JioStar has strengthened its cricket broadcasting portfolio after securing the exclusive television and digital media rights for The Hundred 2026 in India, further reinforcing its strategy of building a year-round lineup of premium international cricket properties.
Under the agreement, JioStar will exclusively broadcast all 68 matches from the men’s and women’s editions of the England and Wales Cricket Board‘s (ECB) 100-ball competition across the Star Sports Network and JioHotstar, bringing one of cricket’s fastest-growing franchise tournaments to Indian audiences.
The sixth edition of The Hundred got underway on July 21 with a double-header at The Oval and will run through August 16, culminating with the men’s and women’s finals at the iconic Lord’s Cricket Ground. Since its launch in 2021, the tournament has emerged as one of cricket’s most distinctive properties, combining an innovative 100-ball format with elite international talent and a strong emphasis on growing the women’s game.
Commenting on the acquisition, Prashant Khanna, Head of Rights & Innovation for Sports, JioStar, said, “The Hundred has established itself as one of the most innovative cricket competitions in the world, bringing together world-class talent in a format designed to entertain and attract new audiences. We are delighted to bring the tournament exclusively to fans in India across JioHotstar and Star Sports. With both the men’s and women’s competitions featuring some of the biggest international stars alongside leading Indian players, we look forward to further growing The Hundred’s following in one of the world’s most passionate cricket markets.”
The 2026 season also ushers in a new era for the competition following significant investment from IPL franchise owners into English cricket. Several franchises have been rebranded ahead of the tournament, with MI London replacing Oval Invincibles, SunRisers Leeds succeeding Northern Superchargers, and Manchester Super Giants taking over from Manchester Originals.
The tournament features an impressive roster of international stars, including Jos Buttler, Jofra Archer, Rashid Khan, Heinrich Klaasen, Harry Brook, Phil Salt, Tim David and David Miller. Indian interest is further boosted by the participation of leading women’s cricketers Smriti Mandhana, Richa Ghosh, Deepti Sharma and Jemimah Rodrigues.
The opening day witnessed SunRisers Leeds Women defeat MI London Women, while MI London Men began their campaign with victory over SunRisers Leeds Men. The action continues tonight with Southern Brave taking on Welsh Fire in both the women’s and men’s fixtures.
For JioStar, the acquisition represents another significant addition to its growing sports rights portfolio, strengthening its position in India’s highly competitive sports broadcasting market. The deal not only expands the broadcaster’s international cricket offering but also underscores the increasing commercial value of franchise-based cricket and women’s competitions as broadcasters compete for premium live sports content.
