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The sixth edition of The Hundred 2026 gets underway on July 21, with defending champions MI London taking on Sunrisers Leeds in the tournament opener at Kennington Oval, London.
Formerly known as Oval Invincibles, MI London begin a new era under the Mumbai Indians banner but retained the core of the side that has dominated the competition in recent years. Led by Sam Curran, the three-time defending champions boast an experienced squad featuring Jason Roy, Will Jacks, Nicholas Pooran, Trent Boult, Rashid Khan, and Richard Gleeson.
Sunrisers Leeds, previously Northern Superchargers, also enter the season with a new identity. Skippered by Zak Crawley, they have assembled a balanced squad comprising Mitchell Marsh, Ryan Rickelton, Dan Lawrence, Brydon Carse, Nathan Ellis, and Ollie Pope. They will be eager to begin their campaign with a statement victory against the tournament’s most successful side.
Here are three player battles from Match No.1 of The Hundred:
Jason Roy remains one of the most destructive openers in franchise cricket. The England batter has amassed 11,226 runs in T20 cricket at an impressive strike rate of 140.37, making him a dangerous prospect during the powerplay.
Standing in his way will be fellow England international Brydon Carse, who has claimed 62 wickets in T20 cricket with his ability to generate pace and bounce. The two have met only once in T20s, with Roy scoring seven runs off eight deliveries from Carse without losing his wicket.
One of the marquee contests in the game will feature Australian all-rounder Mitchell Marsh against MI London captain Sam Curran. Marsh has scored 6,659 runs in 249 T20 matches and is renowned for his aggressive batting at the top of the order.
Curran, meanwhile, has taken 319 wickets in 342 T20 matches and has consistently delivered breakthroughs in the powerplay and death overs. The pair have faced each other in two T20 innings, with Marsh scoring 28 runs from 19 balls against Curran.
Another intriguing contest will see Ollie Pope take on Australian pacer Nathan Ellis. Pope has accumulated 1,944 runs in 94 T20 matches and will be keen to make an impact in the middle order.
Ellis, on the other hand, is one of the most effective T20 bowlers in world cricket, having picked up 234 wickets in 169 matches with his clever variations and pinpoint death bowling. The two have faced each other twice in T20 cricket, with Pope scoring 15 runs from 11 balls against Ellis.
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When and where will the Match 1 of The Hundred 2026 happen?
MI London will face Sunrisers Leeds in the opening match of The Hundred Men’s 2026 on July 21 at Kennington Oval, London.
What is the average score in Kennington Oval, London?
The average first-innings score at the venue is around 152. The surface generally offers good pace and bounce, making it favourable for batters once they get settled, although the new-ball bowlers can enjoy some early assistance.
Who are the players to watch out for in Match No.1?
For MI London, keep an eye on Jason Roy, Sam Curran, and Rashid Khan. For Sunrisers Leeds, Ryan Rickelton, Zak Crawley, and Nathan Ellis will be the key players to watch.
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