The WPL 2026 mega auction hits New Delhi on November 26-27, 2025. Five franchises fight for glory with just ₹15 crore each. They can keep up to five stars. For the first time, Right to Match (RTM) cards enter the game.
Champions defend. Strugglers rebuild. One team might release everyone.
This 3,000+ word guide breaks it all down. You get predicted retentions, purse math, RTM tricks, and team plans. Stats in tables. Simple words. Cricket fans, this is your auction bible.
WPL 2026 Mega Auction: Full Rules, Dates, and Timeline Explained {#rules}
The BCCI dropped big changes. No more mini-auctions. This is mega.
Key Dates & Deadlines
| Event | Date | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Retention Deadline | Nov 5, 2025 | Submit list by 5 PM IST |
| Player Registration | Nov 18, 2025 | Last day to enter auction |
| Final List Release | Nov 20, 2025 | BCCI shares 150+ names |
| Mega Auction | Nov 26-27, 2025 | New Delhi, live on TV |
| Squad Final | Dec 1, 2025 | 15-18 players per team |
Retention & RTM Rules
- Max 5 retentions
- 3 capped Indians allowed
- 2 overseas allowed
- 2 uncapped Indians allowed
- Must keep 1 uncapped if retaining 5
RTM cards = your second chance.
| Retentions | RTM Cards |
|---|---|
| 5 | 0 |
| 4 | 1 |
| 3 | 2 |
| 2 | 3 |
| 1 | 4 |
| 0 | 5 |
Example: Release Hayley Matthews. Delhi bids ₹3Cr. Mumbai matches and gets her back.
Purse & Salary Slabs
Start with ₹15 crore. Retention costs fixed.
| Retention | Cost |
|---|---|
| 1st | ₹3.5Cr |
| 2nd | ₹2.5Cr |
| 3rd | ₹1.75Cr |
| 4th | ₹1Cr |
| 5th (uncapped) | ₹50L |
Keep 5 = ₹9.25Cr spent. ₹5.75Cr left.
Keep 2 = ₹6Cr spent. ₹9Cr + 3 RTM cards.
Retention vs Rebuild: The Strategic Trade-Offs in WPL 2026
Champions keep cores. Losers press reset.
Why Champions Retain More
MI won 2025 with same top 4. Chemistry wins titles.
| League | Teams with 3+ Retentions | Title Win % |
|---|---|---|
| IPL | 2018-2024 | 68% |
| WPL | 2023-2025 | 100% |
Why Strugglers Release More
Gujarat Giants finished last twice. Keeping flops = same result.
RTM as a Game-Changer
“RTM turns released stars into auction wildcards.” — Priya Sharma, WPL Analyst
Purse Left After Retentions
| Retentions | Cost | Purse Left | RTM |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | ₹0 | ₹15Cr | 5 |
| 2 | ₹6Cr | ₹9Cr | 3 |
| 5 | ₹9.25Cr | ₹5.75Cr | 0 |
Chart: Purse impact of WPL 2026 retentions
Mumbai Indians WPL 2026: Predicted Retentions, RTM Targets & Auction Plan
MI are defending champs. They want a three-peat.
2025 Performance Recap
| Metric | MI |
|---|---|
| Rank | 1st |
| NRR | +1.2 |
| Playoff Wins | 2 |
| Final Margin | 8 wickets |
Predicted 4 Retentions
| Player | Type | Cost | 2025 Stats |
|---|---|---|---|
| Harmanpreet Kaur | Capped IND | ₹3.5Cr | 520 runs, SR 142 |
| Nat Sciver-Brunt | Overseas | ₹2.5Cr | 310 runs, 16 wkts |
| Amelia Kerr | Overseas | ₹1.75Cr | 22 wkts, Eco 6.1 |
| Pooja Vastrakar | Capped IND | ₹1Cr | 14 wkts, SR 135 |
Total cost: ₹8.75Cr Purse left: ₹6.25Cr RTM: 1 card
RTM Targets
- Hayley Matthews – 280 runs opening
- Yastika Bhatia – Uncapped keeper value
Auction Priorities
- Death bowler (Megan Schutt?)
- Backup spinner
- Indian middle-order
Risk: Kerr injury. MI’s dynasty hinges on her fitness.
RCB WPL 2026: Will Smriti & Perry Anchor Another Title Push?
RCB won 2024. Lost semis 2025. They hate mega auctions.
From 2024 Glory to 2025 Semis
| Year | Rank | Key Win |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 1st | Beat MI in final |
| 2025 | 3rd | Lost to MI |
4 Predicted Retentions
| Player | Type | Cost | Role |
|---|---|---|---|
| Smriti Mandhana | Capped IND | ₹3.5Cr | Captain, opener |
| Ellyse Perry | Overseas | ₹2.5Cr | All-rounder |
| Richa Ghosh | Capped IND | ₹1.75Cr | Keeper-batter |
| Asha Sobhana | Uncapped | ₹1Cr | Leg-spinner |
Purse left: ₹6.25Cr RTM: 1
RCB vs MI Comparison
| Team | Retentions | Purse Left | RTM |
|---|---|---|---|
| RCB | 4 | ₹6.25Cr | 1 |
| MI | 4 | ₹6.25Cr | 1 |
Weakness: Pace Bowling
2025 death overs economy: 11.2 (worst in league)
Auction target: Kate Cross or Shikha Pandey
“We opposed the mega auction for continuity.” — RCB Official
Delhi Capitals WPL 2026: Lanning’s Last Dance or New Era?
DC = runners-up specialists. Never won.
Predicted 3 Retentions
| Player | Type | Cost | 2025 Stats |
|---|---|---|---|
| Meg Lanning | Overseas | ₹3.5Cr | 360 runs |
| Shafali Verma | Capped IND | ₹2.5Cr | SR 162 |
| Jess Jonassen | Overseas | ₹1.75Cr | 19 wkts |
Purse left: ₹7.25Cr RTM: 2 cards
RTM Targets
- Marizanne Kapp – 16 wkts
- Jemimah Rodrigues – 280 runs
DC Batting vs Bowling (2025)
| Department | Rank | Average |
|---|---|---|
| Batting | 1st | 165 |
| Bowling | 4th | Eco 8.1 |
Auction focus: Indian pacer (Renuka Singh?)
Risk: Lanning may retire post-auction.
Mini-profile: Shafali Verma – 4 fifties in 2025, strike rate 162
UP Warriorz WPL 2026: Deepti + Ecclestone = Rebuild Foundation?
UPW finished mid-table. Time to rebuild.
2025 Mid-Table Flop
| Phase | Wins | Losses |
|---|---|---|
| League | 4 | 6 |
| vs Top 3 | 0 | 4 |
Only 2 Retentions
| Player | Type | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Deepti Sharma | Capped IND | ₹3.5Cr |
| Sophie Ecclestone | Overseas | ₹2.5Cr |
Purse left: ₹9Cr RTM: 3 cards
Auction Wishlist
- Alyssa Healy (keeper-captain)
- Grace Harris (power-hitter)
- Indian pacer (Arundhati Reddy)
Bold prediction: UPW will sign 8 new players.
Gujarat Giants WPL 2026: Beth Mooney & Ash Gardner – Enough to Rise?
GG = wooden spoon kings. Lowest total ever: 87.
2025 Wooden Spoon
| Metric | GG |
|---|---|
| Rank | 5th |
| NRR | -1.0 |
| Wins | 2 |
2 Retentions
| Player | Type | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Beth Mooney | Overseas | ₹3.5Cr |
| Ash Gardner | Overseas | ₹2.5Cr |
Purse left: ₹9Cr RTM: 3 cards
Turnaround Blueprint
- Keep overseas core
- Use RTM for Harleen Deol
- Buy 6 uncapped Indians
- Target Kim Garth (pace)
Stat: GG leaked 180+ in powerplay 4 times.
WPL 2026 Auction Trends: Players to Watch & Bidding Wars
Rising Stars (Uncapped)
| Player | Role | 2025 Dom. Stats |
|---|---|---|
| Kiran Navgire | Opener | 420 runs, SR 165 |
| Titas Sadhu | Pacer | 18 wkts, Eco 6.8 |
Overseas Marquees
| Player | Expected Price |
|---|---|
| Alyssa Healy | ₹3-4Cr |
| Marizanne Kapp | ₹2.5-3.5Cr |
Dark Horse: Shreyanka Patil – RCB may release. Spin all-rounder. ₹1.5Cr bid?
WPL 2026: Team-by-Team Retention Snapshot
| Team | 2025 Rank | Retentions | Cost | Purse Left | RTM | Strategy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MI | 1st | 4 | ₹8.75Cr | ₹6.25Cr | 1 | Dynasty |
| RCB | 3rd | 4 | ₹8.75Cr | ₹6.25Cr | 1 | Continuity |
| DC | 2nd | 3 | ₹7.75Cr | ₹7.25Cr | 2 | Balance |
| UPW | 4th | 2 | ₹6Cr | ₹9Cr | 3 | Rebuild |
| GG | 5th | 2 | ₹6Cr | ₹9Cr | 3 | Reset |
Key insight: GG & UPW have 80% more auction money than MI.
WPL 2026 Mega Auction: Ultimate Full Breakdown, Rules & Team Strategies.
WPL 2026: The Auction That Will Redefine Women’s Cricket
November 5 decides everything. One franchise might retain zero players. Another will keep their title core.
MI and RCB chase history. GG and UPW chase respect.
Bold prediction: A team with 0 retentions will reach playoffs in 2027.
Bookmark this page. We update live on retention day.
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WPL 2026 Mega Auction FAQs – Everything You Need to Know
1. When is the WPL 2026 mega auction happening?
The WPL 2026 mega auction is set for November 26–27, 2025 in New Delhi. The retention deadline is November 5, and the final player list drops on November 20.
2. How many players can a team retain in WPL 2026 mega auction?
Each franchise can retain a maximum of 5 players. This includes up to 3 capped Indian, 2 overseas, and 2 uncapped Indian players. If retaining 5, one must be uncapped.
3. What is the auction purse for WPL 2026 mega auction?
Every team gets a ₹15 crore purse. Retention costs are fixed:
- 1st player: ₹3.5Cr
- 5th (uncapped): ₹50 lakh Retaining 5 players leaves ₹5.75Cr for bidding.
4. How does RTM work in WPL 2026 mega auction?
Right to Match (RTM) is new! Teams get RTM cards based on retentions:
- 5 retentions = 0 RTM
- 2 retentions = 3 RTM cardsUse RTM to match the highest bid and reclaim a released player.
5. Who will Mumbai Indians retain in WPL 2026 mega auction?
MI is likely to retain:
- Harmanpreet Kaur (₹3.5Cr)
- Nat Sciver-Brunt (₹2.5Cr)
- Amelia Kerr (₹1.75Cr)
- Pooja Vastrakar (₹1Cr) They’ll use 1 RTM card on Hayley Matthews.
6. Which team will retain the fewest players in WPL 2026?
Gujarat Giants (GG) and UP Warriorz (UPW) are expected to retain only 2 players each — Beth Mooney + Ash Gardner (GG) and Deepti Sharma + Sophie Ecclestone (UPW). This gives them ₹9Cr + 3 RTM cards for a full rebuild.
7. Can uncapped players be retained in WPL 2026 mega auction?
Yes! Teams can retain up to 2 uncapped Indian players. The 5th retention slot costs just ₹50 lakh, making stars like Asha Sobhana or Shreyanka Patil high-value keeps.
8. Who are the top players to watch in WPL 2026 mega auction?
Hot targets:
- Alyssa Healy (₹3–4Cr)
- Marizanne Kapp (₹2.5–3.5Cr)
- Kiran Navgire (uncapped, ₹1Cr+)
- Titas Sadhu (pacer, ₹80L–1.2Cr) All-rounders and pacers will spark bidding wars.
9. Why did RCB oppose the WPL 2026 mega auction?
RCB wanted continuity after winning in 2024. They’ll still retain Smriti Mandhana, Ellyse Perry, Richa Ghosh, and Asha Sobhana to protect their core, despite limited RTM options.
10. Which team has the best rebuild chance in WPL 2026 mega auction?
Gujarat Giants. With ₹9Cr purse, 3 RTM cards, and only 2 retentions, they can sign 8–10 new players, target uncapped talent, and fix their pace and batting woes.