The much-awaited WPL 2026 Auction arrives as a major milestone for women’s franchise cricket in India. Scheduled to be held on 27 November 2025 in New Delhi, this “mega-auction” will be the main event where all five franchises rebuild their squads, bid for new talent, and battle for top players from a deep pool of Indian and overseas cricketers.
With a purse of ₹ 15 crore per team and a total of 277 players up for grabs — including 194 Indian players and 83 overseas players — the stakes are high and the excitement palpable.
In this post, we’ll break down the auction rules, purse structure, team strategies, players to watch, timing & streaming info — everything a fan and follower of women’s cricket should know about the WPL 2026 Auction.
Auction Date, Venue & Format
- Date & Time: The WPL 2026 Auction will take place on Thursday, 27 November 2025, starting at 3:30 PM IST. Coverage and build-up events are expected to begin at 2:30 PM IST.
- Venue: A hotel in Aerocity, New Delhi — near the airport — has been confirmed as the auction venue.
- Mega Auction: This is a full revamp — all franchises must rebuild their squads under the new rules. No franchise will enter with a fully secured roster.
This reset format ensures fresh dynamism across teams, giving both players and fans renewed excitement ahead of the new WPL season.
Team Purses, Slots & RTM Cards – WPL 2026 Auction
Here’s how much money each franchise has left going into the auction, how many players (slots) they still need to fill, and how many “Right-to-Match (RTM)” cards they have.
| Franchise | Purse Remaining (₹ crore) | Slots to Fill (players) | Overseas Slots | RTM Cards Available |
| UP Warriorz | 14.50 — highest purse among all teams | 17 players | 6 overseas slots | 4 RTMs |
| Gujarat Giants | 9.00 | 16 players | 4 overseas slots | 3 RTMs (Indian players only) |
| Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) | 6.15 | 14 players | 5 overseas slots | 1 RTM |
| Mumbai Indians (MI) | 5.75 | 13 players | 4 overseas slots | 0 RTMs |
| Delhi Capitals (DC) | 5.70 (or ~5.75) | 13 players | 4 overseas slots | 0 RTMs |
What This Means — Strategy & Auction Dynamics
- UP Warriorz — With the strongest purse (₹ 14.50 cr) and 4 RTMs, UP is best positioned to aggressively rebuild their squad. They can target top domestic and overseas talent and potentially re-purchase some of their released players via RTM.
- Gujarat Giants — With a sizeable purse (₹ 9 cr) and 3 RTMs (for Indian players), they also have good flexibility. They may balance between investing in overseas stars and strengthening domestic core via RTMs.
- RCB — Mid-level purse, 1 RTM and 14 slots — RCB will need balanced bidding: likely mix of marquee overseas picks and value Indian players.
- Mumbai Indians & Delhi Capitals — Both have limited funds (~₹ 5.7–5.75 cr) and no RTMs, meaning they’ll need to be very selective. Their strategy will likely focus on budget-friendly domestic talent or bargain overseas deals to complete their squads without overspend.
Registered Players & Auction Pool
Ahead of the auction, a large and diverse pool of players has registered:
- Total players registered: 277.
- Breakdown:
- 194 Indian players (52 capped, 142 uncapped)
- 83 overseas players (66 capped, 17 uncapped; includes 4 from associate nations)
With such a deep pool, auctions are expected to be highly competitive — top talent will draw fierce bidding, and opportunities for emerging players remain significant.
Key Players & Names to Watch in WPL 2026 Auction
The WPL 2026 auction features a huge and diverse pool — 277 players (194 Indian, 83 overseas) competing for about 73 available slots. Among them, certain names stand out — high-impact players (batters, bowlers, all-rounders, wicketkeepers) whose performance and potential make them likely to shape the season for whichever franchise gets them.
Marquee & High-Profile Players
- Deepti Sharma — widely regarded as the crown jewel of the Indian pool this year. As a proven all-rounder with strong batting and off-spin bowling, she offers match-winning flexibility. Her previous performances make her a top target for teams wanting balance.
- Sophie Ecclestone — among the most sought-after overseas bowlers. As a top-tier left-arm spinner with a consistent track record in T20s globally, she’s expected to draw major bids — especially from teams looking for a dependable spin backbone in Indian conditions.
- Alyssa Healy — world-class wicket-keeper batter whose aggressive batting and glovework make her an attractive buy. Her ability to anchor or explode innings — and perform under pressure — ensures she remains a high-value player in the auction.
- Meg Lanning — a proven leader and solid top-order batter. Given her prior WPL and international experience, she brings stability, composure, and tactical acumen. Her availability at auction could lead to heavy bidding from franchises that value both runs and leadership.
- Laura Wolvaardt — a promising international batter with the ability to deliver at top order. Her consistency and technique make her a strong candidate for teams seeking dependable overseas batting reinforcement.
Indian Players (Domestic / Capped / Emerging)
- Renuka Singh Thakur — A fast-bowling option from India; expected to attract interest because of her pace and ability to bowl in power-play and death overs.
- Harleen Deol — A batter who has been spotlighted among Indian batters to watch this auction, showing potential for strong domestic and top-order contributions.
- Pratika Rawal — Another domestic Indian batter flagged by analysts for her performance, likely to attract bids.
- Kiran Prabhu Navgire — Named among players to watch, adding depth as a batter — useful for teams balancing budget and performance.
- Disha Kasat — Young Indian player under spotlight, seen as a potential breakout pick in mid-range base price category.
Overseas / International Players (Batters, All-rounders, Bowlers, Wicket-keepers)
- Sophie Devine (New Zealand) — Part of the marquee set. As a seasoned international all-rounder, she brings experience, aggressive batting, and bowling to any side.
- Amelia Kerr (New Zealand) — Another marquee-listed overseas all-rounder likely to grab attention; her versatility (bat-and-ball) is valued in T20 leagues.
- Phoebe Litchfield (Australia) — Among the overseas names registered for auction, offering batting strength.
- Tazmin Brits (South Africa) — Overseas batter option registered under base-price bracket, could be a value pick for teams looking for affordable international talent.
- Bharti Fulmali (India) — Domestic player with base-price registration; may be sought as a budget-friendly batter for squad depth.
Underdogs & Emerging Talents to Watch
The WPL 2026 auction isn’t just about big names — several up-and-coming players and lesser-known talents may surprise:
- Young uncapped players — bowlers and batters — who could fly under the radar and provide high upside at reasonable base prices.
- Domestic Indian players (both experienced and emerging) who offer all-round balance or specialist skills, giving franchises flexibility under purse constraints.
Why These Players Matter
- The mix of experienced internationals (like Sophie Devine, Amelia Kerr, Phoebe Litchfield) gives teams access to proven T20-level performance, leadership, and versatility — especially valuable under pressure.
- The availability of solid domestic players and emerging Indian talents (Renuka Singh Thakur, Harleen Deol, Pratika Rawal, etc.) allows franchises to build cost-effective, balanced squads — especially with purse constraints and overseas-slots limits.
- Players with all-round or dual skills (batting + bowling or batting + keeping) increase flexibility for team composition — critical in T20 formats where squad balance matters a lot.
- For under-the-radar or less expensive picks (mid or lower base-price bracket), good performance could yield high value, making auction dynamics unpredictable and exciting.
Auction Day — Timings, Live-Streaming & Coverage
For fans wanting to follow the Auction live:
- Start time: 3:30 PM IST on 27 November 2025. Auction coverage build-up begins ~1 hour earlier.
- TV Telecast (India): Auction will be broadcast live on Star Sports Network.
- Live Streaming (Digital / Mobile / Web): Fans can stream the auction live on JioHotstar (app & website).
This makes it accessible to a wide audience — whether on TV or mobile — allowing fans across India (and abroad) to witness the auction action and squad building in real time.
What This Auction Means for WPL & Women’s Cricket?
The WPL 2026 Auction isn’t just a roster shuffle — it represents a critical moment for the growth of women’s franchise cricket in India. Key impacts include:
- Level playing field: With a mega-auction format, every franchise starts afresh — leading to unpredictability, exciting team builds, and renewed competition.
- Opportunities for emerging talent: With 142 uncapped Indian players registered, there’s a chance for fresh faces to break into star-studded squads.
- Strategic depth and balance: Franchises may try to build balanced squads — combining experienced internationals, all-rounders, domestic talent — leading to stronger team compositions.
- Increased fan interest & engagement: The auction itself (with big bids, marquee names, surprises) is a spectacle — which helps grow fanbase for WPL and women’s cricket.
- Sustainable growth for league: With consistent financial purse, transparent rules, and wide coverage (TV + streaming), WPL is consolidating its place as a major women’s sports league in India.
What to Watch Post-Auction
Once squads are finalized post-auction, the following will be key:
- Announcement of full WPL 2026 schedule and venues.
- Final squads — how each franchise utilises budget, retained players, RTMs, and new buys.
- Team composition: overseas quota fulfilment, balance of batters/all-rounders/spinners.
- Bidding trends: who fetched high bids, which uncapped players made a mark.
- Fan reactions — social media buzz, expectations from newly formed squads.
- Impact on women’s cricket growth: visibility, opportunities for young talent, competitive standard of WPL.
Conclusion
The WPL 2026 Auction promises to be a landmark event — an ambitious, high-stakes, strategic rebuild for all franchises. With a well-defined purse, retention rulebook, and a deep pool of talent, the stage is set for some exciting bidding wars, smart team builds, and a rejuvenated WPL season.
Whether you’re a die-hard fan, a follower of women’s cricket, or simply curious about league dynamics — this auction marks a new chapter in the growth of WPL and women’s franchise cricket in India.
Get ready for drama, surprises, and a fresh start in WPL 2026!
Related Blog: WPL Retention List 2026
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