to be one of the most anticipated seasons in the history of the competition.
