REVEALED: The team that will represent Smriti Mandhana in The Hundred 2026

Indian cricket icon Smriti Mandhana has made headlines again with a major move to a new franchise for the 2026 edition of The Hundred. The 100-ball tournament, which has become a regular part of the English summer, will see one of the biggest stars switch allegiances after a legendary spell with her previous side. Known for her elegant strokeplay and aggressive opening starts, Mandhana enters this new chapter at the height of her powers, having recently played a transformational role for the Indian national team on the world stage.

Here Smriti Mandhana will play in The Hundred 2026 season

Indian superstar Mandhana has officially signed with the new brand name Manchester supergiants. Mandhana joins the team after a productive season in 2025, during which she was instrumental in leading India to their first ever ICC ODI World Cup victory. The prolific opening batsman makes the move to Old Trafford after a decorated spell at the Southern brave (2021–2024), where she established herself as one of the tournament’s most consistent performers, scoring 676 runs at a strike rate of almost 140.

Mandhana’s move to Manchester marks a high-profile direct signing for the franchise, which has moved quickly to secure her services during the current retention period. By joining forces with the Australian legend Meg Lanning And England‘s spin sensation Sophie EcclestoneMandhana will enter the 2026 campaign at the height of her powers, fresh from a historic 2025 season that saw her vice-captain India until their first ICC ODI World Cup title.

READ also: Not Smriti Mandhana! Marizanne Kapp predicts India’s next captain after Harmanpreet Kaur

A global rebranding of The Hundred after a historic takeover

The Manchester Originals have officially transitioned into a new era and have been renamed the Manchester supergiants ahead of the 2026 season. This transformation follows a historic acquisition by Sanjeev Goenka’‘s RPSG Group, which bought a 70 percent stake in the franchise for around £80 million. The rebrand brings the team in line with Goenka’s other premier cricket properties including the Lucknow supergiants in the IPL and The supergiants of Durban in the SA20.

By bringing the ‘Super Giants’ identity to The Hundred, the owner aims to establish a consistent global brand. Goenka shared his vision for 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 aims to become a core part of the city’s culture, with the new identity representing their far-reaching ambitions to secure silverware in both the men’s and women’s categories.

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This article was first published on WomenCricket.coma Cricket Times company.