Indian cricket icon Smriti Mandhana He grabbed the headlines once again by securing the marquee switch for a newly rebranded franchise for the 2026 edition. A hundred. The 100-ball tournament, which has become a staple of the English summer season, will see one of its biggest stars switch allegiance after a legendary stint with his previous team. Known for her refined batting and aggressive opening starts, Mandhana enters this new chapter at the peak of her powers, having recently played a transformative role for the Indian national team on the world stage.
Here is where Smriti Mandhana will play in the Hundred 2026 season
Indian superstar Mandhana has officially signed with the new rebrand Manchester Super Giants. Mandhana joins the team after a prolific season in 2025, where he helped India win for the first time. ICC ODI World Cup victory. A stint decorated with a prolific opening batsman then moves to Old Trafford Southern Brave (2021–2024), where he established himself as one of the most consistent performers in the tournament, scoring 676 runs at a strike rate of around 140.
Mandhana’s move to Manchester marks a high-profile direct signing for the franchise, who have moved quickly to secure his services during the current retention window. Joining forces with an Australian legend Meg Lanning and Englandsense of rotation Sophie EcclestoneMandhana will enter the 2026 campaign at the peak of his powers, fresh from the historic 2025 season as India’s vice-captain. ICC ODI World Cup title.
Also READ: Not Smriti Mandhana! Marizanne Kapp predicts India’s next captain after Harmanpreet Kaur
Hundred global powerhouse rebranding after a landmark acquisition
The Manchester Originals officially entered a new era by being rebranded as Manchester Super Giants Before the 2026 season. This transformation occurs after achieving a milestone Sanjeev Goenka’s RPSG Group bought a 70 per cent stake in the franchise for around £80m. The rebranding aligns the team with Goenka’s other premier cricket properties Lucknow Super Giants In the IPL and Super Giants of Durban In SA20.
By bringing the ‘Super Giants’ personality to The Hundred, ownership aims to create a consistent global brand. Goenka shared his thoughts on the project on X and Instagram, highlighting that Manchester’s rich sporting heritage makes it the perfect home for this expansion. He noted that the franchise is committed to becoming a major part of the city’s culture, with the new identity representing their lofty ambitions to provide silverware in both the men’s and women’s categories.
Also READ: India’s rising star Vaishnavi Sharma has revealed her top 3 favorite male and female cricketers
This article was originally published here WomenCricket.coma Cricket Times company.
