by The Hundred is making history in 2026.
After years of using a draft system to distribute players, the tournament is switching to a full auction format.
This means teams will compete with their checkbooks instead of waiting for their turn to pick.
The hundred 2026 auction date lands in mid-March, with women’s and men’s competitions held on back-to-back days.
Over 400 cricketers will discover their market value as franchises fight to build championship squads.
Fans worldwide won’t miss a moment thanks to multiple viewing platforms.
The Hundred 2026 Auction Date, Start Time, Live Streaming TV
March 2026: When the Auction Takes Place
The tournament organizers scheduled the auction across consecutive days to give each competition dedicated focus and attention.
Women cricketers take center stage on March 11, 2026. Eight franchises will open their wallets and compete for the best female talent available. Teams have already made some direct signings, but significant roster spots need filling.
Men’s players follow on March 12, 2026. This day typically generates the biggest headlines as international superstars, proven performers, and rising talents all enter the bidding pool simultaneously.
Both auction events start at the same time. The hundred 2026 auction time kicks off at 9:45 AM GMT each day. Fans watching from India and surrounding regions can tune in at 3:15 PM IST.
Quick Reference: Auction Schedule Details
| Auction Type | Scheduled Date | GMT Timing | IST Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Women’s Competition | March 11, 2026 | 9:45 AM | 3:15 PM |
| Men’s Competition | March 12, 2026 | 9:45 AM | 3:15 PM |
This scheduling gives fans in different time zones reasonable viewing windows.
Morning in Britain, afternoon in Asia, overnight in Australia. The tournament clearly wants global eyeballs on these proceedings.
The format change itself is significant. Auctions create different dynamics than drafts.
The highest bidder wins, period. No advantages for weak teams from previous seasons.
Understanding the auction mechanics matters. Read What Is The Hundred Auction? Format, Rules, and Salary Cap Explained for complete details.
Where You Can Watch the Auction Live?
Getting access to the Hundred 2026 auction live streaming won’t require jumping through hoops. The organizers set up multiple viewing options for different audiences.
Sky Sports Handles UK Television
British viewers have straightforward choices. Sky Sports is broadcasting both auction days across two channels.
| Broadcaster | Available Channels | Coverage Type |
|---|---|---|
| Sky Sports | Main Event, Cricket | Complete Live Coverage |
If you’re searching for the Hundred 2026 auction tv channel in the UK, Sky Sports has exclusive rights. Their coverage includes live bidding, expert commentary panels, and detailed analysis between player sales.
YouTube Provides Global Free Access
International fans get an even simpler solution. The Hundred’s official YouTube channel streams both auctions without cost or geographic restrictions.
This breaks the usual franchise cricket pattern. Most auctions end up behind subscription services or regional broadcast deals that exclude large portions of the global audience. The Hundred is taking a different approach.
The YouTube option delivers:
- Completely free viewing from anywhere
- No account creation or registration needed
- Broadcast-quality matching television coverage
- Full replay access after live events conclude
This accessibility extends the tournament’s reach into markets where traditional broadcasting partnerships don’t exist yet.
Financial Foundation: Pre-Auction Team Moves
Franchises didn’t show up to the hundred 2026 auction date and time with empty rosters. Rules permitted strategic moves before auction day arrived.
Each team could directly sign up to three players without competitive bidding. They also had one retention slot for keeping a player from the previous season.
These pre-auction decisions created financial ripple effects. Men’s teams operate under a £2.05 million salary cap.
After direct signings, most franchises retain roughly £1.1 million for auction bidding.
Women’s teams work with a £880,000 total cap. Depending on signing choices, they’re left with approximately £520,000 to £570,000 for the auction.
Want to see who’s available for bidding? Check The Hundred Auction List of registered players.
Budget Status After Direct Signings
| Team Category | Original Cap | Pre-Auction Spending | Auction Budget |
|---|---|---|---|
| Men’s Franchises | £2.05 million | £950,000 | £1.1 million |
| Women’s (4 signed) | £880,000 | £360,000 | £520,000 |
| Women’s (3 signed) | £880,000 | £310,000 | £570,000 |
These figures reveal which teams have spending power and which need careful budget management. Franchises that splurged on expensive pre-auction signings can’t afford multiple bidding wars.
Team-by-Team Pre-Auction Signings
Every franchise used the direct signing window strategically. Their choices provide insight into team-building philosophies.
- Trent Rockets assembled experienced cores. Women’s signings include Nat Sciver-Brunt, Ash Gardner, Sophia Dunkley, and Kim Garth. The men’s squad added Ben Duckett, Tom Banton, Tim David, and Mitchell Santner.
- Southern Brave balanced star power with depth. Laura Wolvaardt, Jemimah Rodrigues, Lauren Bell, and Maia Bouchier strengthen the women’s team. Jofra Archer, Jamie Smith, Marcus Stoinis, and Tristan Stubbs form the men’s foundation.
- London Spirit emphasized versatility. Marizanne Kapp, Grace Harris, Charlie Dean, and Mahika Gaur handle women’s duties. Liam Livingstone, Adam Zampa, Dewald Brevis, and Jamie Overton anchor the men.
- Birmingham Phoenix targeted explosive young talent. Alice Capsey, Ellyse Perry, Lauren Filer, and Lucy Hamilton make up the women’s group. Jacob Bethell, Rehan Ahmed, Donovan Ferreira, and Mitchell Owen comprise the men’s core.
- Manchester Super Giants invested in proven match-winners. Meg Lanning, Sophie Ecclestone, and Smriti Mandhana dominate the women’s side. Jos Buttler, Heinrich Klaasen, Liam Dawson, and Noor Ahmad lead the men.
- MI London built around T20 specialists. Hayley Matthews, Melie Kerr, and Danni Wyatt-Hodge bring batting firepower for the women. Sam Curran, Rashid Khan, Will Jacks, and Nicholas Pooran provide the men’s backbone.
- Sunrisers Leeds prioritized emerging stars. Phoebe Litchfield, Annabel Sutherland, and Kate Cross form the women’s nucleus. Harry Brook, Mitchell Marsh, Brydon Carse, and Nathan Ellis complete the men’s early signings.
- Welsh Fire mixed youth with experience. Georgia Wareham, Georgia Voll, and Freya Kemp handle the women’s team. Phil Salt, Chris Woakes, Marco Jansen, and Rachin Ravindra round out the men’s pre-auction roster.
These signings create team identities, but squads remain incomplete. Auction day fills the remaining gaps.
For auction process details, visit The Hundred 2026 auction rules.
Tactical View: What Makes Auctions Different from Drafts?
The format switch fundamentally changes how franchises approach squad building.
Draft systems give weaker teams first pick. This creates built-in competitive balance. Teams that struggled get first access to top talent, helping them improve faster than successful franchises.
Auctions ignore past performance completely. Every team starts with the same salary cap. Success depends on smart spending, not picking orders. The championship winner and the last-place team compete on equal financial footing.
This creates unique pressure during bidding. When multiple franchises want the same player, someone must decide how high they’ll go. Overpay for one superstar and compromise depth? Or spread money across multiple solid contributors?
Pre-auction signings add strategic layers. Teams that spent heavily early now have limited ammunition. But they also locked players down without competitive bidding, potentially securing bargains compared to auction market rates.
Watch for bidding patterns. Some franchises might target specific weaknesses. A team lacking death bowling could bid aggressively on pace specialists. Another franchise needing middle-order stability might chase versatile all-rounders.
The auction reveals team priorities in real time. You see where they’re willing to splurge, where they’re hunting bargains, and when they refuse to overpay despite clear needs.
My Take: Why These Two Days Shape Everything?
The March 11-12 dates carry enormous importance for the entire Hundred 2026 season. Every franchise rebuilds from the foundations up. Nobody carries over complete squads.
This auction matters because:
- World-class international talent becomes available to the highest bidder
- Domestic cricketers can secure career-defining contracts through competitive bidding
- Teams can fix specific problems that hurt previous season performance
- Genuine unpredictability replaces predetermined draft outcomes
Consider this example: imagine a young English pace bowler who took 15 wickets in county cricket. In a draft, they might get picked in round five or six.
In an auction, if four teams all desperately need pace, that bowler’s price could skyrocket. Suddenly, they’re earning what established international bowlers command.
That’s auction dynamics. Unpredictable. Emotional. Teams make panic decisions. Others find incredible value.
The competitive landscape transforms based on who stays calm and who overpays.
Some franchises will execute brilliant strategies. They’ll identify undervalued talent, avoid bidding wars, and build balanced squads within budget.
Others will chase big names, overpay dramatically, and struggle to fill rosters with remaining funds.
The auction separates smart operators from desperate spenders within hours.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What are the confirmed dates for The Hundred 2026 auction?
The women’s auction happens on March 11, 2026, and the men’s auction takes place on March 12, 2026.
- What time does bidding begin each day?
Both auctions start at 9:45 AM GMT, which converts to 3:15 PM IST for viewers in India.
- Can fans outside the UK watch the auction?
Yes. The Hundred’s official YouTube channel provides free live streaming globally without geographic restrictions.
- What TV channel broadcasts the auction in Britain?
Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Cricket both carry full live coverage of both auction days.
- How many players are entering the auction?
More than 400 cricketers from around the world have registered across both men’s and women’s competitions.
Closing Thoughts
Get ready for March 11 and 12. Those dates will determine squad compositions for the entire Hundred 2026 season.
Teams have already secured core players through direct signings, but most roster construction happens during live auction bidding.
Whether you watch on Sky Sports television or stream for free via YouTube, the drama unfolds in real time as teams compete financially for the talent they need.
Some franchises will dominate the auction. They’ll stay disciplined, identify value, and build competitive squads efficiently.
Others will panic, overspend on marquee names, and scramble to complete rosters within remaining budget constraints.
That’s the beauty and brutality of auction formats. Everyone enters thinking they’ll win.
By the end of day two, some teams celebrate brilliant signings while others explain expensive mistakes.
