WPL 2026 Mega Auction: Date, Rules, Retained Players & Purse
WPL 2026 Mega Auction: Date, Rules, Purse & Retention Details
The Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2026 Mega Auction has finally arrived, and the excitement among cricket fans is at its peak!
The BCCI has confirmed that this historic event will take place on 27 November 2025 in New Delhi.
This year, every franchise will have to balance their squad—a perfect combination of experience and young talent!
WPL 2026 Mega Auction Date & Schedule
Officially, the date for the WPL 2026 mega auction is fixed as 27 November 2025.
Full Schedule:
- Venue: New Delhi
- Player Registration Deadline: 18 November 2025
- Final Player List Announcement: 20 November 2025
- Retention Deadline: 5 November 2025
This means that teams will have only a few days to decide which players to retain and which to release.
WPL 2026 Retention Rules – How Many Players Can Teams Retain?
BCCI has introduced new retention rules for WPL 2026.
Each franchise can retain a maximum of 5 players before the auction.
Retention Guidelines:
- A maximum of 3 capped Indian players (who have experience playing in the Indian team).
- Maximum 2 overseas players.
- Maximum 2 uncapped Indian players.
- If a team retains 5 players, it is mandatory to include at least one uncapped Indian player.
This rule ensures that each team has the perfect mix of experienced and fresh domestic talent.
WPL 2026 Mega Auction Purse & Salary Deductions
Each WPL team will have a starting auction purse of ₹15 crore. However, after retention, this purse amount will decrease—the more players you retain, the more the budget will be cut.
Deduction Breakdown:
- 1st retained player – ₹3.5 crore
- 2nd retained player – ₹2.5 crore
- 3rd retained player – ₹1.75 crore
- 4th retained player – ₹1 crore
- 5th retained player – ₹0.5 crore
If a team retains all 5 players, ₹9.25 crore will be deducted from their purse, leaving them only ₹5.75 crore for new players.
Why is the WPL 2026 Auction So Special?
Women’s cricket has shown tremendous growth in the past few years.
After two successful seasons, WPL 2026 is a moment where all teams will rebuild their squads.
- Teams will focus on building a long-term core.
- There will be a big bidding war for Indian stars like Shreyanka Patil, Saika Ishaque, and Titas Sadhu.
- Competition will be high for overseas legends like Ellyse Perry, Meg Lanning, Sophie Ecclestone, and Nat Sciver-Brunt.
- For fans, this entire event is going to be a cricket festival!
WPL 2026 Auction Strategy – What Are Teams Thinking?
Each franchise will come to the auction with its unique strategy. Some predictions:
- Mumbai Indians Women: Likely to retain Harmanpreet Kaur, Nat Sciver-Brunt, and Amelia Kerr.
- Delhi Capitals: Meg Lanning and Shafali Verma will remain at their core.
- UP Warriorz: The team will be built around Alyssa Healy and Deepti Sharma.
- RCB Women: Smriti Mandhana will be their main pillar.
- Gujarat Giants: They might retain Ashleigh Gardner and Beth Mooney.
The biggest question is will teams rely more on experience or trust in youth?
Overseas Players Who Will Be in High Demand
Foreign players have always been in the spotlight in every WPL season. This trend will continue in 2026 as well.
Top Overseas Players:
- Sophie Ecclestone (England)—Top-ranked bowler.
- Ellyse Perry (Australia)—Pure class and consistency.
- Amelia Kerr (New Zealand) – Best young all-rounder.
- Marizanne Kapp (South Africa) – Deadly finisher and bowler.
There will be tremendous bidding for them in the auction.
Indian Uncapped Players – Hidden Talents
Several young talents have emerged in India’s domestic circuit.
Players to Watch:
- Titas Sadhu: Fast bowler with a bright future.
- Shreyanka Patil: Aggressive spin all-rounder.
- Kanika Ahuja: Middle-order powerhouse.
- Uma Chetry: A promising wicketkeeper from Assam.
A bidding war is also possible for these uncapped players.
WPL 2026 Live Coverage & Updates
The WPL 2026 Mega Auction will be broadcast live on Star Sports and streamed on JioCinema. Trending hashtags on social media will be #WPLAuction2026 and #WomensCricketIndia—fans can track every bid live!
Expert View
According to experts, the WPL 2026 Mega Auction is going to write a new chapter in women’s cricket. This is not just an auction—it is a movement where both Indian and global players will get new opportunities.
The level of women’s cricket is now becoming world-class.
Conclusion
The WPL 2026 mega auction is a new beginning—from here, the next era of women’s cricket will start. On 27th November, fans will witness a historic event where talent, strategy, and emotion will all come together. Get ready, because WPL 2026 is going to be a game-changing moment for women’s cricket!
