MI London begin The Hundred as 10/3 favourites after three straight titles as Oval Invincibles — but the market is unconvinced, with London Spirit and Trent Rockets both at 7/1 in a competition rebuilt from the ownership down.
Key Facts:
• MI London are 10/3 (4.33 decimal) for the men’s title, the shortest price in the market — Sporting Life outright preview, July 17, 2026
• London Spirit are 7/1 (8.00) with Betfred, level with Trent Rockets at the same price — Sporting Life, July 17, 2026
• Manchester Super Giants are 15/2 (8.50), fourth in the betting — Sporting Life, July 17, 2026
• The tournament opened at the Kia Oval on July 21 and runs across 34 matchdays; the group stage closes August 12 and Finals Day is August 16 — The Hundred
Fractional odds such as 10/3 show profit relative to stake; the decimal equivalent (4.33) shows total return per unit staked and implies roughly a 23% chance.
Why the favourite is shorter in name than in form
MI London won the last three editions as Oval Invincibles, and the rebrand has not changed the core: Will Jacks, Nicholas Pooran, Sam Curran, Rashid Khan, Trent Boult and James Vince give them the deepest name-value on paper.
The market’s hesitation is about settledness, not talent. A competition-wide ownership overhaul has reshaped squads and coaching staffs across all eight franchises. At 10/3 in an eight-team field, the price assumes they are roughly twice as likely as any single rival — a demanding bar in a format where one powerplay decides matches.
The challengers the market rates
London Spirit are the most-backed alternative. Andy Flower has arrived as head coach from Royal Challengers Bengaluru, and captain Liam Livingstone comes in having averaged 50.66 with the bat in the T20 Blast while taking 12 wickets — an all-round return that changes a side’s balance in a short format. Dewald Brevis adds the top-order acceleration 100-ball cricket rewards.
Trent Rockets sit at the same 7/1 with a batting unit built for the format: Fin Allen, Tim David, Ben Duckett and Tom Banton.
“I’ve tipped the last two winners of The Hundred, and am going for the hat-trick.”
— Richard Mann, cricket tipster (Sporting Life, July 17, 2026)
Mann’s read on the holders is blunt: “They just don’t look a better outfit 12 months on, and certainly not as settled.” That is the case against the favourite in one sentence, and the reason 10/3 has not shortened despite the three-title record.
What the format does to the market
The Hundred compresses an innings to 100 balls, narrowing the gap between the best and worst sides more than a standard Twenty20 does. One ten-ball spell can swing a fixture, which is why the market runs 10/3 the favourite and 15/2 the fourth-favourite rather than the wider spreads of longer formats. Our coverage of the Women’s T20 World Cup outright market and the recent Zimbabwe vs India T20I pricing shows the same effect.
Betting Outlook
Favourite: MI London at 10/3 (4.33) for the men’s title, the shortest price at the time of writing, per Sporting Life, July 17, 2026.
Predicted outcome: London Spirit to reach Finals Day, with MI London finishing top two but not retaining — on Livingstone’s dual-role output (50.66 average, 12 wickets), Flower’s franchise record, and the holders’ unsettled winter.
Markets worth examining:
- London Spirit top-four finish — a shorter route to the same read than the 7/1 outright; the group stage rewards consistency over one knockout result.
- Livingstone top team run-scorer — his 50.66 Blast average came in the top order, and captaincy rarely moves a player down.
- MI London to finish top two — separates squad strength from retention, which the outright prices as one thing.
One to fade: the favourite at 10/3, a price resting on a record earned under different ownership, a different name and a more settled squad.
Odds correct as of July 23, 2026. Informational only — not financial or betting advice. 18+ / 21+ depending on jurisdiction. See Responsible Gambling notice below.
FAQ
Who are the favourites for The Hundred 2026?
MI London at 10/3 (4.33), per Sporting Life’s outright preview of July 17, 2026. London Spirit and Trent Rockets are next at 7/1, with Manchester Super Giants at 15/2.
When does The Hundred 2026 finish?
It opened at the Kia Oval on July 21 across 34 matchdays. The group stage closes on August 12, with Finals Day on August 16.
Why are MI London called that now?
They previously competed as Oval Invincibles. A competition-wide ownership overhaul brought new investors and rebrands across the eight teams.
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