The inaugural Women’s Hundred Auction on March 11, 2026, has transformed MI London, formerly the title-winning Oval Invincibles, into a formidable force for the 6th edition of The Hundred, running from July 21 to August 16, 2026. Backed by the Mumbai Indians’ IPL investments.
The franchise went back to the drawing board, forming strategies and effectively implementing them in the inaugural auction to bounce back from a dismal 6th-place finish last season (8 points from 8 games, with 2 wins and 6 losses) under skipper Lauren Winfield-Hill by securing a balanced mix of pre-auction stars like Amelia Kerr, Hayley Matthews, and Danielle Wyatt-Hodge, alongside high-impact auction buys.
This revamped squad blends explosive all-rounders, domestic firepower, and overseas flair, positioning MI London as serious contenders when they open against rebranded Sunrisers Leeds (ex-Northern Superchargers, now under Sunrisers Hyderabad ownership) at Kennington Oval on July 21 at 7:15 PM IST.
Auction Crown Jewel: Nicola Carey’s Big-Ticket Reunion
The headline grabber was Australian all-rounder Nicola Carey, snapped up for a whopping £95,000, the auction’s costliest deal for the franchise. Carey reunites with Mumbai Indians’ ecosystem after starring in the 4th edition of the Tata WPL, where she smashed 149 runs across 6 innings at a strike rate of 141.90 and an average of 37.25. Her bowling was equally potent, claiming 7 wickets at an average of 25.42 and an economy of 8.90 in those outings. This versatile powerhouse could anchor MI London’s middle order and provide breakthroughs, echoing her WPL impact.
Overseas Quota Sealed with Chinelle Henry’s Firepower
Capping their four overseas slots, MI London invested £70,000 in destructive West Indian all-rounder Chinelle Henry, who’s set for her Women’s Hundred debut. Henry’s raw power and all-phase skills promise to inject unpredictability, complementing the pre-auction trio of Matthews (£120,000), Wyatt-Hodge (£110,000), and Kerr (£80,000).
The overseas quartet of Nicola Carey, Amelia Kerr, Hayley Matthews, and Chinelle Henry, MI London, boasts a global edge, ready to dominate T20-style carnage at The Oval.
Local Talent Shines: The Kira Chathli Masterstroke
No auction is complete without homegrown gems, and Kira Chathli stood out at £80,000. The batter has tallied 226 runs in 13 innings across 19 matches at a strike rate of 136.96 and an average of 17.38, featuring two half-centuries. She’s joined by a savvy domestic core: Kirstie Gordon (£55,000) for left-arm spin guile, Hollie Armitage (£45,000) for captaincy nous, Alexa Stonehouse (£42,500) for pace, Tara Norris (£35,000) and Alice Davidson-Richards (£30,000) for seam variety, plus emerging talents Alice Monaghan (£27,500) and Ellie Threlkeld (£15,000) for depth in the squad.
The full MI London Squad for The Hundred 2026 reads like a championship blueprint: Hayley Matthews (£120,000), Danni Wyatt-Hodge (£110,000), Nicola Carey (£95,000), Amelia Kerr (£80,000), Kira Chathli (£80,000), Chinelle Henry (£70,000), Kirstie Gordon (£55,000), Hollie Armitage (£45,000), Alexa Stonehouse (£42,500), Tara Norris (£35,000), Alice Davidson-Richards (£30,000), Alice Monaghan (£27,500), and Ellie Threlkeld (£15,000).
From back-to-back Oval Invincibles triumphs in 2021 and 2022 to last season’s struggles, MI London signals a bold reset. A new leader at the helm, fused with this auction haul, could reignite glory at Kennington Oval in the upcoming 6th edition of the tournament.
I am Yash Tailor, and I believe work should be driven by passion. Therefore, after completing my Engineering, I chose to work in the Cricket industry, my passion. My goal is to reach a stage where I truly enjoy what I do and give my best to every task with energy and purpose.