The excitement is building rapidly as the WPL prepares for its next major milestone—the 2026 mega auction. Expect lots of buzz, with major intensities up for grabs territorially in every squad in the league, with teams revealing their retention lists and the purse balances announcing.
Auction Date, Time & Venue
- Date: November 27, 2026
- Venue: New Delhi
- Format: One-day mega auction
- Total Open Slots: 73 (including 23 overseas slots)
- Maximum Squad Size: 18 players per team
The league’s official X handle set the tone for the event with a teaser post:
“10 Days to Go. The countdown to #TATAWPL Mega Auction has begun.”
Team Purse Standings: UP Warriorz Lead the Chart
The purse distribution offers a clear advantage to the UP Warriorz heading into the auction:
- UP Warriorz – ₹14.5 crore
Largest purse; four RTM cards; retained uncapped talent Shweta Sehrawat - Gujarat Giants – ₹9 crore
- Royal Challengers Bangalore – ₹6.15 crore
- Mumbai Indians – ₹5.75 crore
- Delhi Capitals – ₹5.7 crore
Across all teams, a combined ₹41.1 crore remains available for bidding.
Key Retained Players for WPL 2026
Retention strategies differed across franchises, with Mumbai Indians and Delhi Capitals keeping the maximum five players each. Notable retentions include:
- Shafali Verma (DC)
- Jemimah Rodrigues (DC)
- Smriti Mandhana (RCB) – remains the most expensive WPL player at ₹3.4 crore
- Richa Ghosh (RCB)
- Ellyse Perry (RCB)
- Shreyanka Patil (RCB)
A total of 17 players, including seven overseas stars, have been retained across the league. The full auction pool featuring top uncapped and international talent will be announced soon.
Expected Big Names at the WPL 2026 Auction
Some marquee players expected to attract heavy bidding include:
- Deepti Sharma (2025 Women’s World Cup Player of the Tournament)
- Laura Wolvaardt
- Alyssa Healy
- Meg Lanning
- Amelia Kerr
- Nadine de Klerk
Where to Watch WPL 2026 Mega Auction Live
Fans can catch the live action across multiple platforms:
- Live Streaming: JioHotstar
- TV Broadcast: Star Sports Network
- Live Updates: WPLT20.com
