The Hundred Men’s Competition 2025 is a unique tournament invented in the UK. In The Hundred, each bowling side delivers only 100 balls, with a longer Power Play and a faster pace.
It’s gradually gaining attention and investment from major IPL teams, evolving from a new concept into a successful format.
What is The Hundred Men’s Competition 2025?
The Hundred Men’s Competition 2025 is an annual short-format cricket tournament organised by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB). This season starts from 5 August 2025 to 31 August 2025. It is the biggest trademark of the “100-ball format”, where each team faces just 100 balls. It’s like T20 but with a different vibe and just as fun to watch.
This tournament isn’t just a highlight of the British summer sports calendar – it’s also a hot topic for Indian cricket fans keeping an eye on IPL–UK cricket business collaborations. The 2025 season features numerous global stars, major capital shake-ups, and even rumours that it could switch to a T20 format shortly.
The Hundred Men’s Competition Schedule and Format Breakdown
Opening Day: 5 August 2025
Duration: 27 days
Group Stage: Each team plays 8 matches (4 home + 4 away)
Extra Match: Regional rivalry fixture
Knockouts: 2nd vs 3rd in “Eliminator”, winner faces 1st in the Final (at Lord’s)
Match Format
100-ball cricket: 100 balls per team
Change of Ends: Every 10 balls
Bowling Rules: Bowlers can deliver 5 or 10 balls in a row, with a maximum of 20 balls per player
Powerplay: First 25 balls – only two fielders allowed outside the circle
No-ball Penalty: 2 runs + free hit
Over-rate Penalty: Slow rate reduces the number of outfielders
Tie-breaker: Knockout ties decided by a “Super 5”
The Hundred Men’s Competition Teams and Background
Birmingham Phoenix (Home: Edgbaston)
London Spirit (Home: Lord’s)
Manchester Originals (Home: Old Trafford)
Northern Superchargers (Home: Headingley)
Oval Invincibles (Home: The Oval)
Southern Brave (Home: Ageas Bowl)
Trent Rockets (Home: Trent Bridge)
Welsh Fire (Home: Sophia Gardens)
2025 Star Players and Top Contracts
£200K Contract Stars
Steve Smith (Welsh Fire)
Trent Boult (Birmingham Phoenix)
Marcus Stoinis (Manchester Originals)
David Miller (Manchester Originals)
Will Jacks (Oval Invincibles)
James Vince (Southern Brave)
Liam Livingstone (Birmingham Phoenix)
Other Big-Name Internationals to Watch
David Warner (London Spirit)
Kane Williamson (London Spirit)
Rashid Khan (Oval Invincibles)
Joe Root (Trent Rockets)
Faf du Plessis (Northern Superchargers)
Phil Salt(Manchester Originals)
Indian Fans’ Perspective
While the BCCI bans Indian male cricketers from participating in overseas leagues, fans back home are still glued to the performances of Rashid Khan and David Warner. In particular, Warner’s 9-run flop in the opener became a media talking point, while Rashid Khan dominated with a stunning 3-wicket haul.
Opening Match Highlights & Gossip
Match Result
London Spirit: Bowled out for 80 – total collapse
Oval Invincibles: Comfortable win with 6 balls to spare
MVPs: Rashid Khan (3/11) and Sam Curran (3/18)
Off-field Moments
Warner was teased by fans as a “summer part-timer” after his low score
Adorable fox mascot did a boundary lap, going viral on social media
Business Shake-ups and Ownership Transfers
“Transitional” Season for 2025
This is the first year after the ECB sold equity in the teams, with total transactions exceeding £520 million and potentially heading toward £1 billion.
Major Equity Deals
London Spirit: 49% → Tech Titans (£145M)
Manchester Originals: 70% → RPSG (Lucknow Super Giants)
Birmingham Phoenix: Partial stake → Knighthead Capital (Tom Brady connection)
Welsh Fire: 50% → Washington Freedom
Future Direction
Possible switch to T20 format in 2026
Teams could rebrand under IPL franchises (e.g., MI Oval, LSG Originals)
Major global brands like Nike and Adidas may take over kit sponsorship
Indian Viewers’ Guide
Live Streaming
India: Fancode
UK: BBC iPlayer (16 matches free), Sky Sports (all matches)
USA: Willow TV, Sling
Australia: Fox Cricket, Kayo
Watching with VPN
If you’re in a region without broadcast rights, use a UK VPN server to watch free matches on BBC iPlayer.
In-person Tickets
Tickets from just £10, with even cheaper family and student passes – perfect for a day out.
The Hundred vs IPL – Differences & Links
Format Differences
The Hundred: 100 balls per side
T20: 120 balls per side
Hundred is faster-paced, with less room for error
Business Connections
IPL franchise owners are heavily investing
Possible transformation into an “IPL UK Edition”
Indian capital continues to influence English cricket
The Hundred Betting
The Hundred Men’s and Women’s competitions are currently in full swing. While the matches are taking place far away in the UK and it’s not easy for us in India to attend in person, we can still catch all the action through The Hundred’s online live streams. Even better, with Dubai7 betting platform, you can not only place live bets in real time but also watch the matches simultaneously. Sign up on Dubai7 now and follow the cricket world’s rising star league — The Hundred!
FAQ
When is The Hundred Men’s Competition 2025?
5 August to 31 August 2025.
Are there any Indian players?
No – BCCI bans them, but Indian investors own stakes in teams.
How to watch?
In India via Fancode, or via BBC iPlayer with a UK VPN for select free matches.
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