MI brand expands to London
The Hundred’s most successful franchise, Oval Invincibles, are expected to rebrand as MI London, the first choice of their Indian co-owners. According to an exclusive report by The Telegraph’s Will Macpherson, the change is slated for the 2026 season as part of the competition’s new ownership era.
Reliance Industries has agreed to acquire a 49% stake in the franchise in a deal valuing Oval Invincibles at £123 million ($166.05 million), with Surrey County Cricket Club retaining the remaining 51%. The shift would align The Oval-based team with the broader Mumbai Indians ecosystem that spans multiple leagues.
Surrey’s vision clashes with Reliance’s global push
Surrey had advocated for a refreshed identity that embedded the county’s name and legacy at The Oval. However, Telegraph Sport reported that the team will take the MI London name, despite Surrey’s preference.
“From a brand perspective, I hope we can brand it as a Surrey-branded team and part of our cricket ecosystem,” chairman Oli Slipper told Telegraph Sport in 2023.
Complicating matters, the ECB’s broadcast agreement with Sky restricts county branding in franchise names for The Hundred—limiting Surrey’s room to maneuver as investors push for globally consistent identities.
What MI London means for The Hundred
An MI London identity would bring the familiar royal blue-and-gold livery to The Oval, potentially creating a colour overlap with Lord’s-based London Spirit. That scenario could accelerate discussions around away kits for the first time in The Hundred to ensure clearer visual differentiation on match days.
The Invincibles-to-MI London switch is one component of a wider 2026 reshaping, with a formalized private-ownership structure and more explicit franchise branding taking hold across the competition.
MI’s growing global cricket footprint
For Reliance and the Ambani family, London would become another anchor in a now-spanning network of MI teams, which already includes MI Cape Town (SA20), MI Emirates (ILT20), MI New York (MLC), and Mumbai Indians across both the IPL and the Women’s Premier League. The rebrand would extend a unified commercial and fan strategy into one of cricket’s most historic venues.
Rebrand ripple effects across the league
The Hundred is bracing for broader identity updates alongside MI London. Manchester Originals are expected to evolve into Manchester Super Giants, while Northern Superchargers are likely to adopt a Sunrisers-led identity—moves that signal a decisive tilt toward globally recognized, franchise-style branding.
A defining pivot for Oval Invincibles
If finalized, MI London would mark the end of a long-running debate over the team’s future identity—balancing Surrey’s century-deep roots with investors’ global ambitions. It would also underscore the commercial direction of The Hundred as it enters its next phase: bigger brands, bolder identities, and a more connected international cricket marketplace.
