The Hundred Men’s 2026 gets underway with a blockbuster contest as MI London (MIL) take on Sunrisers Leeds (SRL) at the Kennington Oval in London today. Both franchises enter the new era of the competition under fresh identities, with Oval Invincibles becoming MI London and Northern Superchargers rebranding as Sunrisers Leeds. With several international stars on both sides, fans can expect a high-quality contest to begin the tournament.
MI London boast an explosive squad featuring Nicholas Pooran, Will Jacks, Rashid Khan, Trent Boult and captain Sam Curran. Meanwhile, Sunrisers Leeds will rely on the experience of Harry Brook, Ryan Rickelton, Nathan Ellis and Brydon Carse as they look to make a winning start. With both teams packed with match-winners, the opening fixture promises to be a closely fought encounter.
MIL vs SRL, The Hundred Men’s 2026: Match details
- Date and Time: July 21, 11:00 PM IST / 5:30 PM GMT / 6:30 PM Local
- Venue: Kennington Oval, London
MIL vs SRL Head-to-Head Record
Matches Played: 5 | MI London (formerly Oval Invincibles) won: 2 | Sunrisers Leeds (formerly Northern Superchargers) won: 3
Kennington Oval Pitch Report
The Kennington Oval has traditionally offered one of the fairest batting surfaces in English white-ball cricket, providing an excellent balance between bat and ball. The pitch generally carries good pace and consistent bounce, allowing stroke-makers to play their shots with confidence once they settle in. Batters who spend a little time at the crease often go on to score heavily, making partnerships extremely valuable in The Hundred format.
Fast bowlers are expected to enjoy some movement with the new ball, particularly during the opening set, as the surface can provide swing and seam under fresh conditions. However, that assistance usually fades quickly, after which the wicket becomes much easier for batting. Spinners can also come into the game during the middle phase by varying their pace and using the larger square boundaries effectively.
Considering the batting-friendly nature of the venue and the depth in both batting line-ups, another high-scoring contest could be on the cards. The captain winning the toss may prefer to bowl first, taking advantage of any early movement before chasing under more settled conditions.
Squads
MI London: Sam Curran (c), Nicholas Pooran (wk), Jason Roy, James Vince, Sherfane Rutherford, Will Jacks, Tom Curran, Trent Boult, Rashid Khan, Olly Stone, Nathan Sowter, Richard Gleeson, Callum Parkinson, Ollie Pope, Eddie Jack, Sebastian Morgan, Ollie Sykes
Sunrisers Leeds: Zak Crawley (c), Ryan Rickelton (wk), Mitchell Marsh, Harry Brook, Dan Lawrence, Liam Patterson-White, Benny Howell, Reece Topley, Brydon Carse, Abrar Ahmed, Matthew Potts, Matthew Revis, Nathan Ellis, Tom Lawes, Charlie Allison, Tom Alsop, Ed Barnard
Also READ: The Men’s Hundred 2026: Complete squad of all 8 teams after first-ever auction
MIL vs SRL, The Hundred Men’s 2026, Today’s Match Prediction
Case 1:
- MIL wins the toss and bowls first
- SRL’s powerplay score (25 balls): 40-45
- SRL’s total score (100 balls): 150-160
Case 2:
- SRL wins the toss and bowls first
- MIL’s powerplay score (25 balls): 45-50
- MIL’s total score (100 balls): 160-170
Match result: Team bowling first to win the contest.
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