The Women’s Premier League (WPL) is set for a major revamp ahead of the 2026 season with a highly anticipated auction. This auction will be pivotal in shaping the future of the five WPL franchises as they prepare to field their teams for the upcoming season. Here’s a detailed look into the auction purse, player salary details, and the team budget structure for WPL 2026.
WPL 2026 Auction Details
For the first time since its inception, the WPL will hold a mega auction scheduled for late November 2025. This decision by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) aims to strengthen the league by ensuring competitive balance. While some franchises like Gujarat Giants and UP Warriorz support the mega auction to overhaul their squads, established teams such as Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), Mumbai Indians (MI), and Delhi Capitals are cautious about dismantling their core teams.
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The mega auction allows for a fresh lineup with teams likely able to retain five core players and utilize Right to Match (RTM) options during the auction. Details such as the exact purse amount and retention slabs are expected to be finalized soon in the WPL committee meeting.
Auction Purse and Team Budget Details
Each WPL franchise will work within a fixed salary purse, much like previous seasons, but the purse is expected to increase from 2025 levels. While exact figures for 2026 are pending official confirmation, the 2025 purse was approximately ₹15 crore per team, which is likely to be maintained or increased to reflect the league’s growing stature.
Teams must strategically allocate their purse across Indian capped players, uncapped players, and overseas signings, making the auction an exciting and complex affair.
WPL 2025 Salary Purse
| Team | Approximate Purse | Remaining Slots | Overseas Slots |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gujarat Giants | 4.4 crores | 4 | 2 |
| RCB | 4.0 crores | 4 | None |
| Mumbai Indians | 4.0 crores | 4 | 1 |
| Delhi Capitals | 2.5 crores | 4 | 1 |
| UP Warriorz | 3.0 crores | 3 | 1 |
Teams strategically combine capped and uncapped players within their purse to build a balanced side.
Top Player Salaries in WPL
The WPL has seen escalating player salaries, reflecting the league’s growth and increased investment in women’s cricket. Here are some top salaries from previous auctions for context:
| Player Name | Team | Salary (₹ Crore) | Nationality |
|---|---|---|---|
| Smriti Mandhana | RCB | 3.4 | Indian |
| Ashleigh Gardner | Gujarat Giants | 3.2 | Australian |
| Nat Sciver-Brunt | Mumbai Indians | 3.2 | England |
| Deepti Sharma | UP Warriorz | 2.6 | Indian |
| Jemimah Rodrigues | Delhi Capitals | 2.2 | Indian |
| Simran Shaikh | Gujarat Giants | 1.9 | Indian |
Smriti Mandhana remains the highest-paid player in the league’s history, reflecting her critical role in RCB’s success. The top-paid players are a mix of star Indian and overseas players, highlighting the WPL’s global appeal.
Read Also:- IPL 2026 Retained And Released Players List
Team Strategies and Purse Management
The 2026 mega auction is expected to be tactical, with teams balancing retention of star players and acquiring promising talent. With a purse of around ₹15 crore (or possibly increased), franchises will focus on:
- Retaining key capped players (up to five likely)
- Acquiring promising uncapped Indian talent
- Securing impactful overseas players (with team limits on overseas slots)
Franchises seeking to rebuild, notably Gujarat Giants and UP Warriorz, are expected to be active bidders, looking to strengthen weak areas with fresh acquisitions. Leading teams like RCB, MI, and DC will aim to maintain core stability while making calculated auction buys.
WPL 2026 Retained Players List
Here is the complete list of players kept by all teams for WPL 2026.
| Franchise | Retained Players | Key Players Retained | Purse Left (₹ Crore) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mumbai Indians | 14 | Harmanpreet Kaur, Nat Sciver-Brunt | 4.0 crores |
| Delhi Capitals | 15 | Meg Lanning, Shafali Verma | 2.5 crores |
| Gujarat Giants | 14 | Deandra Dottin, Simran Shaikh | 4.4 crores |
| RCB | 14 | Smriti Mandhana, Ellyse Perry | 4.0 crores |
| UP Warriorz | 15 | Alyssa Healy, Chamari Athapaththu | 3.0 crores |
This data shows that UP Warriorz and Royal Challengers have the most significant financial flexibility, with ₹4 crore and ₹3 crore respectively, positioning them as potential big spenders in the 2026 auction. The high purse left with UP Warriorz indicates a strategy focused on acquiring new talent to strengthen their squad.
