The English franchise cricket landscape is undergoing a rapid transformation, and it appears that The Hundred 2026 is likely to resemble an extension of the Indian Premier League (IPL) in the coming years. The latest update in this regard is that Delhi Capitals’ head coach Hemang Badani is all set to take over as the head of Southern Brave’s men’s team for the next season.
Although Southern Brave have maintained their original identity despite having partial ownership ties with Delhi Capitals, the overall change in the structure and management indicates a major shift in The Hundred 2026.
IPL-Linked Ownership Reshapes The Hundred 2026
The Hundred was designed to be an innovative way of playing English cricket, and its new 100 ball format has its own branding and method of selecting players. But by the start of The Hundred 2026 season, four of the eight teams in the league will have been purchased by IPL-affiliated investors.
Here’s how the teams are currently aligned:
The Oval Invincibles have been renamed to MI London under the Reliance Industries umbrella, which owns the Mumbai Indians.
The Northern Superchargers are now known as the Sunrisers Leeds.
The Manchester Originals have been renamed to Manchester Super Giants under the RPSG Group umbrella, which owns the Lucknow Super Giants.
The Southern Brave, an investor in both the GMR Group and the franchisee of Delhi Capitals, has been renamed but will now contribute to the operations of the IPL with regards to how their franchises are run locally and globally. With this influx of investment through the Southern Brave into The Hundred, a strategic integration of The Hundred and the IPL’s Global Franchise Network could be interpreted.
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Hemang Badani Appointed as Southern Brave Head Coach
In a major coaching news before The Hundred 2026, former Indian cricketer Hemang Badani is all set to head Southern Brave’s men’s team.
Badani has rich coaching experience in various leagues:
- Appointed Delhi Capitals head coach before IPL 2025 in place of Ricky Ponting.
- Played 40 ODIs for India, including a memorable century against Australia in Pune in 2001.
- Coached GMR-backed teams in Major League Cricket and ILT20.
- Led Dubai Capitals to a runners-up finish in 2024.
- Led Chepauk Super Gillies to four Tamil Nadu Premier League (TNPL) titles.
Though Delhi Capitals began well in IPL 2025 but struggled towards the end, Badani made a positive impact in the IPL 2026 mini auction by acquiring important players such as David Miller and Ben Duckett. DC supporters would be eagerly waiting for a better season under his guidance.
Badani’s appointment at Southern Brave further strengthens GMR’s plan to develop synergy among its global franchises before The Hundred 2026.
The Hundred 2026 Introduces IPL-Style Auction
One of the most important changes to the structure of The Hundred 2026 is the removal of the draft system. Instead, the competition will feature a full IPL-style auction, which will take place on March 11 and 12. This further brings the competition in line with the operational structure of the IPL.
The Southern Brave have already signed several big-name players before the auction:
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- Jofra Archer (£400,000)
- Jamie Smith (£300,000)
- Marcus Stoinis (£150,000)
- Tristan Stubbs (£100,000)
With Badani at the helm, he will ensure that the composition of the team is finalized in the coming weeks before the start of the IPL 2026.
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