The Hundred’s Leeds-based franchise, the Northern Superchargers, has now been rebranded as Sunrisers Leeds after the Sun Group, an Indian media conglomerate, concluded a £100 million deal for its acquisition. The rebranding comes into line with all other cricket franchises owned by the Sun Group, including Sunrisers Hyderabad in the IPL and Sunrisers Eastern Cape in South Africa’s SA20.
The £100 Million Takeover and the Ownership Shift
The Sun Group completed its £100m takeover of the Northern Superchargers franchise earlier this year. Yorkshire Cricket sold its 51% stake in the team as part of the deal – the ECB owned the remaining 49% – giving the Sun Group 100% of the shares in the franchise.
This acquisition marks an important milestone for the franchise, with the group submitting documentation to Companies House immediately to rebrand to Sunrisers Leeds. This would provide Sun Group some continuity with its global cricket strategy, as there are other Sunrisers franchises that are operating around the world in major leagues.
The Future of The Hundred: More Name Changes Expected
Changing its name to Sunrisers Leeds is part of a broader trend in The Hundred, with more teams expected to rebrand. From the 2026 season, the league will be fully privately owned for all eight teams, resulting in a wave of franchise changes:
Manchester Originals will be rebranded as Manchester Super Giants after a deal with the RP-Sanjiv Goenka Group. Upon confirmation of Reliance Industries Limited’s minority investment, Oval Invincibles are set for a rebranding to MI London.
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The changes mirror a greater trend to operate ownership models based on franchises, much like in the IPL, and will only contribute to the growing globalisation of The Hundred.
Financial Recovery and Future Outlook for Yorkshire
The £100 million sale is an undoubted financial fillip for Yorkshire. Sanjay Patel, the chief executive of the club, underlined that the proceeds will help to clear a large chunk of the club’s long-standing debts and set it on sounder footings for the future. This is, therefore, a positive step in securing a brighter future for Yorkshire and their cricket teams, including Sunrisers Leeds.
Success on the Field: Women’s Team Triumphs
For the team, this was a great day when the women’s team of the Northern Superchargers won the 2025 edition of the Hundred, defeating Southern Brave in the final at Lord’s. It represented a peak in the team’s performance and signified what might be achieved under new ownership.
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Meanwhile, the men’s team failed to make it out of the eliminator stage, but with a new head coach coming in 2026 – possibly with involvement from Sunrisers Hyderabad coach Daniel Vettori too – the franchise has its eyes firmly set on revamping its men’s squad.
Key Changes for The Hundred in 2026
But it’s not just the Sunrisers Leeds rebranding as next year will also see a major shake-up in The Hundred’s recruitment system. The ECB announced recently that the draft system currently used would be replaced by a player auction model, allowing for competitive bidding and resulting in increased player salaries.
And if that wasn’t enough, it’s likely to lure even more star names to the league, with teams allowed to field one additional overseas player per side. The 2026 season of The Hundred is set to take place from July 21 to August 16, the alterations having been made in a bid to increase the profile of the competition along with the quality of cricket played.
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