WPL 2026 Mega Auction: List of Players Retained by MI, DC, RCB and Other Franchises
The WPL 2026 franchises reveal retained players; MI and DC retained the full five, and RCB kept four ahead of the Nov 27 auction.
Five Women's Premier League franchises finalised their retentions on Thursday ahead of the 2026 mega auction scheduled for November 27 in Delhi, with defending champions Mumbai Indians and runners-up Delhi Capitals utilising the maximum quota of five players each, while UP Warriorz opted for a near-complete overhaul by keeping just one uncapped talent. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) allotted each team a ₹15 crore purse, with deductions ranging from ₹3.5 crore for a single retention to ₹9.25 crore for five, leaving UP Warriorz with the highest remaining balance of ₹11.5 crore and positioning them for aggressive bidding.
Mumbai Indians retained captain Harmanpreet Kaur, all-rounders Nat Sciver-Brunt and Hayley Matthews, middle-order batter Amanjot Kaur, and uncapped opener G Kamalini, deducting ₹9.25 crore and entering the auction with ₹5.75 crore. Delhi Capitals kept explosive openers Shafali Verma and Jemimah Rodrigues, overseas stars Marizanne Kapp and Annabel Sutherland, plus uncapped all-rounder Niki Prasad for the same financial outlay. Royal Challengers Bengaluru held on to Smriti Mandhana, Ellyse Perry, Richa Ghosh, and Shreyanka Patil—deducting ₹8.75 crore—leaving ₹6.25 crore, while Gujarat Giants preserved only Australian duo Ashleigh Gardner and Beth Mooney for a ₹6 crore deduction and ₹9 crore remaining.
The retention rules capped franchises at three capped Indians, two overseas players, and two uncapped Indians, mandating at least one uncapped player for teams retaining five. For the first time, the Right-to-Match (RTM) card will be available—teams keeping fewer players gain more RTM options, with UP Warriorz (one retention) entitled to four, Gujarat Giants (two) to three, RCB (four) to one, and MI/DC (five) to none. Franchises can also pay above guideline slabs (₹3.5cr/₹2.5cr/₹1.75cr/₹1cr/₹50L), with excess amounts further reducing purses.
Also Read: Delhi to Host WPL’s First Mega Auction — Date, Rules and Retention Details Out
High-profile releases include Australia’s Alyssa Healy and Meg Lanning, New Zealand’s Amelia Kerr, England’s Sophie Ecclestone, and India’s Deepti Sharma—2025 World Cup Player of the Tournament—setting the stage for fierce bidding wars. With player registration closing November 18 and the final auction pool announced November 20, the November 27 event promises a dramatic reshuffle, as UP Warriorz and Gujarat Giants aim to rebuild while the top three sides fine-tune squads that dominated last season.
Also Read: Delhi to Host WPL’s First Mega Auction — Date, Rules and Retention Details Out
