Franchises confirm retentions ahead of mega auction
As the Women’s Premier League prepares for its 2026 mega auction, all five franchises have finalized their player retentions in line with the league’s updated regulations. According to a report by ESPNcricinfo, Mumbai Indians and Delhi Capitals are the only teams to have retained the maximum five players permitted under the new system.
Each franchise was allowed to retain up to three capped Indian players, two overseas players, and two uncapped Indian players. Teams choosing to retain five players were required to include at least one uncapped Indian player — a rule designed to encourage the development of domestic talent.
Star names among the released players
While several of India’s top performers — including Harmanpreet Kaur, Smriti Mandhana, Jemimah Rodrigues, Shafali Verma, Richa Ghosh, and Amanjot Kaur — have been retained by their respective sides, the announcement also saw a number of headline releases.
Deepti Sharma, the Player of the Tournament from the 2025 Women’s ODI World Cup, was among those let go by UP Warriorz. Other major departures include Alyssa Healy, Meg Lanning, and Amelia Kerr, while Sophie Ecclestone, Renuka Singh Thakur, Laura Wolvaardt, and Phoebe Litchfield will also enter the auction pool.
Retained player lists for WPL 2026
According to ESPNcricinfo, the following players have been retained:
Delhi Capitals: Annabel Sutherland, Marizanne Kapp, Jemimah Rodrigues, Shafali Verma, Niki Prasad
Mumbai Indians: Harmanpreet Kaur, Nat Sciver-Brunt, Amanjot Kaur, G Kamalini, Hayley Matthews
Royal Challengers Bengaluru: Smriti Mandhana, Ellyse Perry, Richa Ghosh, Shreyanka Patil
Gujarat Giants: Ashleigh Gardner, Beth Mooney
UP Warriorz: Shweta Sehrawat
🎬 𝐒𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐨𝐧 𝟒, 𝐄𝐩𝐢𝐬𝐨𝐝𝐞 𝟏: The making of our #ClassOf2026💪
Our #PlayBold core, our beating heart. 🤩❤️#ನಮ್ಮRCB pic.twitter.com/jhjCGhv6pR
— Royal Challengers Bengaluru (@RCBTweets) November 6, 2025
BACK TO ROAR FOR DILLI 🐅💙 pic.twitter.com/m3nGGSMSLN
— Delhi Capitals (@DelhiCapitals) November 6, 2025
Mumbai, पाहा आपले 𝐑𝐞𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐝 stars! 🤩#AaliRe #MumbaiIndians #TATAWPL pic.twitter.com/tXnmFD0L8m
— Mumbai Indians (@mipaltan) November 6, 2025
Official Announcement 📣
We’re thrilled to announce the retention of our Aussie power duo, Ashleigh Gardner and Beth Mooney for the upcoming #WPL cycle! 🧡💪
Two Giants who define consistency, class, and champion mindset. ✨#GujaratGiants #BringItOn #Adani #WPL2026 pic.twitter.com/TEyPw1qvea
— Gujarat Giants (@Giant_Cricket) November 6, 2025
From a U19 T20 World Cup champion to a Warrior through and through — Shweta Sehrawat stays with us for #TATAWPL Season 4. 💜
The belief stays. The journey continues. 🔥#UPWarriorz #UttarDega pic.twitter.com/8z3V81OYxl
— UP Warriorz (@UPWarriorz) November 6, 2025
Right-to-match cards introduced for the first time
The 2026 edition will mark the first time franchises can use Right-to-Match (RTM) cards, allowing them to re-sign players released into the auction pool. The rule adds a new layer of strategy for teams balancing star power and purse constraints.
Retention structure and player pricing
Retention values have been standardized across the league, with each retained player assigned a specific price slot. The top slot is valued at ₹3.5 crore (approx. US$ 394.6k) for the first retained player, followed by ₹2.5 crore (approx. US$ 282k) for the second, ₹1.75 crore (approx. US$ 197.3k) for the third, ₹1 crore (approx. US$ 112.7k) for the fourth, and ₹50 lakh (approx. US$ 56.4k) for the fifth retained player.
Teams that choose to retain all five players will have a total of ₹9.25 crore (approx. US$ 1.04m) deducted from their ₹15 crore (approx. US$1.7 million) purse, while those retaining fewer players will enter the auction with a higher balance available.
Purse and auction details
Each franchise has been allocated a base purse of ₹15 crore (approx. US$1.7 million) for the upcoming auction. The event is scheduled to take place in Delhi between November 26 and 29, with player registration closing on November 18 and the final list set to be released by the BCCI on November 20, as reported by Cricbuzz.
Remaining purses and RTM availability
After retentions, both Mumbai Indians and Delhi Capitals have a remaining purse of ₹5.75 crore (approx. US$648.3k) each, with no RTM cards available, having spent ₹9.25 crore (approx. US$1.04 million) on their five retained players.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru, who retained four players worth ₹8.75 crore (approx. US$986.5k), will enter the auction with a remaining purse of ₹6.25 crore (approx. US$704.6k) and one RTM card.
Gujarat Giants, who chose to retain only two overseas players, have spent ₹6 crore (approx. US$676.4k) and will take part in the auction with a balance of ₹9 crore (approx. US$1.02 million) along with three RTM cards restricted to Indian players.
The UP Warriorz, retaining just one uncapped player — Shweta Sehrawat for ₹50 lakh (approx. US$56.4k) — hold the largest remaining purse of ₹14.5 crore (approx. US$1.6 million) and four RTM cards, placing them in a commanding position ahead of the high-stakes 2026 WPL mega auction.
A reshaped league ahead of a pivotal season
The 2026 WPL season promises significant shifts in team composition and competitive balance. With new RTM rules, fresh investment, and high-profile releases, the league’s mega auction is set to play a decisive role in defining the next era of women’s franchise cricket in India.
