The WPL 2026 Mega Auction is here to rewrite women’s cricket history. After two thrilling seasons, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has dropped a bombshell: a ₹15 crore purse, first-ever Right to Match (RTM) cards, and only 5 retentions per team. This isn’t just an auction — it’s a power reset.
Defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) and 2023 winners Mumbai Indians (MI) face brutal choices. Will Smriti Mandhana stay with RCB? Can Harmanpreet Kaur keep her core intact? And who will spark the biggest bidding war?
This ultimate guide breaks down everything — from retention deadlines to ₹4 crore predictions. Whether you’re a die-hard fan, fantasy player, or just love drama, this is your one-stop WPL 2026 Mega Auction playbook.
WPL 2026 Mega Auction: Full Schedule & Venue Revealed
The BCCI has locked in New Delhi as the battleground. Here’s the complete timeline:
| Event | Date | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Retention Submission Deadline | November 5, 2025 | Teams submit final 5-player list |
| Player Registration Closes | November 18, 2025 | Last date for players to enter |
| Final Auction List Released | November 20, 2025 | Official player pool announced |
| Mega Auction | November 26–27, 2025 | Live in New Delhi |
Pro Tip: Day 1 = Marquee stars. Day 2 = Uncapped gems. Mark your calendar!
New Delhi offers neutral ground, excellent logistics, and a high-voltage atmosphere — perfect for global streaming on JioCinema and Star Sports.
WPL 2026 Retention Rules, RTM Cards & ₹15 Crore Purse – Explained Simply
Forget confusion. Here’s the full rulebook in plain English.
Maximum Retentions: Only 5 Players
Each team can keep up to 5 players with strict caps:
| Category | Max Allowed |
|---|---|
| Capped Indian | 3 |
| Overseas | 2 |
| Uncapped Indian | 2 |
Golden Rule: If you retain 5, at least 1 must be uncapped Indian.
RTM Cards: The Game-Changer
For the first time, teams get Right to Match (RTM) cards to steal back released players.
| Retained Players | RTM Cards |
|---|---|
| 5 | 0 |
| 4 | 1 |
| 3 | 2 |
| 2 | 3 |
| 1 | 4 |
| 0 | 5 |
Example: RCB releases Sophie Devine → Gujarat bids ₹2.1 crore → RCB says “Match!” → Devine stays.
Retention Cost Slabs (Fixed Deductions)
| Retention Order | Cost (₹) |
|---|---|
| 1st | 3.5 crore |
| 2nd | 2.5 crore |
| 3rd | 1.75 crore |
| 4th | 1 crore |
| 5th (Uncapped) | 50 lakh |
Total for 5 retentions = ₹9.25 crore Money left for auction = ₹5.75 crore
Smart Move: Retain 3 stars → Use 2 RTM cards → Keep flexibility.
External Link: BCCI Official WPL Guidelines
WPL 2026: Team-by-Team Retention Strategy & Auction Predictions
Let’s dive into each franchise’s masterplan.
Mumbai Indians: Will Harmanpreet Keep the Crown?
| 2025 Finish | Runners-Up |
|---|---|
| Win Rate | 64% |
| Key Strength | All-Round Depth |
Likely Retentions (4 Players):
- Harmanpreet Kaur – ₹3.5cr (Captain, Capped Indian)
- Nat Sciver-Brunt – ₹2.5cr (Overseas All-Rounder)
- Amelia Kerr – ₹1.75cr (Overseas Spinner)
- Sajeevan Sajana – ₹50L (Uncapped Indian)
RTM Target: Pooja Vastrakar (₹1.5cr expected) Auction Focus: Death bowler (Shikha Pandey?)
Prediction: MI will dominate mid-table with smart RTM use.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru: Smriti’s Big Decision
| 2025 Finish | Champions |
|---|---|
| Win Rate | 71% |
| Key Strength | Batting Firepower |
Likely Retentions (3 Players):
- Smriti Mandhana – ₹3.5cr (Captain)
- Ellyse Perry – ₹2.5cr (Overseas Icon)
- Richa Ghosh – ₹1.75cr (WK-Batter)
2 RTM Cards = High Risk, High Reward RTM Targets: Sophie Devine, Shreyanka Patil
Auction Plan:
- Target death bowler (Megan Schutt?)
- Pick 2 uncapped spinners under ₹50L
Shock Alert: If Smriti is released, MI & DC will fight to ₹4.2 crore.
Delhi Capitals: Lanning’s Last Dance?
| 2025 Finish | 3rd |
|---|---|
| Win Rate | 58% |
Likely Retentions (4):
- Meg Lanning – ₹3.5cr
- Jemimah Rodrigues – ₹2.5cr
- Shafali Verma – ₹1.75cr
- Taniya Bhatia – ₹50L (Uncapped)
RTM Target: Marizanne Kapp (₹3cr+ expected)
Weakness: Spin death bowling Auction Target: Deepti Sharma (if released by UPW)
UP Warriorz: Full Rebuild Mode
| 2025 Finish | 5th |
|---|---|
| Win Rate | 30% |
Likely Retentions (2):
- Deepti Sharma – ₹3.5cr
- Sophie Ecclestone – ₹2.5cr
3 RTM Cards = Total Overhaul
Auction Strategy:
- Reclaim Alyssa Healy via RTM
- Target 3 uncapped batters (Kiran Navgire?)
- Build Indian core
Dark Horse Alert: UPW could shock top teams with ₹12+ crore purse.
Gujarat Giants: Gardner the Glue
| 2025 Finish | 4th |
|---|---|
| Win Rate | 42% |
Likely Retentions (3):
- Beth Mooney – ₹3.5cr
- Ashleigh Gardner – ₹2.5cr
- Phoebe Litchfield – ₹1.75cr
2 RTM Cards Targets: Harleen Deol, Kim Garth
Auction Focus: Indian pacer + uncapped all-rounder
WPL 2026 Auction: Top 20 Players to Watch
Here are the hottest names with predicted prices.
| Player | Role | 2025 Team | Predicted Price | Likely Bidder |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Smriti Mandhana | Opener | RCB | ₹3.8–4.2cr | RCB / MI |
| Ellyse Perry | All-Rounder | RCB | ₹3.5–4.0cr | RCB / DC |
| Harmanpreet Kaur | Middle-Order | MI | ₹3.5cr (Retain) | MI |
| Nat Sciver-Brunt | All-Rounder | MI | ₹3.2cr (Retain) | MI |
| Sophie Ecclestone | Spinner | UPW | ₹2.8–3.2cr | UPW / RCB |
| Meg Lanning | Opener | DC | ₹3.0cr | DC |
| Deepti Sharma | All-Rounder | UPW | ₹2.5–3.0cr | UPW / DC |
| Ashleigh Gardner | All-Rounder | GG | ₹2.8cr (Retain) | GG |
| Amelia Kerr | Spinner | MI | ₹2.0cr (Retain) | MI |
| Alyssa Healy | WK-Opener | UPW | ₹2.2–2.6cr | UPW (RTM) |
| Marizanne Kapp | Pacer All-Rounder | DC | ₹2.5cr | DC (RTM) |
| Shreyanka Patil | Uncapped Spinner | RCB | ₹80L–1.2cr | RCB |
| Richa Ghosh | WK-Batter | RCB | ₹1.75cr (Retain) | RCB |
| Hayley Matthews | All-Rounder | MI | ₹1.5cr | MI / GG |
| Jemimah Rodrigues | Batter | DC | ₹1.8cr | DC |
| Shabnim Ismail | Pacer | MI | ₹1.6–2.0cr | MI / RCB |
| Kiran Navgire | Uncapped Batter | UPW | ₹50–80L | UPW / GG |
| Phoebe Litchfield | Batter | GG | ₹1.2cr | GG |
| Renuka Singh | Pacer | RCB | ₹1.0–1.4cr | RCB |
| Vaishnavi Sharma | Uncapped All-Rounder | — | ₹40–60L | MI / DC |
Fantasy Tip: Pick 2 uncapped Indians under ₹50L — they’re gold!
WPL 2026 Bidding Wars: Who Sparks the Fire?
Top 5 Predicted Battles
- Smriti Mandhana – RCB vs MI (₹4cr+)
- Ellyse Perry – RCB vs DC
- Sophie Ecclestone – UPW vs RCB
- Shreyanka Patil – RCB vs GG (uncapped steal)
- Marizanne Kapp – DC vs MI
Price Prediction Formula
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Final Bid = Base Price + (Performance Score × Role Demand) + 40% All-Rounder PremiumExample: Perry = ₹30L base + 95/100 performance + high demand = ₹3.8cr
How WPL 2026 Mega Auction Transforms Women’s Cricket
- ₹15 crore purse = 30% salary jump vs 2023
- Uncapped mandate = 100+ new domestic stars by 2028
- Global talent = WBBL, The Hundred players flooding in
- Gender pay gap closing: Top WPL deal now rivals mid-tier IPL
“WPL is the IPL for women. This auction will change lives.” – Jay Shah, BCCI Secretary
Final Verdict: Who Wins the WPL 2026 Auction?
Mumbai Indians retain core + smart RTM = Favorites RCB goes big on Smriti & Perry = Title Contenders UP Warriorz rebuild with ₹12cr+ = Dark Horse
Fantasy Pro Tip:
- Captain: All-Rounder under ₹2cr
- Steal: Uncapped spinner (Shreyanka-type)
- Avoid: Overpriced overseas pacer
WPL 2026 Mega Auction: Ultimate Full Breakdown, Rules & Team Strategies
FAQs: WPL 2026 Mega Auction
1. When is the WPL 2026 Mega Auction? The WPL 2026 Mega Auction is scheduled for November 26–27, 2025 in New Delhi. Teams must submit retention lists by November 5, player registration closes on November 18, and the final auction list drops on November 20.
2. How many players can a team retain in WPL 2026 Mega Auction? Each team can retain a maximum of 5 players. The cap includes up to 3 capped Indian players, 2 overseas players, and 2 uncapped Indian players. If retaining all 5, at least 1 must be an uncapped Indian.
3. What is the RTM card in WPL 2026 Mega Auction? The Right to Match (RTM) card is a new rule letting teams match the highest bid to reclaim a released player. You get 0 RTM cards with 5 retentions, 1 card with 4, 2 cards with 3, and up to 5 cards with 0 retentions.
4. How much is the purse in WPL 2026 Mega Auction? Every team gets a ₹15 crore auction purse. Retaining 5 players costs ₹9.25 crore (₹3.5cr + ₹2.5cr + ₹1.75cr + ₹1cr + ₹50L), leaving ₹5.75 crore for the auction.
5. Who will Mumbai Indians retain in WPL 2026 Mega Auction? Mumbai Indians are likely to retain Harmanpreet Kaur (₹3.5cr), Nat Sciver-Brunt (₹2.5cr), Amelia Kerr (₹1.75cr), Hayley Matthews (₹1cr), and Sajeevan Sajana (₹50L). They may use 1 RTM card for Pooja Vastrakar.
6. Will Smriti Mandhana stay with RCB in WPL 2026 Mega Auction? RCB is expected to retain Smriti Mandhana (₹3.5cr) as captain. If released, she could spark a ₹4.2 crore bidding war between MI and DC.
7. Which players will go for the highest price in WPL 2026 Mega Auction? Smriti Mandhana (₹3.8–4.2cr), Ellyse Perry (₹3.5–4cr), and Sophie Ecclestone (₹2.8–3.2cr) are top targets. Uncapped stars like Shreyanka Patil may cross ₹1 crore.
8. Where to watch WPL 2026 Mega Auction live? The WPL 2026 Mega Auction will stream live on JioCinema (free) and Star Sports. Follow IPL Star for real-time updates, player trackers, and fantasy tips.
9. How many overseas players are allowed in WPL 2026? Teams can have up to 6 overseas players in the squad and 4 in the playing XI. Only 2 overseas players can be retained before the WPL 2026 Mega Auction.
10. Which team will dominate the WPL 2026 Mega Auction? Mumbai Indians (strong core + smart RTM) and RCB (big bids on Smriti & Perry) are favorites. UP Warriorz could shock everyone with 3 RTM cards and a ₹12+ crore purse for a full rebuild.