The 2026 Women’s Premier League (WPL) Mega Auction is set to reshape squads across the competition, and the new retention guidelines add an extra layer of strategic depth.
Teams must balance budget, player value, overseas limits, domestic core strength, and the availability of Right-to-Match (RTM) cards. With six retention pathways available, the core decision for every franchise is whether to prioritise proven performers or protect emerging Indian talent that is difficult to reacquire in an open auction environment. Based on recent form, squad balance, future upside, and the economics of the retention rules, here is a reasoned view of how each franchise could approach retention.
Delhi Capitals (Option: Retain 4 | Purse Remaining: ₹6.25 crore | RTM: 1)
Probable Retentions:
- Jemimah Rodrigues (IND)
- Shafali Verma (IND)
- Marizanne Kapp (SA)
- Sree Charani (IND)
For Delhi, the retention conversation begins with their Indian batting core. Jemimah Rodrigues and Shafali Verma are central to their identity, one brings composure and match awareness; the other, game-shifting powerplay tempo. Both are non-negotiable.
The key strategic layer here is the inclusion of Sree Charani, whose performances against high-quality opposition at the recent World Cup signal the makings of a long-term domestic pillar. Given the scarcity of Indian fast-bowling all-rounders, letting her go would create an expensive replacement problem in the auction later. The biggest debate lies between Marizanne Kapp and Annabel Sutherland.
While Sutherland offers age and upside, Kapp’s proven ability in pressure phases especially powerplay control and death overs intelligence remains exceptionally valuable. Even if she is entering the latter stage of her career, Kapp’s skill still holds match-winning currency. The absence of Meg Lanning from this list is simply linked to the likelihood of her complete retirement from cricket. If she were active, the equation would change entirely.
Mumbai Indians (Option: Retain 5 | Purse Remaining: ₹5.75 crore | RTM: 0)
Possible Retentions:
- Harmanpreet Kaur (IND)
- Nat Sciver-Brunt (ENG)
- Hayley Matthews (WI) fitness permitting
- Amanjot Kaur (IND)
- G. Kamalini (IND)
Mumbai’s strength is clarity. Nat Sciver-Brunt is the league’s leading run-scorer and fifth-highest wicket-taker; Hayley Matthews is the league’s leading wicket-taker and sixth-highest run-scorer. These are retention decisions that make themselves. If Matthews is unfit heading into the season, Amelia Kerr immediately becomes the first overseas retention. Harmanpreet’s value extends beyond leadership. She remains MI’s anchor in middle-overs batting patterns and a stabilising presence.
Amanjot Kaur has developed meaningfully with the ball and established herself as a multi-phase contributor. Retaining her at a higher bracket is justified. The interesting call here is G. Kamalini, especially at ₹50 lakh. With Yastika Bhatia and Pooja Vastrakar coming off injury phases, Kamalini offers wicket-keeping reliability and the ability to bat in her natural role at the top. In a league where Indian wicket-keeper batters are scarce, locking her in now is strategic.
Royal Challengers Bangalore (Option: Retain 4 | Purse Remaining: ₹6.25 crore | RTM: 1)
Possible Retentions:
- Smriti Mandhana (IND)
- Ellyse Perry (AUS)
- Richa Ghosh (IND)
- Shreyanka Patil (IND)
This is the closest case to straightforward. Smriti Mandhana, Richa Ghosh, and Ellyse Perry form the tactical and cultural nucleus of RCB’s squad. All three are central to both identity and performance. The fourth slot requires consideration. The choice effectively came down to Shreyanka Patil, Sneh Rana, or leaving the slot open to gain an additional RTM. But Shreyanka’s long-term value projection, domestic ceiling, and match impact justify keeping her in-house. She has been one of the most important young Indian developments in the WPL era.
Names such as Prema Rawat and Renuka Singh Thakur surfaced as alternatives. However, Rawat’s usage suggested that the coaching group was not ready to define her as a core player yet, and Renuka’s strengths have largely been confined to powerplay overs, reducing her retention leverage relative to Shreyanka.
Gujarat Giants (Option: Retain 1 | Purse Remaining: ₹11.50 crore | RTM: 4)
Recommended Retention: Ashleigh Gardner (AUS)
Gujarat have lacked a strong domestic core in the first two WPL cycles. Given the retention cost structure, retaining multiple overseas players would drain budget quickly while still leaving structural gaps.
Ashleigh Gardner is the exception: she remains a proven match-winner in both skill disciplines and a leadership anchor. Retaining just her leaves Gujarat with significant purse flexibility (₹11.50 crore) and four RTMs, allowing them to attack the Indian domestic market early, then re-acquire overseas talent such as Phoebe Litchfield or Kashvee Gautam if auction dynamics allow.
There was a case to be made for Shabnam Shakil at ₹50 lakh, but the lack of playing time in 2025 suggests she is not yet considered core.
UP Warriorz (Option: Retain 2 | Purse Remaining: ₹9 crore | RTM: 3)
Recommended Retentions:
- Deepti Sharma (IND)
- Sophie Ecclestone (ENG)
UP Warriorz require a reboot of their domestic foundation. Deepti Sharma, even at ₹3.5 crore, remains a viable anchor around which to rebuild. Sophie Ecclestone continues to be arguably the best spinner in world cricket and is too valuable a matchup weapon to release. The key question was over Kranti Gaud. She is promising, but the probability of retrieving her through RTM at a lower price is high.
Players such as Shweta Sehrawat or Vrinda Dinesh fall into the same category talented, but not yet crucial enough to pre-auction protect.
The 2026 Mega Auction will be shaped not just by who teams retain, but by who they choose to let go. The franchises that prioritise long-term domestic development, clarity of role definition, and flexible purse allocation will be best positioned to control the auction board when it matters most.
Inspired by Darshan Senthil
