The Hundred Copies IPL Model, to Hold Player Auction in 2026

The Hundred will take a major step towards an IPL-style system from next season, as the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has confirmed the introduction of a full player auction for 2026.

The popular short-format tournament, launched in 2021, will move away from its draft model, marking a big shift in how teams are built.

For the first time, teams will bid for players in an open auction, just like the IPL. The men’s teams will now have a salary purse of £2.05 million (around ₹22 crore), which is a 45 percent increase from the previous seasons.

The women’s competition has also received a massive boost, with team salary limits doubled to £880,000 (around ₹9.5 crore).

“This is a big step to make the Hundred even better,” said Vikram Banerjee, managing director of the competition. “It will help attract top talent from around the world and make the tournament more exciting for fans.”

The ECB has also confirmed that a salary cap and a minimum spending limit, called a “collar”, will be introduced to maintain balance among teams.

Each squad will consist of 16 to 18 players, with up to four overseas stars allowed, one more than before. Teams will also have the option to offer multi-year contracts to their important players.

Ahead of the March 2026 auction, teams can make up to four pre-auction signings between mid-November and the end of January.

Out of these, three can be direct picks, limited to either overseas or centrally contracted England players.

In a further push for equality, the minimum salary for women cricketers has gone up by 50 percent to £15,000 (around ₹16 lakh).