Top 5: Most Expensive Players in Men’s Hundred 2026 Auction

The ECB conducted its first-ever player auction for the Men’s Hundred 2026 season. As expected, it turned out to be a massive event.

All eight franchises went all in to build their squads. And with plenty of money in their purses, teams made some big signings.

Here, we’ll look at the top five most expensive players in the Men’s Hundred 2026 auction.

5. Joe Root | £240,000 to Welsh Fire

After spending five seasons with Trent Rockets, Joe Root has found a new home in Wales. He will now turn up for the Glamorgan-based Welsh Fire.

Apart from the Fire, three more franchises showed interest in Root. Manchester Super Giants and Southern Brave opened the bidding war, which went from £75,000 to £170,000 in no time.

Then the Fire fuelled the bidding along with Sunrisers Leeds, taking it above £200,000. The hammer finally settled when the Fire raised the winning bid at £240,000 to secure Root.

4. Adil Rashid | £250,000 to Southern Brave

Another veteran English player moves to a new franchise in 2026. Adil Rashid will don Southern Brave’s jersey in the sixth edition.

Rashid, fresh off a good outing in the 2026 T20 World Cup, was in demand. There was a three-way battle for the leg spinner.

The Brave raised the paddle first, only to drop midway. But they returned to beat Trent Rockets and Sunrisers Leeds to snap up Rashid for £250,000.

3. Tom Curran | £260,000 to MI London

Although MI London didn’t retain Tom Curran ahead of the auction, the franchise showed no intention to leave him out completely.

MI London went all in to secure Tom from the clutches of three other franchises. First, they locked horns with the Brave, followed by Birmingham Phoenix and the Rockets.

Even as the bid went past £250,000, MI didn’t back out. They finally closed the deal at £260,000 to have both the Curran brothers in the squad.

2. Jordan Cox | £300,000 to Welsh Fire

Six. That’s the number of teams that showed interest in Jordan Cox. And Welsh Fire won the race among them.

The Rockets and the Phoenix started the paddle war before MI almost had him. But then Leeds and the Brave jumped in.

The bid had already crossed £270,000 when the Fire swooped in late and closed out the deal at £300,000. 

1. James Coles | £390,000 to London Spirit

Following Cox’s £300k deal, James Coles went a step further. He landed a massive deal of £390,000 to become the most expensive player in the Men’s Hundred 2026 auction.

Coles garnered attention from five teams. The Phoenix and the Super Giants set things off the blocks, taking the bid to £180,000.

Then the Rockets and Leeds dipped their toes. It seemed like Leeds would have their man, but London Spirit joined the bidding battle.

Both teams went neck-to-neck, breaching the £350,000 barrier. In the end, Leeds backed out and the Spirit signed Coles for £390,000.

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