The Women’s Premier League is set for its biggest player event as the WPL 2026 mega auction takes place on 27 November 2025 in New Delhi. A total of 277 players, including 194 Indians and 83 overseas cricketers, will compete for 73 available slots, making this the first major squad rebuild for all five teams.
This auction also introduces the Right to Match feature for the first time, giving franchises the option to buy back players from their 2025 squads. With varied purse balances and new retention strategies, WPL 2026 is expected to play a crucial role in shaping the upcoming season.
WPL 2026 Auction Date, Venue & Start Time
The WPL 2026 mega auction will be conducted as a one day event in New Delhi. Key details are given below.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Auction Date | 27 November 2025 |
| Venue | New Delhi India |
| Start Time | 3:30 PM IST |
| Format | One day mega auction with teams bidding set by set |
These details set the stage for an important auction day where all five franchises will look to balance their purse, target key players from the marquee sets and prepare a strong core for the upcoming season. With WPL Season 4 expected to begin in the first week of January 2026, teams have limited time to finalise their combinations, making this auction even more crucial.
Total Players Registered for WPL 2026 Auction
A total of 277 players are registered for the WPL 2026 mega-auction. This includes:
| Category | No. of Players |
|---|---|
| Capped Indians | 52 |
| Capped Overseas | 66 |
| Uncapped Indians | 142 |
| Uncapped Overseas | 17 |
| Total | 277 |
The registration list includes some of the world’s biggest names along with rising domestic talent. Several experienced internationals are listed in the ₹50 lakh and ₹40 lakh base-price brackets, while a large portion of the auction pool comes from the uncapped Indian category.
Marquee Set for WPL 2026 Auction
The auction will begin with the marquee set, featuring eight of the biggest stars in world cricket. The marquee players are:
- Deepti Sharma
- Renuka Singh
- Sophie Devine
- Sophie Ecclestone
- Alyssa Healy
- Amelia Kerr
- Meg Lanning
- Laura Wolvaardt
These players are expected to spark strong bidding wars as teams look to secure high-impact additions early in the auction.
Team Purse Remaining & Current Squad Strength
Before entering the auction room, each franchise has a different purse balance and number of players already in the squad. This will heavily influence how each team approaches the bidding.
| Team | Funds Remaining | RTM Cards | Overseas Players | Indian Players | Total Players |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Delhi Capitals | ₹5.7 Cr | 0 | 2 | 3 | 5 |
| Gujarat Giants | ₹9 Cr | 3 (Indian-only) | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| Mumbai Indians | ₹5.75 Cr | 0 | 2 | 3 | 5 |
| Royal Challengers Bengaluru | ₹6.15 Cr | 1 (Uncapped Indian) | 1 | 3 | 4 |
| UP Warriorz | ₹14.5 Cr | 4 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
Among all teams, UP Warriorz enter the auction with the biggest purse and the most RTM cards, giving them room to reshape their squad in a major way. Meanwhile, Delhi Capitals and Mumbai Indians both have very limited RTM options and will rely entirely on the open bidding process.
Retained Players for WPL 2026
All five teams have submitted their retention lists ahead of the auction. These players will remain with their respective franchises for the 2026 season.
- Delhi Capitals: Jemimah Rodrigues, Shafali Verma, Annabel Sutherland*, Marizanne Kapp*, Niki Prasad
- Gujarat Giants: Ashleigh Gardner*, Beth Mooney*
- Mumbai Indians: Natalie Sciver*, Harmanpreet Kaur, Hayley Matthews*, Amanjot Kaur, G Kamalini
- Royal Challengers Bengaluru: Smriti Mandhana, Richa Ghosh, Ellyse Perry*, Shreyanka Patil
- UP Warriorz: Shweta Sehrawat
Note: Players marked with an asterisk (*) are overseas players.
WPL 2026 Auction Rules: RTM Cards Explained
This year brings an important change — Right To Match (RTM) cards will be available for the first time in WPL history. Teams can use an RTM to buy back a player who was part of their 2025 squad by matching the final winning bid.
The RTM availability differs for each team:
- UP Warriorz: 4 RTMs (full flexibility, both Indian & overseas)
- Gujarat Giants: 3 RTMs (Indian players only)
- Royal Challengers Bengaluru: 1 RTM (uncapped Indian only)
- Delhi Capitals: 0 RTMs
- Mumbai Indians: 0 RTMs
This rule adds an extra layer of strategy as teams will need to decide whether to save purse money for possible RTM scenarios later in the auction.
Complete WPL 2026 Auction Player List
The full list of 277 players — including their set numbers, base prices, nationalities, roles, 2025 WPL teams, caps, and previous season appearances — is provided in the official document you shared. All details such as player roles, Test/ODI/T20 caps, reserve prices, and past WPL records are exactly as listed:
If you want, I can create simplified tables such as:
- base-price-wise players
- role-wise lists (batters, all-rounders, spinners, fast bowlers, wicketkeepers)
- Indian vs overseas breakdown
How to Watch WPL 2026 Auction Live
The auction will be broadcast live across India.
- TV Broadcast: Star Sports Network
- Live Streaming: JioHotstar (app + website)
- Start Time: 3:30 PM IST
Fans can follow the entire auction as it unfolds, including marquee battles, breakout talents, and team-wise strategy shifts.
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Conclusion: All Eyes on the WPL 2026 Auction Scheduled for 27 November 2025
The WPL 2026 mega-auction is set to be the most important player event in the league’s history. With a large registered pool, new RTM rules, and significantly different purse balances, teams will be targeting everything from global superstars to rising Indian talent.
The decisions made on 27 November in New Delhi will heavily influence the balance of power heading into the 2026 season, making this auction a must-watch moment for cricket fans.
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