The Hundred is set to move away from the player draft and instead introduce the player auction ahead of the 2026 season. This comes after private investors bought equity in all eight teams.
With half the new team owners from the IPL, this move was right on the cards. So, with all deals finalised, the focus now shifts to the squad building.
Teams will, obviously, buy new players in the IPL-style auction. But they can also retain a few players.
So, how many players can be retained ahead of The Hundred 2026 auction?
Each team can either retain or pre-sign a maximum of four players before The Hundred 2026 auction.
While teams can retain four players from their previous season’s squad, they can pre-sign a maximum of three. And each team needs to retain at least one player.
While retaining or pre-signing, teams can’t go beyond certain player restrictions.
A team can:
- Pre-sign a maximum of two England centrally contracted players
- Pre-sign a maximum of two overseas players
- Retain a minimum of one player – either an England centrally contracted player, overseas, or domestic
The pre-auction picks will result in a deduction of a set amount from the team’s salary cap.
Here’s how much the teams will lose for pre-auction picks in The Hundred 2026:
| Players | Men’s Amount | Women’s Amount |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Player | £350,000 | £150,000 |
| 2 Players | £650,000 | £240,000 |
| 3 Players | £850,000 | £310,000 |
| 4 Players | £950,000 | £360,000 |
What’s the salary cap in The Hundred 2026 auction?
The salary cap has increased by 45 per cent in the men’s competition, while the women’s competition has seen a rise of 100 per cent.
Each men’s team will carry a salary cap of £2.05 million, up from £1.2 million last season. The women’s teams can spend a maximum of £880,000.
When’s The Hundred 2026 auction?
The Hundred 2026 auction will take place in March, though dates haven’t yet been announced.
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