The build-up to the WPL 2026 Mega Auction has officially begun, and all five franchises have announced their retention and release lists. This year is special because it is the first mega auction in WPL history, and teams have taken bold decisions, including releasing several global superstars.
From Alyssa Healy, Meg Lanning, Amelia Kerr, Deepti Sharma, and Laura Wolvaardt — many big names are heading to the auction table, while core leaders such as Harmanpreet Kaur, Smriti Mandhana, Jemimah Rodrigues, Shafali Verma and Beth Mooney have been retained.
This news article covers everything:
Full retention list
Released players
Purse remaining
RTM cards
Retention slabs
Team-wise analysis
WPL 2026 Retention Rules (Simple Explanation)
Each franchise could retain up to 5 players:
- Maximum 3 capped Indian players
- Maximum 2 overseas players
- Maximum 2 uncapped Indian players
- If retaining 5 players, at least 1 must be uncapped Indian
Retention Salary Slabs
| Player Number | Price (₹) |
|---|---|
| Player 1 | 3.5 Cr |
| Player 2 | 2.5 Cr |
| Player 3 | 1.75 Cr |
| Player 4 | 1 Cr |
| Player 5 | 50 Lakh |
Purse & RTM After Retentions
| No. of Players Retained | Purse Deduction | Auction Purse Left | RTM Cards |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | ₹9.25 Cr | ₹5.75 Cr | 0 |
| 4 | ₹8.75 Cr | ₹6.25 Cr | 1 |
| 3 | ₹7.75 Cr | ₹7.25 Cr | 2 |
| 2 | ₹6 Cr | ₹9 Cr | 3 |
| 1 | ₹3.5 Cr | ₹11.5 Cr | 4 |
WPL 2026: Full Team-Wise Retention List
1. Mumbai Indians – Champions Retain Their Core (5 Players)
MI kept their title-winning backbone intact and used the full 5-player quota, meaning no RTM cards at the auction.
Retained Players
| Player | Price |
|---|---|
| Nat Sciver-Brunt | ₹3.5 Cr |
| Harmanpreet Kaur | ₹2.5 Cr |
| Hayley Matthews | ₹1.75 Cr |
| Amanjot Kaur | ₹1 Cr |
| G Kamalini | ₹50 Lakh |
Purse Remaining: ₹5.75 Cr
RTM Cards: 0
Key Highlight
MI surprised everyone by keeping Sciver-Brunt as their first retention, not Harmanpreet.
2. Delhi Capitals – Balanced Squad, Full Retentions (5 Players)
DC retained the full quota of 5 players, focusing on balance and continuity.
Retained Players
| Player | Price |
|---|---|
| Jemimah Rodrigues | ₹2.2 Cr |
| Shafali Verma | ₹2.2 Cr |
| Marizanne Kapp | ₹2.2 Cr |
| Annabel Sutherland | ₹2.2 Cr |
| Niki Prasad | ₹50 Lakh |
Purse Remaining: ₹5.7 Cr
RTM Cards: 0
Shock Release
- Meg Lanning, DC’s captain and world champion, was released.
Read Also:- WPL 2026 Schedule: Time Table, Teams, Squad, Venue
3. Royal Challengers Bengaluru – Strong Core Retained (4 Players)
RCB kept their leadership group intact with four experienced names.
Retained Players
| Player | Price |
|---|---|
| Smriti Mandhana | ₹3.5 Cr |
| Richa Ghosh | ₹2.75 Cr |
| Ellyse Perry | ₹2 Cr |
| Shreyanka Patil | ₹60 Lakh |
Purse Remaining: ₹6.15 Cr
RTM Cards: 1
Key Highlight
RCB’s combination is built around Mandhana, Perry, Ghosh and Patil, giving them a settled foundation.
4. Gujarat Giants – Major Reset, Only 2 Retentions
GG made the boldest decision by retaining only two overseas stars.
Retained Players
| Player | Price |
|---|---|
| Ashleigh Gardner | ₹3.5 Cr |
| Beth Mooney | ₹2.5 Cr |
Purse Remaining: ₹9 Cr
RTM Cards: 3
Shocking Releases
- Laura Wolvaardt
- Phoebe Litchfield
- Deandra Dottin
- Harleen Deol
- Meghna Singh
GG are now set for a major rebuild.
5. UP Warriorz – One Retention, Biggest Purse
UP Warriorz kept the lowest number of players — just one — for a fresh start.
Retained Player
| Player | Price |
|---|---|
| Shweta Sehrawat | ₹50 Lakh |
Purse Remaining: ₹14.5 Cr
RTM Cards: 4
Massive Releases
- Deepti Sharma (Player of the Tournament – ODI WC 2025)
- Alyssa Healy
- Sophie Ecclestone
- Grace Harris
- Tahlia McGrath
- Alana King
UPW are expected to dominate the auction with heavy spending.
WPL 2026 – Full Retention Summary Table (All Teams)
| Team | Retained Players | Total Retained | Purse Left | RTM Cards |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mumbai Indians | Sciver-Brunt, Harmanpreet, Matthews, Amanjot, Kamalini | 5 | ₹5.75 Cr | 0 |
| Delhi Capitals | Jemimah, Shafali, Kapp, Sutherland, Niki | 5 | ₹5.7 Cr | 0 |
| Royal Challengers Bengaluru | Mandhana, Perry, Ghosh, Shreyanka | 4 | ₹6.15 Cr | 1 |
| Gujarat Giants | Gardner, Mooney | 2 | ₹9 Cr | 3 |
| UP Warriorz | Shweta Sehrawat | 1 | ₹14.5 Cr | 4 |
Read Also:- Indian Women’s Cricket Team Coaches List (2003–2025)
Key Takeaways – WPL 2026 Retentions
1. Big Stars Released
- Alyssa Healy
- Meg Lanning
- Deepti Sharma
- Amelia Kerr
- Sophie Ecclestone
- Laura Wolvaardt
These releases will make the auction extremely competitive.
2. Two teams used full quota: MI & DC
No RTM cards for both.
3. UP Warriorz enter with the biggest purse
₹14.5 crore + 4 RTMs = full power.
4. Gujarat Giants prepare for a rebuild
With ₹9 crore + 3 RTMs.
5. RCB trust their core
Smriti – Perry – Ghosh – Shreyanka continue.
Conclusion
The WPL 2026 retention list shows how franchises are reshaping their squads for the first-ever mega auction. With several superstars being released and massive purse gaps between teams, the auction on November 27 promises intense bidding wars and totally new team combinations.
