WPL 2026, Ahead of the mega-auction scheduled for November 27, 2025 in New Delhi, each of the five franchises has submitted their list of retained players. The rules allow each team to hold on to up to five players, subject to composition constraints: at most 3 capped Indian players, 2 overseas players, and if the team uses all five slots, it must include an uncapped Indian player.
The auction purse for each team is ₹ 15 crore.
Here’s how each franchise has proceeded:
Mumbai Indians (MI) WPL 2026
The Mumbai Indians have gone with a strong and balanced core, keeping their title-winning combination mostly intact.
Retained Players & Price Tags:
- Nat Sciver‑Brunt – ₹ 3.50 crore
- Harmanpreet Kaur – ₹ 3.50 crore
- Hayley Matthews – ₹ 2.50 crore
- Amanjot Kaur – ₹ 1.75 crore
- Saika Ishaque (uncapped) – ₹ 0.50 crore
Total Spent: ₹ 11.75 crore
Purse Left: ₹ 15.00 crore – ₹ 11.75 crore = ₹ 3.25 crore
Mumbai have retained five players, the full quota giving them less purse flexibility than teams who retained fewer. Their core remains strong with overseas firepower and key Indian retained talent.
Delhi Capitals (DC) WPL 2026
Delhi have trusted their proven performers and kept their international all-round balance intact.
Retained Players & Price Tags:
- Jemimah Rodrigues – ₹ 3.50 crore
- Shafali Verma – ₹ 3.50 crore
- Marizanne Kapp – ₹ 2.50 crore
- Annabel Sutherland – ₹ 1.75 crore
- Niki Prasaf – ₹ 0.50 crore
Total Spent: ₹ 11.75 crore
Purse Left: ₹ 15.00 crore – ₹ 11.75 crore = ₹ 3.25 crore
Delhi also used all five slots, keeping a balanced mix of top batters and all-rounders. Their remaining purse is modest, so will likely be strategic in the auction.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) WPL 2026
RCB have retained their core stars, the same names that helped them lift the trophy in 2024.
Retained Players & Price Tags:
- Smriti Mandhana – ₹ 3.50 crore
- Ellyse Perry – ₹ 3.50 crore
- Richa Ghosh – ₹ 2.50 crore
- Shreyanka Patil – ₹ 1.75 crore
Total Spent: ₹ 10.75 crore
Purse Left: ₹ 15.00 crore – ₹ 10.75 crore = ₹ 4.25 crore
RCB retained four players (one less than maximum), which gives them slightly better flexibility in the auction. Their core is a mix of experienced internationals and young Indian talent.
Gujarat Giants (GG) WPL 2026
Gujarat Giants have trusted their international performers but also released quite a few names to rebuild with a new strategy.
Retained Players & Price Tags:
- Ashleigh Gardner – ₹ 3.50 crore
- Beth Mooney – ₹ 3.50 crore
Total Spent: ₹ 7.00 crore
Purse Left: ₹ 15.00 crore – ₹ 7.00 crore = ₹ 8.00 crore
Gujarat retained only two players, meaning they have the largest purse among squads so far. They may look to be the most aggressive in the auction to fill gaps.
UP Warriorz (UPW) WPL 2026
UP Warriorz have taken a slightly different route, choosing to retain a smaller pool of players while keeping flexibility for the auction.
Retained Players & Price Tags:
- Shweta Sehrawat – ₹ 3.50 crore
Total Spent: ₹ 3.50 crore
Purse Left: ₹ 15.00 crore – ₹ 3.50 crore = ₹ 11.50 crore
UP Warriorz retained just one player. They now have the largest remaining purse by far, giving them significant flexibility to rebuild and bid big.
Quick Summary Table
| Quick Summary Table | |||
| Team | Retained Players | Total Spent (₹ crore) | Purse Left (₹ crore) |
| Mumbai Indians | 5 | 9.25 | 5.75 |
| Royal Challengers Bengaluru | 4 | 8.75 | 6.25 |
| Delhi Capitals | 5 | 9.25 | 5.75 |
| Gujarat Giants | 2 | 6 | 9 |
| UP Warriorz | 1 | 3.5 | 11.5 |
Rule Snapshot & Context
- Retention slots: up to 5 players per team.
- Auction purse for each team: ₹ 15 crore.
- Retention value slabs: Retention 1 = ₹ 3.50 crore, Retention 2 = ₹ 2.50 crore, Retention 3 = ₹ 1.75 crore, Retention 4 = ₹ 1.00 crore, Retention 5 = ₹ 0.50 crore.
- For 2026, the introduction of the Right-to-Match (RTM) card is reported for the first time.
Final Thoughts
The WPL 2026 auction promises to be full of drama and surprises. UP Warriorz and Gujarat Giants will enter the auction with heavy purses, while MI, DC, and RCB already have strong settled cores.
With marquee Indian stars like Mandhana, Harmanpreet, Jemimah, and Shafali retained, and world-class names like Perry, Kapp, and Gardner staying on board, the league looks ready for another electrifying season of women’s cricket.
