Delhi to Host WPL’s First Mega Auction — Date, Rules and Retention Details Out

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has finalised November 27, 2025, as the date for the mega player auction ahead of the 2026 Women's Premier League (WPL) season, marking the first such event in the tournament's brief history and setting the stage for five franchises to rebuild their squads with a combined purse of INR 75 crore. Sources informed that the decision followed a close deliberation among November 26, 28, and the selected date, with notifications already dispatched to the teams: defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru, two-time winners Mumbai Indians, perennial runners-up Delhi Capitals, UP Warriorz, and Gujarat Giants. This auction, to be hosted in the national capital for the first time—edging out Goa as a contender—comes on the heels of the player retention window closing on November 5, allowing each side to secure up to five players under strict slabs to balance competitiveness and fresh talent infusion.

Retention rules emphasise a mix of experience and potential, capping teams at three capped Indian players, two overseas stars, and two uncapped Indians, with at least one uncapped mandatory for a full five-player quota to nurture domestic depth. Pricing tiers—INR 3.5 crore for the top retention down to INR 50 lakh for the fifth—will deduct varying amounts from the INR 15 crore auction budget per team: INR 9.25 crore for five retentions (forfeiting Right to Match options), scaling to just INR 3.5 crore for one.

The RTM card, limited to five per franchise and unavailable for full retentions, empowers teams to reclaim former squad members at auction by matching bids, fostering strategic bidding wars. Player registrations close on November 18, with the final auction pool unveiled two days later, ensuring a diverse talent pool from India and abroad.

Venue logistics point to a luxury hotel in the Aerocity diplomatic enclave, a shift from the initially eyed Bharat Mandapam convention centre, which will be tied up with the India International Trade Fair from November 14 to 27. This setup promises a high-profile, fan-engaged spectacle, potentially streamed live to capitalise on WPL's growing global footprint since its 2023 debut, where viewership surged 95% year-on-year to over 435 million. The auction's timing aligns with heightened anticipation following India's triumphant 2025 Women's ODI World Cup victory, which sources suggest could prompt last-minute tweaks in retention lists to prioritise standout performers like Smriti Mandhana or overseas aces who shone in the tournament, blending national heroes with international flair for the February-March 2026 season.

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As franchises crunch numbers ahead of Wednesday's deadline, the auction underscores WPL's evolution from a retention-heavy format to a more dynamic rebuild, aiming to sustain momentum after RCB's 2024 triumph and address criticisms of predictability. With uncapped slots incentivising youth investment—echoing successes like Deepti Sharma's emergence—the event could unearth the next breakout star, much like the 2023 draft spotlighted global talents.

BCCI's purse hike to INR 15 crore per team reflects robust financial backing from title sponsors and broadcasters, positioning WPL as a cornerstone of women's cricket's commercialisation. As bids fly on November 27, the outcome will not only shape title contenders but also reinforce India's role in elevating the sport's gender parity on the world stage.

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