Top 5 players to watch out for in men's & women's The Hundred 2026

The Hundred 2026 is set to begin on 21 July 2026 and will run until 16 August 2026. After five successful seasons, the 100-ball tournament returns with another exciting edition featuring some of the biggest stars in world cricket. Fans can expect thrilling contests as the best men's and women's players compete for the title.

One of the biggest changes this season is that each team can now field four overseas players in its playing XI, one more than in previous editions. This rule is expected to attract more international talent and make the competition even stronger. Like previous seasons, the men's and women's tournaments will run side by side, with a women's match and a men's match scheduled as a double-header on every matchday.

A total of 64 group-stage matches will be played, with 32 matches in the Men's Hundred 2026 and 32 matches in the Women's Hundred 2026. Several players will be in the spotlight because of their recent form, match-winning ability, and impact on the field. In this article, we take a look at the top five players to watch out for in the men's and women's The Hundred 2026.

5. Laura Wolvaardt (Sunrisers Leeds Women)

Laura Wolvaardt will represent Sunrisers Leeds Women in The Hundred 2026. She is one of the most reliable batters in women's cricket and has been a consistent performer for South Africa over the years. Wolvaardt made her international debut as a teenager and became the youngest South African, male or female, to score an international century after making 105 against Ireland in 2016. Since then, she has established herself as one of the world's top batters.

Laura has enjoyed an excellent 2026 season so far. In 19 matches, she has scored 673 runs at an average of 42.06 and a strike rate of 133.53. Her impressive tally includes one century and four half-centuries, highlighting her consistency and ability to play match-winning innings. Her recent form makes her one of the biggest threats in this year's tournament.

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Wolvaardt also brings plenty of international experience to the competition. In 104 WT20Is, she has scored 2,898 runs at an average of 37.63 and a strike rate of 121.25, including three centuries and 16 half-centuries. With her calm batting style, strong technique, and outstanding form, she is expected to play a key role for Sunrisers Leeds Women and will be one of the top players to watch in The Hundred 2026.

4. Sam Curran (MI London Men)

Sam Curran will lead MI London Men in The Hundred 2026 and is one of the top players to watch this season. The England all-rounder comes into the tournament in excellent form after a strong T20I series against India, where he took seven wickets in five matches and also scored a valuable 42 runs in the third T20I. His ability to contribute with both bat and ball makes him one of the most dangerous all-rounders in the competition.

Curran has been an important player for MI London since the start of The Hundred. In 38 matches, he has scored 783 runs at a strike rate of 149.42, including five half-centuries. He has also been a key performer with the ball, helping his team with crucial wickets. His consistent performances and leadership make him a vital player for MI London Men.

Sam Curran has been one of England's best all-rounders since making his international debut in 2018. With his aggressive batting, clever left-arm seam bowling, and experience in pressure situations, he can change the game in any phase of a match. If he continues his current form, Curran is expected to play a major role for MI London Men and will be one of the biggest stars to watch in The Hundred 2026.

3. Nicholas Pooran (MI London Men)

Nicholas Pooran will represent MI London Men in The Hundred 2026 and is one of the biggest players to watch this season. The left-handed wicketkeeper-batter comes into the tournament in outstanding form. Recently, he smashed a brilliant 31-ball century for MI New York against Washington Freedom in Major League Cricket 2026, registering one of the fastest hundreds in T20 cricket. His fearless batting makes him a dangerous player in any match.

Pooran has already made an impact in The Hundred. In nine matches, he has scored 285 runs at an impressive average of 57.00 and a strike rate of 164.73, including four half-centuries. He has also started The Hundred 2026 strongly with an unbeaten 58 for MI London Men, showing that he is ready for another excellent season.

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The West Indies star also has an outstanding international record. In 106 T20Is, Pooran has scored 2,275 runs at a strike rate of 136.39, with 13 half-centuries. Combined with his brilliant performances in MLC 2026, where he scored 424 runs in 11 matches, he enters The Hundred in top form. If he continues batting this way, Nicholas Pooran could be one of the standout performers for MI London Men this season.

2. Harry Brook (Sunrisers Leeds Men)

Harry Brook will represent Sunrisers Leeds Men in The Hundred 2026 and is one of the biggest players to watch this season. The England captain comes into the tournament in excellent form after leading his team to T20I and ODI series victories with several match-winning performances. His aggressive batting and ability to score quickly make him one of the most dangerous batters in the competition.

Brook has been a consistent performer for Sunrisers Leeds Men in The Hundred. In 36 matches, he has scored 910 runs at an average of 36.40 and a brilliant strike rate of 161.92. His record includes one century and four half-centuries, with a highest score of 105 not out. His impressive record shows how important he has been for the team over the years.

Brook also has an outstanding international record in T20 cricket. In 68 T20Is for England, he has scored 1,532 runs at an average of 34.04 and a strike rate of 160.58, including one century and eight half-centuries. With his current form and experience, Harry Brook is expected to play a key role for Sunrisers Leeds Men and could be one of the standout performers in The Hundred 2026.

1. Joe Root (Welsh Fire Men)

Joe Root will represent Welsh Fire Men in The Hundred 2026 and is the top player to watch this season. The England star is enjoying one of the best phases of his career and has been in outstanding form across formats. In ODI cricket, he has been remarkably consistent, scoring 50-plus runs in six consecutive innings. His experience, calm approach, and ability to anchor an innings make him one of the biggest threats in the tournament.

Root has been a key player for Welsh Fire Men in The Hundred over the last five seasons. In 26 matches, he has scored 527 runs at an average of 26.35 and a strike rate of 136.88. His record includes three half-centuries, with a highest score of 76. In The Hundred 2025, he enjoyed his best season, scoring 239 runs in 10 matches, including his highest score in the competition.

Root also brings plenty of international experience to the tournament. In 32 T20Is for England, he has scored 893 runs at an average of 35.72, including five half-centuries. With his current form and vast experience, Joe Root is expected to lead from the front for Welsh Fire Men and could be one of the standout performers in The Hundred 2026.

Notable mentions:

Smriti Mandhana (Manchester Super Giants Women)

Smriti Mandhana will represent Manchester Super Giants Women in The Hundred 2026 and is one of the biggest players to watch this season. A total of four Indian cricketers will feature in the women's competition this year, highlighting India's growing presence in franchise cricket. After missing the 2025 edition, Mandhana returns to The Hundred with a new team after previously playing for Southern Brave Women.

Mandhana has been one of the most consistent batters in the history of the tournament. In 29 matches for Southern Brave Women, she scored 676 runs at an average of 26.00 and a strike rate of 139.09, including five half-centuries. Her aggressive batting at the top of the order has made her one of the most reliable players in The Hundred.

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The India vice-captain also has an outstanding international record. In 171 WT20Is, Mandhana has scored 4,538 runs at an average of 30.25 and a strike rate of 125.18, including one century and 35 half-centuries. With her experience, attacking style, and ability to score big runs, Smriti Mandhana is expected to play a key role for Manchester Super Giants Women and will be one of the top players to watch in The Hundred 2026.

Davina Perrin (Birmingham Phoenix Women)

Davina Perrin will represent Birmingham Phoenix Women in The Hundred 2026 and is one of the rising stars to watch this season. The 18-year-old England batter impressed everyone with her outstanding performances in the 2025 edition while playing for Sunrisers Leeds Women (formerly Northern Superchargers Women). Her fearless batting and ability to score quickly have made her one of the brightest young talents in women's cricket.

Perrin enjoyed a brilliant 2025 campaign, scoring 260 runs in 10 matches at an average of 28.88 and a strike rate of 136.84. Her best performance came in the Eliminator against London Spirit, where she smashed a stunning 101 off just 43 balls, hitting 15 fours and five sixes. Her match-winning century helped her team post 214/5 before securing a 42-run victory.

Overall, Perrin has scored 293 runs in 14 Women's Hundred matches, including one century and one half-century. She now joins Birmingham Phoenix Women for the 2026 season and will look to continue her impressive form. If she performs the way she did last year, Davina Perrin could be one of the breakout stars of The Hundred 2026.

Conclusion

The Hundred 2026 promises to be another exciting season, with some of the biggest names in men's and women's cricket ready to entertain fans. From experienced international stars to talented young players, every team has match-winners who can change the game. The players featured in this list have been selected based on their recent form, consistency, and ability to make an impact in crucial matches.

As the tournament gets underway, all eyes will be on these stars to see if they can live up to expectations and guide their teams to success. With thrilling double-headers, world-class talent, and plenty of exciting contests, The Hundred 2026 is set to deliver another memorable season for cricket fans around the world.