• Home
  • Cricket News
  • Sunrisers Leeds Appoint Daniel Vettori As Head Coach For The Hundred 2026 Wholl Coach Srh

Sunrisers Leeds appoint Daniel Vettori as head coach for The Hundred 2026; who'll coach SRH?

Akshita Patel

Daniel Vettori continues his association with Sunrisers group [Source: @SUNRISERSU/X.com]Daniel Vettori continues his association with Sunrisers group [Source: @SUNRISERSU/X.com]

Sunrisers Leeds, previously known as Northern Superchargers, have announced Daniel Vettori as their head coach for The Hundred 2026 season. He will succeed Andrew Flintoff after his transition.

The franchise has been rebranded after the Sun Group, owners of Sunrisers Hyderabad in the IPL and Sunrisers Eastern Cape in SA20, acquired full ownership of the Leeds-based franchise in a deal worth over £100 million.

Sunrisers Leeds joins hands with Daniel Vettori

One of the biggest announcements from the franchise is the appointment of Daniel Vettori as the new men’s head coach. The former New Zealand captain replaces Andrew Flintoff and will lead the side into the The Hundred 2026 season. 

Vettori has extensive experience, both as a cricketer and a coach. Since retiring, he has worked across several leagues and international setups and is currently the head coach of Sunrisers Hyderabad in the IPL. 

Under his leadership, SRH played quite well, even reaching the finals of the IPL 2024. Hence, the Sun Group has placed trust in him to lead their Hundred franchise as well.

Speaking after his appointment, Vettori said he was excited about the opportunity and hoped the Orange Army would turn out in big numbers at Headingley. 

"I am looking forward to the upcoming season with the Sunrisers and hope the orange army can fill the stands," Vettori said.

With players like Harry Brook, Brydon Carse, Mitch Marsh and Nathan Ellis in the squad, Daniel Vettori will have a solid core to work with as he shapes the team’s future.

When Andrew Flintoff exited the Superchargers after a pay dispute

Vettori’s arrival follows the departure of Andrew Flintoff, who had been in charge of the team for the past two seasons. Flintoff played an important role in turning around the fate of his side, leading them to the fourth position in 2024 and then eventually reaching the Eliminator match in 2025.

However, Flintoff chose to walk away after failing to reach an agreement with the new owners, the Sun Group, over his contract. 

He publicly stated that the offer made to him was far lower than what other head coaches in the competition were earning and that he did not feel valued. 

While the Sun Group claimed they had offered him a pay rise, Andrew Flintoff felt the terms did not reflect his worth. His exit was disappointing for many. 

Still, both parties have moved on, and Sunrisers Leeds are now focused on their next phase under Daniel Vettori.

Vettori’s strong connection with the Sunrisers franchise

That being said, Daniel Vettori joining Sunrisers Leeds doesn’t come as a surprise. He has been associated with the Sunrisers brand for several years.

Since IPL 2023, he has been the head coach of the Sunrisers Hyderabad. Prior to that, he had been associated with the RCB and the Barbados Royals, and he had been an assistant coach with the Australian team. Vettori will continue to be the SRH Head Coach for IPL 2026.

The Sun Group clearly values continuity and trust, and bringing Vettori into the Leeds setup fits that vision. His understanding of the ownership, cricket culture, and business structure should help Sunrisers Leeds get established as an entity very quickly.