South Africa’s Aiden Markram is set to lead Manchester Super Giants in the men’s Hundred 2026 after becoming the most expensive overseas signing at Thursday’s inaugural auction.
The 30-year-old was secured for £200,000 and is now under contract with three Super Giants franchises across global leagues, including Lucknow in the IPL and Durban in the SA20. Head coach Justin Langer confirmed Markram was his top target heading into the bidding.
Why Did Manchester Super Giants Target Markram as Captain
Langer made no secret of his desire to bring Markram into the setup, describing him as his number one priority in the auction. The former Australia coach praised Markram’s all-round qualities, highlighting his leadership credentials alongside his batting talent.
Being part of three teams within the same ownership group gives Markram a deep familiarity with the Super Giants brand and coaching structure, making him a natural fit for the captaincy role.
Vettori Still Hopes to Convince Harry Brook to Lead Sunrisers Leeds
While Markram’s captaincy appears settled, the leadership question at Sunrisers Leeds remains open. England white-ball captain Harry Brook indicated during the T20 World Cup that he was unlikely to continue leading the franchise after two seasons with the former Northern Superchargers.
However, head coach Daniel Vettori has not given up on changing Brook’s mind. Vettori acknowledged that Brook’s packed international schedule means he would only join the squad a day or two before the opening match against MI London on July 21.
Mitchell Marsh, Dan Lawrence, and Zak Crawley have been identified as alternative captaincy options.
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Confirmed and Likely Captains Across The Hundred 2026
| Team | Captain/Likely Captain |
|---|---|
| Manchester Super Giants | Aiden Markram |
| Welsh Fire | Phil Salt |
| Birmingham Phoenix | Jacob Bethell |
| MI London | Sam Curran |
| Trent Rockets | Sam Billings (favourite) |
| London Spirit | Liam Livingstone or David Willey |
| Sunrisers Leeds | Harry Brook or Mitchell Marsh |
| Southern Brave | Marcus Stoinis or Tristan Stubbs |
Southern Brave head coach Hemang Badani indicated the franchise could appoint an overseas player as skipper, with Marcus Stoinis and Tristan Stubbs both seen as strong candidates given their recent leadership success in the Big Bash and SA20, respectively.
