Watch The Hundred 2026 Men's Player Auction Live on [[/channel/willow-sports-live-cricket-tv/:Willow by Cricbuzz]] via TrillerTV The landscape of English cricket changes forever at Piccadilly Lights. Following the women's event, the first-ever live Men's Player Auction for The Hundred takes place on Thursday. With private investment pouring in and franchises undergoing major rebrands, this is the most anticipated off-field event in the competition's history. The 2026 season marks a "reset" for the tournament, shifting from a draft to a high-pressure auction model. With the salary cap for men's teams skyrocketing by 45% to £2.05 million per team, the world's most elite cricketers are set to command record-breaking fees under the London lights. Each of the eight franchises enters the auction with a total salary pot of £2.05 million. However, most teams have already spent significantly during the pre-auction window. - Pre-Auction Deductions: Teams that utilized all four direct signings/retentions have had £950,000 deducted from their purse, leaving them with £1.1 million to fill the remaining 10–12 slots. - Squad Size: Teams must finish the auction with a minimum of 14 players (max 16), with two additional "Wildcard" slots to be filled in June based on Vitality Blast form. - The Overseas Rule: For the first time, teams can now feature four overseas players in their matchday XI, increasing the demand for international superstars. The auction features a new-look lineup, with several teams rebranded following major private investment: - MI London (formerly Oval Invincibles) - Manchester Super Giants (formerly Manchester Originals) - Sunrisers Leeds (formerly Northern Superchargers) - Southern Brave (Backed by GMR/Delhi Capitals) - London Spirit, Birmingham Phoenix, Trent Rockets, and Welsh Fire. Players in the Spotlight While marquee names like [[/fighter/jos-buttler/40376/:Jos Buttler]] (Manchester Super Giants), [[/fighter/harry-brook/39926/:Harry Brook]] (Sunrisers Leeds), and [[/fighter/rashid-khan/40391/:Rashid Khan]] (MI London) are already locked in, the auction pool remains loaded with world-class talent: - Joe Root: The England legend is back in the auction pool and expected to be the subject of a fierce bidding war between Sunrisers Leeds and Trent Rockets. - Shaheen Shah Afridi: Following his captaincy stint with Pakistan, the left-arm speedster is one of the most coveted "Hero" category bowlers. - Phil Salt: The explosive opener is looking for a massive payday after a record-breaking T20 World Cup 2026 campaign. - Adil Rashid: The veteran leg-spinner remains a top priority for teams looking to master the middle overs at grounds like Lord's and Old Trafford.