Watch The Hundred 2026 Men's Player Auction Live on 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 Jos Buttler (Manchester Super Giants), Harry Brook (Sunrisers Leeds), and 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.