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WPL 2026: Strategic Retentions Set the Stage for a High-Stakes Mega Auction
The landscape of the Women’s Premier League (WPL) is about to undergo a dramatic transformation. As franchises prepare for the 2026 mega auction, the retention lists have been unveiled, revealing a mix of strategic stability and bold gambles. While some of the game’s biggest icons have been secured, other legendary names are now set to enter the auction pool, promising a bidding war of epic proportions.
The Big Departures: Global Superstars Hit the Auction Block
The most shocking development in the retention phase is the release of some of the most decorated players in international cricket. Australia’s Alyssa Healy and Meg Lanning, along with New Zealand’s premier all-rounder Amelia Kerr, have all been released by their respective teams. Their availability in the auction pool is expected to drive prices to record highs, as every franchise will be looking to add world-class leadership and match-winning ability to their rosters.
Adding to the drama is the release of Deepti Sharma, the Player of the Tournament in the World Cup. Deepti, who showed her leadership mettle by captaining the UP Warriorz in Healy’s absence during the 2025 season, will now be one of the most sought-after Indian all-rounders in the auction.
Franchise Breakdown: Who Stayed and Who Left?
The retention strategies vary wildly across the five teams, with some opting for maximum stability and others preferring a clean slate to rebuild their squads.
The Max Retainers: Mumbai Indians and Delhi Capitals
Both the defending champions, Mumbai Indians, and Delhi Capitals have opted for the maximum allowed retentions of five players. This suggests a desire to maintain the chemistry and core strength that served them well in previous campaigns.
- Delhi Capitals: Annabel Sutherland, Marizanne Kapp, Jemimah Rodrigues, Shafali Verma, and Niki Prasad.
- Mumbai Indians: Harmanpreet Kaur, Nat Sciver-Brunt, Amanjot Kaur, G Kamalini, and Hayley Matthews.
The Core Strategy: Royal Challengers Bengaluru
RCB has taken a middle-ground approach, retaining four key pillars of their team to ensure they keep their most impactful performers:
- RCB Retentions: Smriti Mandhana, Ellyse Perry, Richa Ghosh, and Shreyanka Patil.
The Aggressive Rebuild: Gujarat Giants and UP Warriorz
In contrast, the Gujarat Giants and UP Warriorz have kept their rosters lean, allowing them to enter the auction with significantly more financial flexibility.
- Gujarat Giants: Ashleigh Gardner and Beth Mooney.
- UP Warriorz: Shweta Sehrawat.
Understanding the WPL Retention Rules and Financials
The retention process is governed by strict guidelines to ensure competitive balance. Franchises are permitted to retain a maximum of five players, subject to the following conditions:
- Maximum of three capped Indian players.
- Maximum of two overseas players.
- Maximum of two uncapped Indian players.
Crucially, any team choosing to retain the full quota of five players must include at least one uncapped Indian player in that group.
The Purse and the Price of Loyalty
Each franchise has been allotted a total purse of INR 15 crore for the auction. However, the cost of retaining players is substantial, based on a sliding scale of guideline prices:
- Player 1: INR 3.5 crore
- Player 2: INR 2.5 crore
- Player 3: INR 1.75 crore
- Player 4: INR 1 crore
- Player 5: INR 50 lakh
Because of these costs, Delhi Capitals and Mumbai Indians, having retained five players, will enter the auction with only INR 5.75 crore remaining. They must use this limited amount to fill the rest of their squad (between 16 and 18 players), meaning they will have to find value in uncapped players.
On the other end of the spectrum, UP Warriorz, having retained only Shweta Sehrawat, will enter the auction with a massive INR 14.5 crore, giving them immense purchasing power.
The RTM Wildcard
For the first time, the WPL has introduced the Right-to-Match (RTM) option. This allows franchises to buy back a player who was part of their 2025 squad by matching the highest bid during the auction. The distribution of RTMs adds another layer of strategy:
- UP Warriorz: 4 RTMs
- Gujarat Giants: 3 RTMs (restricted to Indian players only)
- RCB: 1 RTM
- MI & DC: 0 RTMs (due to maximum retentions)
The WPL 2026 mega auction is scheduled to take place in Delhi on November 27. With legendary players available and varying purse sizes, the chess match between owners and scouts is just beginning.
