The Hundred has entered a new phase in 2026 with the introduction of its first-ever player auction for the men’s competition. The auction took place in London on March 12, following the women’s auction held a day earlier at the same venue.
This new format replaces the draft system used in previous editions and brings a more competitive bidding process to the tournament. Each of the eight franchises must build squads of 14 to 16 players, including those already retained or directly signed before the auction.
With teams working within their budgets, the auction became an important moment for franchises to strengthen their squads ahead of the upcoming season.
Teams That Retained Players Before the Auction
Before the bidding began, all eight franchises had already secured several players through retentions and direct signings.
- Birmingham Phoenix kept Jacob Bethell, Rehan Ahmed, Mitch Owen and Donovan Ferreira as part of their core group.
- London Spirit retained Jamie Overton, Liam Livingstone, Adam Zampa and Dewald Brevis.
- MI London confirmed Sam Curran, Will Jacks, Rashid Khan and Nicholas Pooran in their squad before the auction started.
- Manchester Super Giants kept Jos Buttler, Noor Ahmad, Heinrich Klaasen and Liam Dawson.
- Southern Brave retained Jofra Archer, Jamie Smith, Marcus Stoinis and Tristan Stubbs.
- Sunrisers Leeds secured Harry Brook, Brydon Carse, Mitchell Marsh and Nathan Ellis.
- Trent Rockets held on to Tom Banton, Ben Duckett, Tim David and Mitchell Santner.
- Welsh Fire kept Chris Woakes, Phil Salt, Rachin Ravindra and Marco Jansen before the auction took place.
These retained players formed the backbone of each team’s strategy going into the bidding process.
Also see: List of Unsold Players in The Hundred 2026 Men’s Auction
Full List of Players Sold in The Hundred 2026 Men’s Auction
Several big names were sold during the auction as teams looked to complete their squads. The following table highlights the players who secured contracts along with the franchise they joined and their final price.
| Player | Franchise | Final Price (£) |
|---|---|---|
| Joe Root | Welsh Fire | 240,000 |
| Adil Rashid | Southern Brave | 250,000 |
| Jordan Cox | Welsh Fire | 300,000 |
| James Vince | MI London | 190,000 |
| Jonny Bairstow | London Spirit | 160,000 |
| David Miller | Southern Brave | 110,000 |
| Aiden Markram | Manchester Super Giants | 200,000 |
| Finn Allen | Trent Rockets | 160,000 |
| Ryan Rickelton | Sunrisers Leeds | 130,000 |
| Zak Crawley | Sunrisers Leeds | 180,000 |
| Josh Tongue | Manchester Super Giants | 200,000 |
| Luke Wood | Southern Brave | 130,000 |
| Sonny Baker | Manchester Super Giants | 95,000 |
| Saqib Mahmood | Birmingham Phoenix | 150,000 |
| Tom Curran | MI London | 260,000 |
| Gus Atkinson | Manchester Super Giants | 70,000 |
| David Willey | London Spirit | 120,000 |
| Usman Tariq | Birmingham Phoenix | 140,000 |
These signings played a crucial role in shaping the squads for the 2026 season.
Also see: Complete List of Indian Players in The Hundred 2026: Teams, Prices, Roles and Auction Details
Big Buys and Key Auction Highlights
Several players attracted strong interest during the auction. Jordan Cox emerged as one of the most expensive signings, securing a £300,000 deal with Welsh Fire.
Experienced England spinner Adil Rashid also commanded a high price, joining Southern Brave for £250,000.
All-rounder Tom Curran was another major signing, picked up by MI London for £260,000 as teams looked to strengthen both their batting and bowling departments.
Also see: The Hundred 2026 Auction: Date, Start Time, Teams, TV Channel and Live Streaming Details
International stars like Aiden Markram, David Miller and Finn Allen also secured deals, bringing global experience and power hitting to the competition.
With the auction now completed, franchises have a clearer picture of their squads for the upcoming season.
The introduction of the auction system has added excitement and unpredictability to the tournament build-up. Teams now have a mix of retained players, international stars and new signings as they prepare for the 2026 campaign.
As preparations continue, fans can expect intense competition once the tournament begins, with several top players ready to showcase their skills in the fast-paced 100-ball format.
