New Owners Reshape The Hundred as Manchester Claims First Men's Title

The Hundred completed its first season under new private investment with two contrasting champions at Lord's. Trent Rockets retained their established identity and won the women's competition, while the rebranded Manchester Super Giants took the men's title. BBC Sport's review found that new ownership had altered team names, colours, marketing and international distribution, without settling the debate over the tournament's place in English cricket.

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Manchester changed from the Originals after the RPSG group, led by Sanjiv Goenka, acquired a 70% stake, with Lancashire holding the remaining 30%. The franchise distributed almost 30,000 free shirts to ticket buyers, choosing brand visibility over an immediate kit-supply deal. Lancashire chief executive Daniel Gidney said the approach had a bigger effect than he expected, while the team also collected £275,000 in prize money.

The men's side overcame captain Aiden Markram's departure midway through the group stage for personal reasons. Jos Buttler took over, with former Oval Invincibles director Tom Moody and coach Justin Langer forming the senior leadership group. Manchester's women's team narrowly missed the knockout stage, but BBC Sport reported optimism around the prospect of retaining former Australia captain Meg Lanning.

Other ownership approaches produced different results. London Spirit kept their blue and black base while adding the red and yellow of Marylebone Cricket Club. Replica shirts priced at £55 sold through stock allocated for both 2026 and 2027, and MCC member attendance at Hundred matches doubled year on year. Spirit had attracted a £145m investment from a technology-led consortium, making it the competition's most valuable franchise.

Those gains came with mixed overall indicators. Tournament director Vikram Banerjee said the operational transformation had been extensive, but total crowds and ticket sales were marginally lower than the previous season. Glamorgan chair Mark Rhydderch-Roberts said 46% of ticket buyers at Sophia Gardens were new to the venue, 30% were women and 46% bought family tickets, figures that support the competition's aim of reaching a younger and broader audience.

The overseas picture also changed, with The Hundred moving in India from FanCode to JioStar, the platform that carries the Indian Premier League. BBC Sport reported modest broadcast audience growth, while negotiations for a new rights agreement are due to begin next year. Four of the eight teams have owners linked to IPL franchises, although England and Wales Cricket Board chief executive Richard Gould stressed that the UK audience and market remain the priority.

The 100-ball format is not currently set to change. Banerjee said its distinct format remains central to the tournament's identity, and Gidney argued that its uniqueness matters to broadcasters. The season therefore offered evidence of commercial experimentation and some new audience reach, but the report left open whether rebranded teams can create lasting loyalty or convert Hundred spectators into followers of county cricket.