The Hundred competition enters a new era with its first-ever player auction scheduled for March 11-12, 2026, at London’s Piccadilly Lights. Following the ECB’s decision to bring in private investors for all eight franchises.
The tournament has abandoned its traditional draft system in favor of an IPL-style auction format, with the Women’s Hundred auction taking place on Wednesday, March 11, followed by the Men’s Hundred on Thursday.
The Hundred Moves to IPL Style Franchise Model
The IPL’s fingerprints are evident throughout the competition’s transformation. Franchises have been rechristened as MI London, Sunrisers Leeds, and Manchester Super Giants, while GMR Group, co-owners of Delhi Capitals, acquired a 49% stake in Southern Brave.
The WPL influence is reflected in strategic signings; MI London brought aboard Mumbai Indians stars Amelia Kerr and Hayley Matthews, while Southern Brave signed DC captain Jemimah Rodrigues.
Marquee Players Expected to Fetch Big Bids
Twelve Indian players will be available, though captain Harmanpreet Kaur is notably absent. With women’s cricket stocks rising following the WPL and 2025 ODI World Cup, groundbreaking bids are expected for premier superstars.
Overseas Marquee Names:
- Deepti Sharma (India)
- Sophie Devine (New Zealand)
- Beth Mooney (Australia)
- Nadine de Klerk (South Africa)
- Sophie Molineux (Australia captain)
Domestic Marquee Names:
- Amy Jones (wicketkeeper-batter)
- Sarah Glenn (leg-spinner)
- Davina Perrin (19-year-old sensation)
Other Big-Ticket Players:
- Chinelle Henry, Deandra Dottin (destructive Caribbean duo)
- Alana King (Australian leg-spinner)
- Richa Ghosh, Shreyanka Patil, Shree Charani (Indian contingent)
Auction Format and Rules
The Women’s Hundred auction introduces a unique three-stage bidding system with specific squad composition limits and purse allocations for each franchise.
Squad Composition:
- Maximum squad size: 15 players
- Maximum overseas players: 4 (including 2 wildcard picks)
- Total purse per team: £880,000 (before pre-auction deductions)
Three-Stage Bidding Process:
- Hero Players: Teams nominate players they’re most interested in. The 50 most-nominated players are grouped by role and auctioned first.
- Ranked Players: Teams nominate up to 25 players (including unsold Hero Players). Bidding occurs based on the highest nominations received.
- Nominated Players: Teams take turns nominating unsigned players. If multiple teams want the same player, competitive bidding begins; otherwise, the nominating team signs her.
Teams’ Pre-Auction Signings and Remaining Purse
Four teams retained or signed four players each while the remaining four franchises have three players on their roster, resulting in varying deductions from the base £880,000 purse.
| Team | Pre-Auction Players | Notable Signings | Purse Remaining |
|---|---|---|---|
| Birmingham Phoenix | 4 (3 signed, 1 retained) | Alice Capsey, Ellyse Perry | £520,000 |
| London Spirit | 4 (2 signed, 2 retained) | Marizanne Kapp, Grace Harris | £520,000 |
| Manchester Super Giants | 3 (2 signed, 1 retained) | Meg Lanning, Smriti Mandhana, Sophie Ecclestone | £570,000 |
| MI London | 3 (all signed) | Amelia Kerr, Hayley Matthews, Danni Wyatt-Hodge | £570,000 |
| Southern Brave | 4 (1 signed, 3 retained) | Jemimah Rodrigues, Laura Wolvaardt | £520,000 |
| Sunrisers Leeds | 3 (all retained) | Phoebe Litchfield, Annabel Sutherland, Kate Cross | £570,000 |
| Trent Rockets | 4 (2 signed, 2 retained) | Ash Gardner, Natalie Sciver-Brunt | £520,000 |
| Welsh Fire | 3 (all signed) | Georgia Wareham, Freya Kemp, Georgia Voll | £570,000 |
