Who Will Win The Hundred 2026? Winner Prediction & Title Race
Last updated: 19 July 2026 · The Hundred 2026 runs 21 July to 16 August. MI London (formerly Oval Invincibles) start as three-time reigning men's champions; Manchester Super Giants and Sunrisers Leeds built the strongest auction squads.
On pedigree, MI London, the franchise that won three straight titles as Oval Invincibles, are our pick to win The Hundred 2026 men’s competition. They open the season as reigning champions chasing an unprecedented fourth title in a row, with Will Jacks, Rashid Khan and Nicholas Pooran still driving the side. The reason this is a genuine race, not a coronation, is the money that went into two rivals: Manchester Super Giants and Sunrisers Leeds built the deepest squads at the 2026 auction. No outright winner market is widely quoted yet, so this page is our early read on the contenders from pedigree and squad strength, not a priced favourite. We will sharpen it once the group stage begins.
Our Title Read: The Champions Lead, the Field Has Closed In
There is no priced outright market for The Hundred 2026 yet, so we rank the eight teams on what we can defend: title pedigree and the squads built at the winter auction. The honest picture is a clear benchmark at the top and a chasing pack that spent heavily to close the gap.
| Team | Our Title Read | Why |
|---|---|---|
| MI London | Title favourite | Three-time reigning champions as Oval Invincibles, chasing a record fourth straight. Core of Jacks, Rashid Khan and Pooran intact. |
| Manchester Super Giants | Top challenger | The auction's strongest squad on paper, led by Jos Buttler, Heinrich Klaasen, Aiden Markram and Noor Ahmad. |
| Sunrisers Leeds | Top challenger | Harry Brook and Mitchell Marsh headline a heavily backed rebuild suited to Headingley's pace and bounce. |
| Welsh Fire | In the mix | Phil Salt and Joe Root give them a top order to fear, with Marco Jansen adding new-ball threat. |
| Trent Rockets | In the mix | 2025 runners-up and 2022 champions, with Tim David's power tailor-made for Trent Bridge. |
| Southern Brave | Dark horse | 2021 champions. Jofra Archer and Adil Rashid can decide any match when both are firing. |
| London Spirit | Outside chance | Liam Livingstone leads a side with real Lord's familiarity, where Finals Day is played. |
| Birmingham Phoenix | Rebuild watch | A young group around Jacob Bethell and Rehan Ahmed. More about the next step than this title. |
In short: MI London are the class pick on their record, but Manchester Super Giants and Sunrisers Leeds spent big to catch them, and Welsh Fire and Trent Rockets are a strong top order or one hot bowler away from the knockouts. With only the top three going through, one poor week can end a campaign, which is why we treat this as a read to update, not a settled call.
Why MI London Are the Team to Beat
MI London win our vote for one simple reason: they keep winning this competition. As Oval Invincibles they took the men’s title in 2023, 2024 and 2025, the last a 26-run win over Trent Rockets on Finals Day at Lord’s, with Will Jacks striking 72 off 41. No men’s franchise has ever won a fourth in a row, and that is exactly what the rebranded side is chasing.
The pieces that delivered those titles are still in place. Will Jacks remains one of the most destructive top-order batters in the tournament, Rashid Khan is the control-and-wickets spinner every side wants, and Nicholas Pooran adds finishing power. Mumbai Indians ownership brings IPL-grade squad management to a group that already knows how to win a Lord’s final.
The Chasing Pack: Where the Auction Money Went
The 2026 season replaced the old draft with the competition’s first player auction, and two teams used it to build genuine title challengers.
- 🟢 Manchester Super Giants: perhaps the deepest squad in the field, with Jos Buttler and Heinrich Klaasen at the top, Aiden Markram for balance, and Noor Ahmad's wrist-spin suited to Old Trafford. On paper, the side most likely to end MI London's run.
- 🟡 Sunrisers Leeds: a heavily backed rebuild led by Harry Brook and Mitchell Marsh, with a pace attack built for Headingley. The biggest single spend of the auction went here.
- 🔴 Welsh Fire and Trent Rockets: Welsh Fire pair Phil Salt with Joe Root and add Marco Jansen; Trent Rockets, the 2025 runners-up, lean on Tim David's power at a ground made for it.
Squad names reflect 2026 auction coverage. Captaincies and final XIs can still change before the opening round on 21 July.
The Eight Teams at a Glance
MI London, the benchmark
The most successful franchise in the men’s competition and the reigning champions, now under Mumbai Indians ownership. Winning a fourth straight title would be a first for the tournament, and the core of Jacks, Rashid Khan and Pooran gives them the platform to try.
Manchester Super Giants, the deepest squad
Rebranded from Manchester Originals, they may have bought the strongest top order in the field with Buttler and Klaasen, plus Markram’s balance and Noor Ahmad’s spin. If a challenger dethrones MI London, this is the most likely one.
Sunrisers Leeds, backed to break through
The former Northern Superchargers spent big around Harry Brook and Mitchell Marsh. Headingley’s pace and bounce suits their bowling, and the batting has match-winners top to bottom.
Welsh Fire, a top order to fear
Phil Salt and Joe Root is one of the most dangerous opening pairs in the competition, and Marco Jansen gives Cardiff a genuine new-ball threat. Depth is the question, but the ceiling is high.
Trent Rockets, proven at this stage
Runners-up in 2025 and champions in 2022, the Rockets know how to reach a final. Tim David’s power is tailor-made for Trent Bridge’s short straight boundaries.
Southern Brave, the dark horse
The 2021 inaugural champions can beat anyone on their day when Jofra Archer and Adil Rashid are both firing. Consistency across a short group stage is the challenge.
London Spirit, at home at Lord’s
Liam Livingstone leads a side that plays its home games, and any final, at Lord’s. That familiarity matters in a competition decided by a one-day knockout.
Birmingham Phoenix, building for the future
A young squad around Jacob Bethell and Rehan Ahmed is more about the next step than this year’s title, but the talent to spring an upset is there.
Follow every match with our The Hundred 2026 predictions and daily cricket match tips. For more title races, see our IPL 2026 winner prediction and T20 Blast 2026 winner prediction.
The Hundred 2026 Winner Prediction FAQs
Who will win The Hundred 2026?
On pedigree, MI London — the franchise formerly known as Oval Invincibles — are the men's team to beat. They are the three-time reigning champions and start 2026 chasing an unprecedented fourth straight men's title, with Will Jacks, Rashid Khan and Nicholas Pooran still at the core. The strongest challenge looks likely to come from Manchester Super Giants and Sunrisers Leeds, who assembled the deepest squads at the winter auction. No outright winner market is widely quoted yet, so this is our early read on the field rather than a priced favourite.
Who are the defending champions of The Hundred?
The men's title has been held by Oval Invincibles — rebranded as MI London for 2026 — who won it in 2023, 2024 and 2025. Their 2025 triumph, a 26-run win over Trent Rockets in the Lord's final in which Will Jacks made 72 off 41, was a record third men's title in a row. In 2026 they go after a fourth straight, which no franchise in the competition has managed.
What teams are in The Hundred 2026?
Eight city-based franchises contest the men's competition: MI London, Manchester Super Giants, Sunrisers Leeds, Birmingham Phoenix, London Spirit, Southern Brave, Trent Rockets and Welsh Fire. Three were rebranded for 2026 under new ownership — Oval Invincibles became MI London, Northern Superchargers became Sunrisers Leeds, and Manchester Originals became Manchester Super Giants. The other five kept their names.
When does The Hundred 2026 start and when is the final?
The Hundred 2026 runs from 21 July to 16 August 2026. It opens with MI London against Sunrisers Leeds at the Kia Oval on 21 July, and Finals Day — the men's and women's finals — is at Lord's on 16 August. The eight teams play a group stage, and the top three then reach the knockouts, with the second and third-placed sides meeting in an Eliminator.
Are MI London the favourites for The Hundred 2026?
On record, yes. MI London are the three-time reigning champions and the benchmark every side is measured against, which is why they lead our read even before a ball is bowled. The case against them is the strength of the field: Manchester Super Giants (Jos Buttler, Heinrich Klaasen, Aiden Markram) and Sunrisers Leeds (Harry Brook, Mitchell Marsh) built heavily backed squads at the 2026 auction, so the title race is real.
Where can I follow The Hundred 2026 predictions?
We publish AI-backed match predictions for every Hundred 2026 game as it comes up, alongside this title-race page. As the group stage unfolds and the table takes shape, we will sharpen our read on the contenders here.
Predictions are analysis for information and entertainment, not a guarantee of any outcome. Cricket is unpredictable, and our read reflects probabilities, not certainties. 18+.