Ahead of The Hundred 2026 season, Northern Superchargers are officially renamed as the Sunrisers Leeds, following their acquisition by the Sun Group, who are the owners of the Indian Premier League franchise Sunrisers Hyderabad, having secured 100 percent ownership of the Northern Superchargers, in a record deal valued at Euros 100 million.

It saw the Sun Group buy out both the 49% stake of the EnglandCricket Board and the Yorkshire Cricket Club's 51% share, which makes the Superchargers the first franchise in the Hundred to be sold outright. Their co-owner, Kavya Maran, has spoken about the emotional and fan-driven spirit of the group.

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“Sunrisers isn't just a team, it's family, it's emotion, it's passion. Orange Army, you've always shown up in huge numbers with fierce passion from India to South Africa. Now it's time to paint the orange. We're ready to go hard, we're ready to go fearless, we're ready to play with fire. This team is yours, Orange Army. Every wicket, every run, every record we break, it's for you.” Kavya Maran expressed in a special video.

Northern Superchargers renamed as Sunrisers Leeds for The Hundred 2026

The investment is the Sun Group's second overseas investment after Sunrisers Eastern Cape, who are the two-time defending champions of the SA20, under the leadership of Aiden Markram, who, for the current edition of the event, has made his way to the Durban Supergiants and is leading the side.

Watch the video here: 

A new era begins in the 🇬🇧

Ms. Kaviya K. Maran shares her message for the Orange Army 🧡

Let’s Play With Fire 🔥

[@thehundred] pic.twitter.com/b640lTccxi

— Sunrisers Leeds (@sunrisersleeds) January 12, 2026

The former Northern Superchargers are still searching for their maiden The Hundred title as both the Men’s and Women’s teams finished fourth in the 2024 season. The men’s team is coached by Andrew Flintoff and captained by Harry Brook, while the women’s team recently appointed Lia Keightley as their head coach.

In the IPL, Sunrisers Hyderabad, who won the 2016 season of the tournament, finished as the runners-up of the 2024 season, losing the final to the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR). In this competition, they are under the captaincy of Pat Cummins.

In a major development for The Hundred, the Northern Superchargers have officially been renamed Sunrisers Leeds, marking a new era for the Leeds-based franchise. The rebranding comes after the Sun Group, an Indian media conglomerate and owners of IPL’s Sunrisers Hyderabad and SA20’s Sunrisers Eastern Cape, completed a £100 million takeover earlier this year.

The ownership change means the Sun Group now holds 100% control of the franchise after acquiring both Yorkshire’s 51% stake and the England and Wales Cricket Board’s (ECB) 49% share. Documents filed with the UK’s Companies House confirm that the Superchargers’ name will be discontinued, replaced by Sunrisers Leeds to align with the group’s global cricket identity.

Two More Name Changes on the Horizon

The Hundred’s eight franchises are now under private ownership, and Sunrisers Leeds may not be the only side with a new identity next season.

• Manchester Originals are set to become Manchester Super Giants, following Lancashire’s deal with the RP-Sanjiv Goenka Group, which also owns IPL’s Lucknow Super Giants.
• Oval Invincibles are likely to be rebranded as MI London, with Reliance Industries Limited (owners of Mumbai Indians) expected to finalise their minority investment soon.

These changes are part of a broader internationalisation strategy for the tournament, as global investors bring familiar branding and cross-league visibility to The Hundred.

Yorkshire’s Financial Relief

Yorkshire County Cricket Club CEO Sanjay Patel said earlier this year that the sale has been crucial in stabilising the club’s finances. “The deal puts the club in a strong financial position, which has been far from the case for many years here, and we can start looking towards a very bright future,” Patel stated.

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On-Field Impact

The Superchargers’ women’s team enjoyed a stellar 2025 season, clinching The Hundred title after defeating Southern Brave at Lord’s. The men’s team, meanwhile, fell short in the eliminator but will return next season with a new head coach, with reports linking Sunrisers Hyderabad’s Daniel Vettori to the vacancy following Andrew Flintoff’s departure.

The Hundred’s New Era

The ECB has also confirmed a shift from a draft system to an open player auction from the 2026 season. The move, along with increased salaries and an extra overseas player per team, aims to attract top international stars and boost the competition’s global appeal.

The Hundred 2026 season is scheduled to run from July 21 to August 16, ushering in a new era both on and off the field, with Sunrisers Leeds leading the way as the league’s first fully rebranded team.