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The Manchester Originals have officially been renamed the Manchester Super Giants ahead of the 2026 season of The Hundred. This rebranding follows the RPSG Group's acquisition of a 70 per cent stake in the franchise for approximately £80 million, bringing the team into alignment with Sanjiv Goenka’s other global cricket properties, such as Lucknow Super Giants (IPL) and Durban’s Super Giants (SA20).
The new era for the Manchester-based side has been headlined by the marquee signing of Indian superstar Smriti Mandhana. Following a stellar 2025 season where she helped lead India to their first-ever ODI World Cup title, the prolific opening batter moves from Southern Brave to bolster the Super Giants' lineup. She joins an elite women's squad that already features former Australian captain Meg Lanning and world-class England spinner Sophie Ecclestone.
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Smriti Mandhana to feature for Manchester Super Giants in The Hundred
The men’s team has also maintained a strong core, with England’s Jos Buttler continuing to lead the side alongside international stars Heinrich Klaasen, Noor Ahmad, and Liam Dawson. The rebranding, which includes a new logo featuring an elephant, is part of a broader strategy by the RPSG Group to transform the franchise into a global sporting powerhouse and clinch their first-ever title when the tournament runs from July 21 to August 16, 2026.
Goenka unveils Jos Buttler, Mandhana as the faces of Manchester Super Giants
The chairman of the RPSG Group Sanjiv Goenka took to X (formerly Twitter) to share his enthusiasm for the franchise's bold new direction. Highlighting the strategic rebranding, Goenka expressed his excitement about the 'massive shift' for the Manchester-based team as they transition into the Super Giants family.
Goenka officially unveiled Jos Buttler and Smriti Mandhana as the faces of the franchise.
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“Manchester is a city synonymous with sport, passion, and legacy. As the Super Giants family grows globally, our presence in The Hundred reflects a long-term commitment to become part of the sporting culture and conscience of this great city. The Manchester Super Giants identity represents this belief and ambition,” team co-owner Sanjiv Goenka posted on X.
The Manchester Super Giants' rebranding follows a wave of major changes across The Hundred, signaling a total transformation of the league's identity. This announcement comes just days after Reliance Industries officially transformed the Oval Invincibles into MI London. The change was facilitated by Reliance’s 49 per cent stake acquisition in the team, which has established the legendary London-based franchise as a key member of the global Mumbai Indians 'OneFamily.
Simultaneously, the Northern Superchargers have undergone an even more radical shift, rebranding as Sunrisers Leeds. This follows a landmark 100 per cent takeover by the Sun Group, owners of Sunrisers Hyderabad. The deal marks the first time an IPL owner has assumed total control of a franchise in The Hundred, with the Leeds-based outfit expected to trade its traditional purple colors for the iconic orange and black of the Sunrisers family. These rapid-fire name changes are part of a broader privatization push by the ECB, which has seen eight major strategic partners invest over £975 million into the competition.
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