The WPL 2026 mega auction is set for November 27, and all five franchises have shaken the cricket world by releasing several top international stars. This is the first mega auction in WPL history, and teams have taken bold decisions ahead of a new cycle.
From Meg Lanning, Alyssa Healy, Deepti Sharma, Sophie Ecclestone, Amelia Kerr to Laura Wolvaardt, many global match-winners will go under the hammer — making WPL 2026 one of the most exciting auctions ever.
Here is the complete released players list, team-wise highlights, strategic reasons, and what this means for the upcoming season.
Understanding the WPL 2026 Release Strategy
According to the retention rules:
- Teams could retain a maximum of 5 players
- Including:
Up to 3 capped Indians
Up to 2 overseas players
Up to 2 uncapped Indians - If retaining 5 players, at least 1 must be uncapped
This rule directly impacted the release decisions, forcing teams to drop even world-class performers.
Teams with fewer retentions gained:
More purse
More RTM (Right to Match) cards
More flexibility at the mega auction
Read Also: List of Indian Cricket Team Coaches
Team-Wise Released Players List for WPL 2026
Below are the complete released players lists extracted from all your provided content.
1. Mumbai Indians – Major Overseas Shake-Up
MI had a foreign-heavy squad and could retain only 2 overseas players, forcing them to release several big names.
Released Players
- Yastika Bhatia
- Amandeep Kaur
- Chloe Tryon
- Sajeevan Sajana
- Sanskriti Gupta
- Saika Ishaque
- Jintimani Kalita
- Sathyamoorthy Keerthana
- Akshita Maheshwari
- Parunika Sisodia
- Pooja Vastrakar
- Amelia Kerr
- Nadine de Klerk
- Shabnim Ismail
Key Highlight
Releasing Amelia Kerr, a global superstar, shocked fans — but MI had no choice due to retention restrictions.
2. Royal Challengers Bengaluru – High-Profile Overseas Exits
With only four retentions allowed, RCB released several big overseas names.
Released Players
- Sophie Devine
- Sophie Molineux
- Georgia Wareham
- Heather Graham
- Kim Garth
- Danni Wyatt-Hodge
- Charlie Dean
- Kate Cross
- Renuka Singh
- Sneh Rana
- Asha Sobhana
- Ekta Bisht
- Sabbhineni Meghana
- Nuzhat Parween
- VJ Joshitha
- Jagravi Pawar
- Prema Rawat
- Raghvi Bist
Key Highlight
RCB’s complete overseas reshuffle indicates a new strategy around their Indian core.
3. Delhi Capitals – Meg Lanning Headlines Shock List
Delhi had to release big names due to the 5-player limit.
Released Players
- Meg Lanning
- Alice Capsey
- Jess Jonassen
- Sarah Bryce
- Taniya Bhatia
- Arundhati Reddy
- Radha Yadav
- Shikha Pandey
- Minnu Mani
- Titas Sadhu
- Sneha Deepthi
- Nandini Kashyap
- N Shree Charani
Key Highlight
Meg Lanning’s release ensures a new captain will lead DC in WPL 2026.
4. Gujarat Giants – Complete Reset for a New Cycle
GG retained only 2 players. Almost the entire squad was released.
Released Players
- Laura Wolvaardt
- Phoebe Litchfield
- Deandra Dottin
- Danielle Gibson
- Harleen Deol
- Bharti Fulmali
- Dayalan Hemalatha
- Simran Shaikh
- Mannat Kashyap
- Sayali Satghare
- Kashvee Gautam
- Tanuja Kanwer
- Meghna Singh
- Prakashika Naik
- Priya Mishra
- Shabnam Shakil
Key Highlight
Wolvaardt’s release (WC finalist & top run scorer) has become one of the biggest talking points.
5. UP Warriorz – Most Dramatic Release List of WPL 2026
UPW opted for a near-complete overhaul, retaining just one uncapped player.
Released Players
- Deepti Sharma
- Alyssa Healy
- Sophie Ecclestone
- Tahlia McGrath
- Grace Harris
- Alana King
- Chinelle Henry
- Georgia Voll
- Rajeshwari Gayakwad
- Anjali Sarvani
- Uma Chetry
- Kiran Navgire
- Poonam Khemnar
- Saima Thakor
- Gouher Sultana
- Kranti Gaud
- Arushi Goel
- Chamari Athapaththu (noted in one list)
- Vrinda Dinesh
Key Highlight
UPW released three world-class match-winners—Healy, Ecclestone, Deepti—creating the biggest buzz of the year.
Read Also:- Indian Women’s Cricket Team Coaches List (2003–2025)
Major Stars Entering WPL 2026 Mega Auction
From the combined lists, these are the BIGGEST names now available:
Top International Stars
- Meg Lanning
- Alyssa Healy
- Amelia Kerr
- Sophie Ecclestone
- Grace Harris
- Tahlia McGrath
- Deandra Dottin
- Laura Wolvaardt
- Sophie Devine
- Phoebe Litchfield
- Jess Jonassen
- Danielle Gibson
- Kim Garth
- Georgia Wareham
Top Indian Stars
- Deepti Sharma
- Pooja Vastrakar
- Shikha Pandey
- Radha Yadav
- Renuka Singh
- Sneh Rana
- Saika Ishaque
- Titas Sadhu
This is potentially the strongest auction pool in WPL history.
Why So Many Players Were Released? – Key Reasons
1. Retention Limit (Max 5 Players)
Teams could not retain all their stars.
2. Overseas Restriction (Only 2 Allowed)
This forced MI, RCB, GG and UPW to release several foreign players.
3. New Cycle → Fresh Rebuild
UP Warriorz & Gujarat Giants opted for complete restructuring.
4. RTM Cards Introduced
Teams released players strategically so they could:
- Save purse
- Rebuy them using RTM at the right moment
WPL 2026 Full Released Players List: Summary
| Team | Total Released | Key Released Names |
|---|---|---|
| Mumbai Indians | 14+ | Amelia Kerr, Nadine de Klerk, Shabnim Ismail |
| RCB | 18+ | Devine, Wareham, Kim Garth, Sneh Rana |
| Delhi Capitals | 13+ | Meg Lanning, Alice Capsey, Radha Yadav |
| Gujarat Giants | 16+ | Laura Wolvaardt, Deandra Dottin |
| UP Warriorz | 18+ | Deepti Sharma, Alyssa Healy, Sophie Ecclestone |
Conclusion
The WPL 2026 Released Players List has completely reshaped the tournament dynamics. With global icons and India’s top performers suddenly available, the November 27 mega auction promises the most intense bidding war in WPL history.
Teams with big purses — especially UP Warriorz (₹14.5 Cr) and Gujarat Giants (₹9 Cr) — are expected to go all-out to rebuild competitive squads.
The excitement has already begun, and fans eagerly await which franchise will grab the biggest stars.
