In just about 24 hours, the third edition of The Hundred 2025 Men’s competition will get underway with a mouth-watering clash between London Spirit and Oval Invincibles at the iconic Lord’s. While the spotlight will be on big names like Kane Williamson and David Warner, who are leading the Spirit side, several other seasoned IPL veterans will also be using this tournament as a launchpad to get back into the IPL spotlight — especially with the IPL 2026 mini-auction looming.
Kane Williamson – Leading London Spirit with a Point to Prove
Kane Williamson is among the most technically sound batters in world cricket, and his IPL track record is impressive — over 2,000 runs at an average of 35.46 in 79 matches. However, the former Sunrisers Hyderabad captain last played in the IPL in 2024, scoring a modest 26 off 22 balls against Punjab Kings. Following that, he went unsold in the IPL 2025 mega auction.
Williamson now returns to captain London Spirit, and with form and fitness on his side, the New Zealand star will look to use The Hundred 2025 as a platform to prove he still has what it takes to perform in the world’s biggest T20 league.
David Warner – On the Road to Redemption
Another high-profile IPL absentee is David Warner, one of the all-time IPL greats. Despite his incredible IPL legacy, Warner went unsold in the 2025 mega auction following a disappointing IPL 2024 campaign.
But since then, the left-hander has been on a redemption arc. He smashed 405 runs in the BBL 2024/25 at an average of 45.00 and a strike rate of 156.45. He followed that up with 368 runs in PSL 2025, showing signs of his vintage form. Now part of London Spirit, Warner will be eager to dominate the English pitches and make himself impossible to ignore for IPL scouts.
Steve Smith – Making His Hundred Debut
Steve Smith is another big name looking to use The Hundred as a stepping stone back into IPL contention. The Australian batter last played in the IPL back in 2021 for Delhi Capitals, where he managed just 152 runs at a strike rate of 112.59. Since then, he has kept a relatively low profile in T20s, appearing occasionally in the BBL and the MLC.
Smith finally makes his debut in The Hundred with Welsh Fire, after previously pulling out of the competition. While his recent BBL season saw him score only 173 runs, it was at a blazing strike rate of 173.00. If Smith can carry that form into this tournament, his name might pop back into the mix when franchises prepare for the mini-auction.
