JioStar secures India broadcast rights for The Hundred 2026 cricket tournament

By Rohan Gupta — 21 July 2026 — 3 min read

JioStar has acquired the linear and digital broadcast rights for both the men’s and women’s competitions of The Hundred 2026 in India. The rights were secured from Sony Pictures Networks India, the official rights holder. This acquisition means that all 68 matches across both competitions will be available live in India on JioHotstar and Star Sports Network.

The sixth edition of The Hundred is scheduled to commence on July 21 with a double-header event at The Oval. The women’s fixture between MI London and SunRisers Leeds is set to begin at 7:15 pm IST, followed by the men’s encounter between the same franchises at 11 pm IST. The tournament will conclude with the finals held at Lord’s on August 16.

Tournament Structure and Teams

The Hundred, initiated by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB), features a 100-ball format. The competition includes eight city-based franchises located across various English cities: London, Manchester, Birmingham, Leeds, Nottingham, Southampton, Cardiff, and Bristol. This season introduces a new combined competition, alongside new kits and team names, following significant outside investment and a £4 million auction in March.

An ownership restructuring has led to several franchises being renamed for this season. For instance, Oval Invincibles is now known as MI London, while Northern Superchargers has been rebranded as SunRisers Leeds. Additionally, Manchester Originals will now compete under the name Manchester Super Giants. MI London will enter the men’s tournament as the three-time defending champions, while Sunrisers Leeds, formerly the Northern Superchargers, are returning after winning the women’s tournament in 2025.

Key Players and Indian Representation

The men’s competition is expected to feature a roster of international cricketers. Notable players include Jos Buttler, Jofra Archer, Rashid Khan, Heinrich Klaasen, Phil Salt, Tim David, David Miller, and Harry Brook. These athletes are set to showcase their skills in the white-ball format.

The women’s competition will see the participation of eight Indian cricketers across different franchises. Smriti Mandhana and Richa Ghosh are slated to represent Manchester Super Giants. Deepti Sharma will play for SunRisers Leeds, and Jemimah Rodrigues will join Southern Brave. Other Indian players include Kiran Navgire for London Spirit, Shweta Sehrawat for MI London, Asha Sobhana for Trent Rockets, and Nandani Sharma for Welsh Fire.

This acquisition by JioStar expands its cricket broadcast portfolio in India, ensuring comprehensive coverage across its television and streaming platforms. Prashant Khanna, head of rights and innovation for sports at JioStar, expressed delight in bringing the tournament exclusively to Indian fans. He highlighted The Hundred’s innovative format and its ability to attract new audiences, featuring both international stars and leading Indian players.

Broadcast Details and Schedule

In the UK, every match of The Hundred 2026 will be available on Sky Sports. Additionally, 16 matches, including the opening women’s and men’s double-header and both finals, will be broadcast live on BBC TV and BBC iPlayer. Viewers can also stream the tournament via NOW without a contract, accessible through computers, smart TVs, phones, and consoles, and also available via BT Sport.

The tournament schedule includes a series of matches throughout July and August. On July 21, the opening day, the women’s match between MI London and Sunrisers Leeds will begin at 2:45 pm UK time at The Oval, followed by the men’s match at 6:30 pm UK time. Both matches will be live on Sky Sports Cricket, Sky Sports Main Event, Sky Sports Mix, BBC Two, BBC iPlayer, and the BBC Sport Website.

The following day, July 22, will feature Southern Brave against Welsh Fire at the Rose Bowl, with the women’s game at 3 pm UK time and the men’s at 6:30 pm UK time. These matches will also be broadcast across Sky Sports channels and BBC Two, BBC iPlayer, and the BBC Sport Website. The extensive schedule promises non-stop cricket action for fans.

The tournament is set to run until August 16, 2026.

Source: manifest-media.in

Rohan Gupta

Sports Reporter