The much-anticipated inaugural mega auction for the Women's Premier League (WPL) is scheduled to take place today, Thursday, November 27, in New Delhi, while this significant event comes just 25 days after the Indian women's cricket team secured their first-ever World Cup victory, adding an extra layer of excitement and anticipation to the league. Since its inception in 2023, the WPL has completed three seasons, and now, following the IPL model, it's hosting its first-ever mega auction. All five franchises will be looking to reshape their squads, with the fate of 277 players hanging in the balance. The auction, set to begin at 3:30 PM IST, will see teams strategically bidding to build strong and balanced rosters for the upcoming WPL 2026 season.
Auction Details: Time and Participating Franchises
The WPL auction will commence at 3:30 PM IST this Thursday in New Delhi, while the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has maintained the current structure of five franchises for this season. The teams participating are Mumbai Indians, Delhi Capitals, Royal Challengers Bangalore, UP Warriorz, and Gujarat Giants. These are the same five franchises that were part of the league's initial season. While the first auction saw all players being bought, this mega auction is particularly unique because franchises have retained a select few players, and their primary task now is to build a cohesive squad around these core retentions, while this presents a strategic challenge for all teams involved.
Player Pool and Available Slots
A total of 277 players have been shortlisted for this mega auction, showcasing a wide array of talent from across the globe.
Among them, 194 are Indian players, highlighting the depth of domestic talent available, while the remaining 83 are foreign players, with four hailing from associate nations, adding an international flavour to the proceedings. However, only 73 of these players will find a spot in a. WPL squad, as there are only 73 available slots across all franchises combined. These slots are further divided, with 50 earmarked for Indian players and 23 for foreign players. It's worth noting that it isn't mandatory for all slots to be filled; teams may choose to keep 5-6 spots vacant, allowing for future flexibility in their squad composition.
Team Requirements and Squad Composition Rules
According to WPL regulations, each squad must comprise a minimum of 15 players and a maximum of 18 players. On top of that, a team can't have more than six foreign players in its roster. Following the retention process, the UP Warriorz have the highest number of slots to fill, needing 17 players, as they retained only one player. This makes them a key team to watch in the auction, likely to be highly active in bidding, while other franchises will also be strategizing their picks carefully, especially considering the foreign player quota, to ensure they assemble a competitive and diverse team capable of challenging for the title.
Franchise Budgets and Spending Power
Collectively, the five franchises have a total budget of 41. 1 crore INR to spend on players in this auction. Each franchise initially had an auction purse of 15 crore INR,. From which the fees of their retained players have been deducted. Post-retention, the UP Warriorz lead with the largest remaining purse of 14. 50 crore INR, which will be crucial for them to fill their numerous vacant slots. Gujarat Giants have 9 crore INR, Royal Challengers Bangalore have 6.
15 crore INR, Mumbai Indians have 5. 75 crore INR, and Delhi Capitals have 5. 70 crore INR. These varying budgets will Importantly influence each team's bidding strategy and their ability to secure desired players.
Introduction of the RTM Card
For the first time in the WPL, the 'Right To Match' (RTM) card option has been introduced. This allows a player's former team to re-acquire them by matching the highest bid placed on that player during the auction. However, not all franchises have access to RTM cards. Gujarat Giants possess 3 RTM cards, Royal Challengers Bangalore have 1, and UP Warriorz have 4 RTM cards. Mumbai Indians and Delhi Capitals don't have this option, as they had retained the maximum permissible five players. The RTM card is a strategic tool that provides teams with a crucial opportunity to retain key players who might otherwise be snapped up by rivals.
Star Players to Watch in the Auction
The mega auction is expected to see intense bidding for several prominent players. Australian stalwart Meg Lanning, who captained Delhi Capitals for three consecutive seasons and has a base price of 50 lakh INR, is one of the biggest names to watch. Deepti Sharma, who was the 'Player of the Tournament' in India's historic World Cup victory, is also expected to attract significant bids. Other star players who could command high prices include Laura Wolvaardt, the highest run-scorer in the World Cup, spinner Sophie Ecclestone, pacer Renuka Singh, and wicketkeeper Alyssa Healy, while the acquisition of these marquee players will undoubtedly shape the strength and balance of the competing WPL teams.
