The Women's Premier League (WPL) is on the brink of its 2026 mega-auction. On November 6, franchises disclosed their retentions, with significant implications for their strategies moving forward.
Retention Strategies of Franchises
The auction is set for November 27, allowing franchises not only to retain players but also to recalibrate their squads. The overall purse for each franchise is INR 15 crore, with a maximum of five players being retained, and limitations on caps for local and overseas players.
Purse Remaining After Retentions
| Franchise | Purse Remaining (INR) | Key Retained Players |
|---|
| Mumbai Indians | 5.75 crore | Harmanpreet Kaur, Nat Sciver-Brunt, Hayley Matthews |
| Royal Challengers Bengaluru | 6.15 crore | Smriti Mandhana, Richa Ghosh, Ellyse Perry |
| Delhi Capitals | 5.75 crore | Shafali Verma, Jemimah Rodrigues |
| Gujarat Giants | 9 crore | Ashleigh Gardner, Beth Mooney |
| UP Warriorz | 14.5 crore | Shweta Sehrawat |
What to Expect at the Auction
As the auction approaches, early reports suggest Delhi will host the event. This single-day mega auction allows franchises to spend wisely, particularly those who retained fewer players, maximizing the use of their budget and potentially exercising Right to Match (RTM) Cards.
Conclusion
As the WPL 2026 mega-auction looms, fans and analysts alike are eager to see how the franchises will leverage their remaining budgets to build competitive squads for the upcoming season.