WPL 2026 Mega Auction Begins Today in New Delhi: Full Details, Player List, Streaming and What to Expect
The Women’s Premier League (WPL) is set for a historic day as it hosts its first-ever mega auction on, Thursday, November 27 in New Delhi. The event comes at a high point for women’s cricket in India, following the national team’s recent World Cup triumph.
With excitement building, organizers have confirmed that the WPL 2026 season will take place in January, with Vadodara and Navi Mumbai emerging as frontrunners to host the tournament. Ahead of the mega auction, all five franchises were allowed to retain up to five players each. Mumbai Indians Women and Delhi Capitals Women opted to use their full quota, while UP Warriorz made the boldest move by retaining only one player, giving them the largest purse going into the bidding war.
- Each team can build a squad of up to 18 players, including a maximum of seven overseas cricketers.
- A total of 277 players – 194 Indian and 83 overseas – will go under the hammer. Among them are several star performers from the recent World Cup, including Deepti Sharma, Kranti Gaud and Shree Charani.
- Overseas powerhouses like Laura Wolvaardt, Sophie Ecclestone, Amelia Kerr, Sophie Devine and Alyssa Healy headline the marquee list.
- With renowned names such as Meg Lanning also in the pool, franchises are expected to compete fiercely for top-tier talent.
Fans are eager to see whether Smriti Mandhana’s long-standing record price of INR 3.40 crore – set during the league’s inaugural season will finally be surpassed or not. Nat Sciver-Brunt’s INR 3.20 crore deal for Mumbai Indians Women still stands as the league’s second-highest signing to date.
The five participating teams – Royal Challengers Bengaluru Women, Mumbai Indians Women, Delhi Capitals Women, UP Warriorz and Gujarat Giants – will collectively look to fill 73 available slots. Of these, 50 are for Indian players and 23 for overseas cricketers. Each squad must have a minimum of 15 players, ensuring depth and balance as they prepare for another competitive season.
Since its debut in 2023, the WPL has rapidly grown into one of the world’s premier women’s T20 leagues, surpassing even Pakistan’s PSL in valuation. The tournament has already delivered high-octane cricket, packed stadiums and strong fan engagement.
- Mumbai Indians Women won titles in 2023 and 2025, while RCB Women clinched their maiden championship in 2024 under Mandhana’s leadership.
- Delhi Capitals Women, led by Meg Lanning, have finished runners-up in all three seasons and will be determined to break this pattern in 2026.
Cricket enthusiasts can watch the WPL 2026 mega auction live on the Star Sports Network, with live streaming available on JioHotstar across devices.
As the hammer goes down today, all eyes will be on blockbuster bids, breakout names and the squad reshuffles that will shape another thrilling season of the Women’s Premier League. The 5 teams with the names of retained players and remaining purse have been enlisted below:
1) Delhi Capitals
Retentions: Jemimah Rodrigues, Shafali Verma, Annabelle Sutherland, Marizanne Kapp, Niki Prasad.
Purse remaining: INR 5.70 crores
Slots remaining: 13 (5 overseas)
2) Mumbai Indians
Retentions: Nat Sciver-Brunt, Harmanpreet Kaur, Hayley Matthews, Amanjot Kaur, G. Kamalini.
Purse remaining: INR 5.75 crores
Slots remaining: 13 (5 overseas)
3) Royal Challengers Bengaluru
Retentions: Smriti Mandhana, Richa Ghosh, Ellyse Perry, Shreyanka Patil.
Purse remaining: INR 6.15 crores
Slots remaining: 14 (6 overseas)
4) UP Warriorz
Retentions: Shweta Sehrawat
Purse remaining: INR 14.50 crores
Slots remaining: 17 (7 overseas)
5) Gujarat Giants
Retentions: Ashleigh Gardner, Beth Mooney
Purse remaining: INR 9 crores
Slots remaining: 16 (5 overseas)
The 4th edition of Women’s Premier League (IPL’s version for the women cricket athletes) has gained a significant momentum already, ahead of the mega-auction; and the new season definitely promises to be an exciting one, as the Indian female players are riding high off their fresh victory in the concluded Women’s ODI World Cup 2025, defeating the favourites, Team Australia.
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