The Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2026 Auction begins today in New Delhi, where 277 registered players will compete for only 73 available slots. With major names released by franchises and varying purse strengths, this year's auction promises intense bidding and high-value signings.
The day is set to be historic for women’s cricket as the Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2026 auction is being held today in New Delhi. This auction is drawing widespread attention, particularly because a total of 277 women cricketers have registered, while the combined number of available slots across all teams is only 73. This means that only one out of every four registered players will make a squad, making the auction extremely competitive.
This edition is even more exciting because several franchises released major players ahead of the auction, surprising fans and analysts. As a result, the bidding wars are expected to be aggressive and unpredictable.
Success in the auction largely depends on the purse balance each team holds. All five franchises are entering the event with their remaining funds, ready to build or reinforce their squads.
|
Team |
Remaining Purse |
|---|---|
|
UP Warriorz |
₹14.5 crore |
|
Gujarat Giants |
₹9 crore |
|
Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) |
₹6.15 crore |
|
Mumbai Indians |
₹5.75 crore |
|
Delhi Capitals |
₹5.7 crore |
UP Warriorz have the strongest purse and are expected to rebuild a major chunk of their squad.
Gujarat Giants will try to correct previous season weaknesses and strengthen the unit.
RCB, under Smriti Mandhana, will need smart target-based buys with limited budget.
Mumbai Indians, the defending champions, have fewer slots but may aim for strategic additions.
Delhi Capitals too have a tight budget and will aim to fill critical areas only.
The auction dynamic heavily depends on how many vacancies each team needs to fill.
|
Team |
Slots Available |
Overseas Slot Capacity |
|---|---|---|
|
UP Warriorz |
17 |
5 |
|
Gujarat Giants |
16 |
5 |
|
Royal Challengers Bangalore |
14 |
4 |
|
Delhi Capitals |
13 |
4 |
|
Mumbai Indians |
13 |
4 |
UP Warriorz have the most open positions, indicating a major reshuffle.
Gujarat Giants will also look to bring in many new faces.
RCB aims to boost middle-order stability and strengthen spin attack.
Delhi Capitals need selective but impactful picks.
Mumbai Indians mainly require backups as core squad remains strong.
This auction features multiple marquee cricketers who could trigger fierce bidding battles.
Deepti Sharma – game-changer with both bat and ball
Renuka Singh – India's premier pace bowler
Sneh Rana – valuable all-round option
Harleen Deol – strong middle-order batter
Kranti Goud, Shri Charani – rising domestic talents
Sophie Devine (NZ) – power hitter & experienced all-rounder
Amelia Kerr (NZ) – quality leg-spin & consistent batter
Sophie Ecclestone (England) – one of world’s best spinners
Alyssa Healy (Australia) – explosive opener & strong leader
Meg Lanning (Australia) – master strategist & reliable batter
Laura Wolvaardt (South Africa) – technically sound & dependable
Phoebe Litchfield (Australia) – fast-rising future superstar
With WPL now one of the world's fastest-growing women’s T20 leagues, franchises are expected to spend big for top-tier talent without hesitation.