The Women's Premier League (WPL) 2026 auction is generating buzz as it is expected to be held in New Delhi instead of the previously speculated cities like Mumbai and Bengaluru. Although the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has not yet officially announced this, sources suggest that franchises have been informally notified about the change in venue.
Upcoming Auction Details
The auction is tentatively scheduled for either November 26 or 27, depending on final confirmations from the BCCI. Earlier announcements indicated a window between November 26 and November 29, but the current expectation is for a single-day event. This makes the excitement palpable for fans and teams alike.
What to Expect at the Auction
Despite there being around 90 players available, the auction is predicted to be swift due to the limited number of franchises, with only five teams participating. Each franchise can retain a maximum of 18 players, injecting intrigue into the bidding process.
New Rules and Retentions
The inclusion of the Right to Match (RTM) rule marks a first for this year's auction, enabling teams to re-sign players they previously released by matching the highest bid available.
However, if a team opts to retain all five players before the auction, they will incur a significant budget reduction of INR 9.25 crore and lose the right to use RTM. This new approach aims to balance team strengths while allowing emerging players the opportunity to shine.
Player Retention Costs
| Player Kept |
Cost (INR) |
| 1st Player |
3.50 crore |
| 2nd Player |
2.50 crore |
| 3rd Player |
1.75 crore |
| 4th Player |
1 crore |
| 5th Player |
50 lakh |
Current Champions and Competition
The Mumbai Indians (MI), reigning champions since 2023, are expected to feature prominently in the auction as they aim to strengthen their squad. They secured the title by defeating the Delhi Capitals (DC) in back-to-back finals. Meanwhile, the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), despite winning in previous years, missed the Eliminator phase in both 2023 and 2025.
With the auction on the horizon, fans and teams eagerly await official announcements and the strategies that will unfold during this pivotal event.