The Hundred 2026: Schedule, Teams, Match Prediction & Betting Tips

MI London vs Sunrisers Leeds Today Match Prediction

By Raja Babu

20 Jul 2026

Match predictions

The Hundred 2026 overview

The Hundred continues to offer one of the fastest and most entertaining formats in professional cricket. Unlike traditional T20 cricket, each innings consists of 100 legal deliveries, creating a faster-paced contest where momentum can swing dramatically within a handful of balls.

Every franchise plays eight league matches before the top three teams qualify for the playoffs. The league winner advances directly to the Final, while the second and third-placed teams contest the Eliminator.

International stars from England, Australia, South Africa, New Zealand, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Sri Lanka and the West Indies will once again feature throughout the competition, making The Hundred one of the deepest talent pools in world cricket.

• Tournament: The Hundred 2026
• Format: 100-ball cricket
• Start date: 21 July 2026
• Final date: 16 August 2026
• Host country: England & Wales
• Number of teams: 8
• Total matches: 34 (32 league matches, Eliminator & Final)

The Hundred 2026 schedule

Below is the complete fixture list for The Hundred 2026.

Teams in The Hundred 2026

Eight franchises will compete for the 2026 title.

• Birmingham Phoenix
• London Spirit
• Manchester Super Giants
• MI London
• Southern Brave
• Sunrisers Leeds
• Trent Rockets
• Welsh Fire

Several franchises begin a new era following investment from global T20 ownership groups, bringing fresh branding, new management structures, and stronger international recruitment. The introduction of an auction system has also created more balanced squads, making the race for the title even more competitive.

Tournament format

The Hundred uses a simple but highly competitive format.

Each team plays eight league matches, facing every other franchise once before playing one additional rivalry fixture. Teams receive two points for a victory, with the top three advancing to the knockout stage.

The team finishing first in the league table qualifies directly for the Final, rewarding consistency throughout the tournament. The second and third-placed teams meet in the Eliminator, with the winner advancing to face the league leaders in the championship match.

Because there are only eight league fixtures, every match carries significant importance. A slow start can quickly leave teams chasing qualification, while momentum during the middle stages of the tournament often determines the playoff race.

The Hundred 2026 venues

Matches will be played across eight iconic cricket grounds throughout England and Wales.

• Kennington Oval – London
• Lord's Cricket Ground – London
• Edgbaston – Birmingham
• Headingley – Leeds
• Emirates Old Trafford – Manchester
• Trent Bridge – Nottingham
• Sophia Gardens – Cardiff
• The Rose Bowl – Southampton

Each venue offers unique playing conditions. Grounds such as The Oval, Trent Bridge, and Edgbaston are traditionally excellent batting venues where totals can climb quickly. Meanwhile, Headingley, Sophia Gardens, and The Rose Bowl often provide greater assistance for seam bowlers, particularly under overcast skies.

Understanding venue trends will be crucial throughout the tournament, particularly for player performance markets and fantasy cricket selections. Teams with adaptable bowling attacks and flexible batting line-ups are generally better equipped to succeed across the variety of conditions presented by The Hundred.

The Hundred 2026 match predictions

Criclines will publish expert predictions and betting tips for every match throughout The Hundred 2026. Each preview will combine detailed statistical analysis with the latest team news, venue conditions, player form, and tactical matchups to help you make informed betting decisions.

Every match preview will include:

• Match winner prediction
• Best betting tips
• Pitch report
• Weather forecast
• Probable playing XI
• Top batter prediction
• Top bowler prediction
• Fantasy cricket picks
• Player performance markets
• Key player battles

The Hundred's unique 100-ball format places a premium on flexibility. Teams capable of adapting quickly during an innings often outperform those relying on one or two star players. With only 100 legal deliveries available, even a single outstanding bowling spell or explosive batting partnership can completely change the outcome of a match.

The introduction of the 2026 player auction has also produced more evenly balanced squads, while new ownership groups have strengthened recruitment across the competition. As a result, bettors should expect a highly competitive tournament where margins between teams are smaller than ever. :contentReference[oaicite:0]{index=0}

Best betting tips for The Hundred 2026

The Hundred offers some of the best betting opportunities in franchise cricket because of its fast-paced nature and unpredictable momentum swings.

Rather than simply backing match favourites, successful betting often comes from identifying value in player markets and understanding how each venue behaves.

Some of the best betting strategies include:

• Prioritise top-order batters who face the majority of the 100 deliveries.
• Look for genuine all-rounders in Player Performance markets.
• Consider Top Bowler bets on seam-friendly grounds like Headingley and The Rose Bowl.
• Wait for confirmed playing XIs before placing player prop bets.
• Compare bookmaker odds after the toss for additional value.
• Monitor overseas player availability, particularly during the closing stages of the tournament.
• Keep an eye on live betting opportunities, as momentum can change dramatically within a five or ten-ball spell.

Unlike traditional T20 cricket, there is very little time for teams to recover from poor starts. Early wickets or expensive bowling spells often have a much greater impact than they would over a 20-over innings.

Players to watch in The Hundred 2026

Several of the world's leading white-ball players headline this year's competition.

• Jos Buttler (Manchester Super Giants) – One of the most destructive opening batters in world cricket and a regular favourite in Top Batter markets.
• Sam Curran (MI London) – A genuine all-rounder capable of influencing matches with both bat and ball.
• Rashid Khan (MI London) – Among the world's finest T20 bowlers and a constant wicket-taking threat.
• Harry Brook (Sunrisers Leeds) – England's star batter continues to establish himself as one of the game's premier white-ball players.
• Phil Salt (Welsh Fire) – Fearless at the top of the order and capable of winning matches inside the powerplay.
• Glenn Maxwell (Southern Brave) – His experience and versatility make him one of the tournament's most valuable all-rounders.
• Will Jacks (MI London) – Aggressive batting combined with useful off-spin makes him a key player throughout the competition.
• Adil Rashid (Sunrisers Leeds) – One of England's greatest white-ball spinners and a consistent performer in short-format cricket.

With deeper squads than previous seasons, expect several emerging domestic players to also make a significant impact alongside the established international stars. :contentReference[oaicite:1]{index=1}

Who will win The Hundred 2026?

This could be the most competitive edition of The Hundred yet.

The new auction system has reduced the gap between franchises, while overseas recruitment has added quality across every squad. Even so, a handful of teams stand out as genuine title contenders.

MI London possess arguably the strongest overall squad. Sam Curran, Will Jacks, Rashid Khan, Nicholas Pooran, James Vince and Trent Boult provide exceptional balance with proven match-winners in every department.

Manchester Super Giants also appear well equipped for a deep tournament run thanks to Jos Buttler, Heinrich Klaasen, Noor Ahmad, Aiden Markram and Liam Dawson.

Sunrisers Leeds boast tremendous firepower, while Southern Brave and Trent Rockets have enough experience to challenge throughout the league stage.

Criclines Outright Prediction: MI London to win The Hundred 2026.

Their batting depth, experienced bowling attack, and outstanding all-round options make them slight favourites entering the tournament, although the race for the title should remain wide open until the playoffs.

The Hundred 2026 latest updates

• The Hundred returns from 21 July to 16 August 2026 with 34 matches across England and Wales.
• The player draft has been replaced by The Hundred Auction, creating stronger and more balanced squads.
• Several franchises enter the season under new ownership and new branding, including MI London, Manchester Super Giants and Sunrisers Leeds.
• Criclines will publish expert match predictions, betting tips, fantasy picks and player markets for every fixture throughout the tournament. :contentReference[oaicite:2]{index=2}

Bet on The Hundred 2026 today

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Criclines provides expert match predictions, betting tips, fantasy picks, probable XIs, pitch reports, player performance markets, and outright tournament analysis throughout The Hundred 2026.

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Cricket Expert Raja Babu

Resident cricket prediction analyst