Published on: Jul 20, 2026 11:00 pm IST | Updated on: Jul 21, 2026 11:21 am IST
The sixth season of a new, revamped men’s Hundred is upon us. The season is all set to kick off with the reigning and three-time champions, the Oval Invincibles, in action with a new identity, i.e., MI London, as they take on the Sunrisers Leeds, formerly called Northern Superchargers. Both teams have undergone a name change after the franchises were bought by IPL-owned franchises Mumbai Indians and Sunrisers Hyderabad, respectively. MI London are the defending champions and have won the title three years in a row, Sunrisers Leeds have never even featured in the final and would be hoping to do better under a new name and new ownership. In this post, we have come up with free expert tips for the 1st match of the Hundred 2026, MIL vs SL, at the Kennington Oval, London.
Historically, the Sunrisers Leeds have had the upper hand over the MI London in head-to-head contests. However, this couldn’t deny the fact that MI London are the defending 3-time champion. The Leeds outfit looked a bit more settled and impressive on paper with names like Harry Brook, Zak Crawley, Ryan Rickelton, Mitchell Marsh, etc., and should have the win probability meter for the men’s Hundred 2026 tournament opener in their favor. Let’s continue with the post and find out the best cricket tips for the 1st match of the Hundred 2026, MIL vs SL, at the Kennington Oval, London.
MIL: 43% win chance SL: 57% win chance
The prolific opener of MI London will have his task cut out at the top to give his side a ferocious start. Expect Roy to have a quick impact at the top in this game.
The Australian T20 skipper will be in action after quite some time and would be hoping to deliver in this tournament. Marsh opening the innings for Sunrisers will help them get a quick start.
In his last T20 knock, Pooran scored a magnificent century playing fir MI New York during the MLC Eliminator. The left-hander is in fine nick and will play a crucial role batting at no. 3 for MI London.
Harry Brook won the Player of the Series award in the recently concluded T20I series against India. The English white-ball skipper is in fine form and will look to start well in the Hundred 2026.
Check out our prediction for the MIL vs SL Men’s Hundred 2026 match 1.
MI London, formerly known as Oval Invincibles, will begin their title defense in the opening match of the Men’s Hundred 2026 season against Sunrisers Leeds, previously Northern Superchargers. MI London enter the tournament as the undisputed powerhouse, having clinched three consecutive titles and establishing themselves as the most dominant side in the competition’s history.
Led by the dynamic English all-rounder Sam Curran, the squad boasts exceptional depth and balance. Key players such as Gus Atkinson, Tom Curran, Will Jacks, Rashid Khan, Nicholas Pooran, Trent Boult, and Ollie Pope provide a perfect blend of experience and versatility. Their all-round strength across departments makes them one of the most complete units in the league.
With a settled lineup and a winning culture, MI London will aim to kick off their campaign with a statement victory. The defending champions are not just chasing another title, they’re looking to extend their legacy and reinforce their reputation as the benchmark of excellence in The Hundred.
Sunrisers Leeds will enter the Men’s Hundred 2026 season with renewed optimism and a revamped squad. After finishing third last year and bowing out in the Eliminator against Trent Rockets, the franchise—formerly known as Northern Superchargers—will be eager to break their streak of never reaching a final in five attempts.
Zak Crawley will lead the side, bringing calm leadership and technical solidity at the top. He’ll have strong support from England’s national team skipper Harry Brook, whose explosive batting can turn games in a flash. The squad looks well-rounded with a mix of experience and fresh energy—featuring key names like Abrar Ahmed, Brydon Carse, Tom Alsop, Nathan Ellis, Mitchell Marsh, and Daniel Lawrence.
With a balanced blend of pace, spin, and power hitting, Sunrisers Leeds have the tools to challenge the best. The focus will be on consistency and converting close contests into wins. If their star players click collectively, this could finally be the season where Leeds make history and earn their long-awaited spot in the Men’s Hundred final. Let’s move ahead and check the cricket tips.
Matches Played: 5 SL won: 3 MIL won: 2 No Result: 0 RECENT form MI LONDON: W W L W L RECENT form SUNRISERS LEEDS: W L L W W
In 5 meetings between the two sides, the three-time champions MI London have registered two wins, whereas the Sunrisers Leeds have won three games, reflecting a their upper hand over the 3-time champions.
How will the two teams, i.e., the Sunrisers Leeds and MI London, fare in the 1st match of Men’s Hundred 2026? Let’s take a look.
Zak Crawley (C), Mitchell Marsh, Ryan Rickelton (WK), Harry Brook/Charlie Allison, Tom Alsop, Daniel Lawrence, Benny Howell, Brydon Carse, Ed Barnard, Nathan Ellis, Reece Topley
Jason Roy, James Vince, Nicholas Pooran (WK), Ollie Pope, Will Jacks, Sam Curran (C), Ollie Skyes, Tom Curran, Rashid Khan, Trent Boult, Richard Gleeson
Here’s the pitch and weather report for the 1st match of the Men’s Hundred 2026 between the MI London and the Sunrisers Leeds at the Kennington Oval, London.
For the opening clash at The Oval, the toss-winning captain is expected to bat first. The pitch favors stroke play with true bounce, and setting a target around 160–170 could prove decisive. Under lights, chasing may get tricky with swing on offer, making runs on the board a safer option.
The online live streaming of the 1st match of Men’s Hundred 2026 between MI London and Sunrisers Leeds will take place live on the Fancode app. TV viewers can watch the match live on the Sony Sports Network channels.
The sportsbooks are predicting a win for the reigning and 3-time champions MI London, but we are expecting Sunrisers Leeds to have the last laugh in this contest. They are a well-prepared side for this encounter, and if Harry Brooks and Ryan Rickelton both feature along with the likes of Zak Crawley and Mitchell Marsh, the eleven will look quite intimidating. Therefore, per our prediction, Sunrisers Leeds are expected to win the men’s Hundred 2026 Match 1: MIL vs SL
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