Written By: Shreya Patil

The Women’s Premier League is getting bigger every year! After three exciting seasons, all five teams have now revealed which players they will keep for WPL 2026.

The retention deadline was November 5, 2025, and the mega auction will take place on November 27, 2025, in New Delhi.

Let’s look at which players each team has officially kept for the next season.

RCB Retained Players for WPL 2026

RCB won their first WPL trophy in 2024! They finally became champions under captain Smriti Mandhana. The team played brilliantly, and their fans celebrated everywhere.

Player NameRoleCost
Smriti MandhanaCaptain & Batter₹3.5 cr
Richa GhoshWicket-Keeper₹2.75 cr
Ellyse PerryAll-Rounder₹2.0 cr
Shreyanka PatilAll-Rounder₹0.6 cr

1. Smriti Mandhana (Captain & Batter)

Smriti Mandhana stands as RCB’s talismanic captain and premier batter. Her elegant strokeplay and leadership qualities make her indispensable. Mandhana ranks among the finest batters in women’s cricket globally!

Smriti Mandhana
Source: WPL

Her graceful batting style captivates audiences worldwide. The championship victory came under her inspiring captaincy. She represents everything RCB stands for.

Why keep her? Trophy-winning skipper. Elite international batter. Team’s biggest icon.

2. Richa Ghosh (Wicket-Keeper)

Richa Ghosh represents India’s next generation of cricket stars. The wicketkeeper-batter possesses tremendous power-hitting abilities and represents India at the international level.

Richa Ghosh
Source: RCB

Her explosive batting can turn matches within moments. Each season shows her growing maturity as a player. RCB sees her as their long-term asset.

Why keep her? Dynamic Indian keeper-batter. International cricketer. Rising phenomenon.

3. Ellyse Perry (All-Rounder)

Ellyse Perry brings Australian excellence to RCB. She holds the record for most runs scored for the franchise across multiple seasons. Perry’s dual skills make her invaluable.

Ellyse Perry
Source: Women cricket

Her all-around abilities shine through consistently. Whether batting or bowling, she delivers when required. Losing such talent would be unthinkable for RCB.

Why keep her? Franchise’s leading run-getter. Dual-skilled performer. International superstar.

4. Shreyanka Patil (All-Rounder)

Shreyanka Patil offers quality off-spin bowling combined with useful batting. Her intelligent bowling earns crucial breakthroughs. She’s already earned her India cap.

Shreyanka Patil
Source: Female cricket

Her presence provides team equilibrium. Young Indian all-rounders are precious commodities. RCB is securing their tomorrow by retaining her.

Why keep her? Spinning all-rounder. National team player. Tomorrow’s star.

MI Retained Players for WPL 2026

Mumbai Indians are the most successful WPL team! They are two-time WPL champions after winning in 2023 and 2025. MI knows how to win championships and has many world-class players.

Player NameRoleCost
Nat Sciver-BruntAll-Rounder₹3.5 cr
Harmanpreet KaurCaptain & Batter₹2.5 cr
Hayley MatthewsAll-Rounder₹1.75 cr
Amanjot KaurAll-Rounder₹1.0 cr
G KamaliniBatter₹0.5 cr

1. Nat Sciver-Brunt (All-Rounder)

Nat Sciver-Brunt epitomizes all-round excellence in women’s cricket. The English star combines powerful batting with effective fast bowling seamlessly.

Nat Sciver-Brunt
Source: Inside sport

Her composure under pressure separates her from others. Nat possesses the ability to dominate matches independently. MI cannot imagine their squad without her.

Why keep her? Premier all-rounder globally. Fast-bowling batter. Game-changer.

2. Harmanpreet Kaur (Captain & Batter)

Harmanpreet Kaur captains both MI and India’s national team. She’s guided MI to two championship victories. Harman embodies winning mentality.

Harmanpreet Kaur
Source: WPL

Her middle-order batting packs tremendous punch. Years of experience have sharpened her winning instincts. MI places complete faith in her leadership.

Why keep her? Double champion captain. National team skipper. Power-hitting specialist.

3. Hayley Matthews (All-Rounder)

Hayley Matthews brings West Indian flair as an elite all-rounder and national captain. She threatens opponents with both batting and bowling from the opening position.

Hayley Matthews
Source: WPL

Her Player of the Tournament performance in 2023 speaks volumes. The opening combinations she creates are devastating. Her off-spin adds another dimension.

Why keep her? Two-way threat. WPL 2023 Player of the Tournament. Critical opener.

4. Amanjot Kaur (All-Rounder)

Amanjot Kaur provides Indian pace-bowling combined with batting ability. She offers crucial squad balance. Her development continues each season.

Amanjot Kaur
Source: MI

Indian pace-bowling all-rounders are rare finds. She handles pressure situations effectively. MI recognizes her immense potential.

Why keep her? Indian pace option. Developing talent. Balances the lineup.

5. G Kamalini (Wicket-Keeper)

G Kamalini made history as WPL’s youngest participant! Despite her teenage years, she plays with remarkable fearlessness. Kamalini opens and keeps wickets.

G Kamalini
Source: WPL

Her debut season impressed everyone watching. Young Indian keeper-batters are scarce and precious. MI is building around this prodigy.

Why keep her? Record-breaking age. Opening keeper. Future superstar.

DC Retained Players for WPL 2026

Delhi Capitals have consistently reached finals across three seasons! Three runner-up finishes show their quality. DC possesses championship-caliber talent but seeks the elusive trophy.

Player NameRoleRetention Amount
Jemimah RodriguesBatter₹2.2 crore
Shafali VermaBatter₹2.2 crore
Annabel SutherlandAll-Rounder₹2.2 crore
Marizanne KappAll-Rounder₹2.2 crore
Niki PrasadBatter₹0.5 crore

1. Jemimah Rodrigues (Batter)

Jemimah Rodrigues excels in the crucial middle order. Her intelligent approach and consistency make her reliable. Recent international performances showcase her match-winning abilities.

Jemimah Rodrigues
Source: Female cricket

She anchors DC’s middle innings perfectly. Jemimah adapts to any match situation brilliantly. She represents India’s finest young batting talents.

Why keep her? Dependable middle-order. Intelligent cricketer. International regular.

2. Shafali Verma (Batter)

Shafali Verma epitomizes aggressive opening batting for India. Her power-hitting from the first delivery intimidates bowling attacks. Shafali demolishes opposition plans.

Shafali Verma
Source: Female cricket

Her opening aggression sets match tempo. International experience enriches her game. DC’s attacking philosophy begins with her.

Why keep her? Fearless opener. Destructive power. National team member.

3. Annabel Sutherland (All-Rounder)

Annabel Sutherland combines Australian quality with youthful energy as a pace-bowling all-rounder. Despite her age, she’s established herself internationally.

Annabel Sutherland
Source: WPL

She delivers crucial seam bowling while providing powerful batting down the order. Her twin abilities strengthen squad composition significantly.

Why keep her? Versatile young talent. Pace and power. Long-term investment.

4. Marizanne Kapp (All-Rounder)

Marizanne Kapp delivers South African pace bowling alongside batting prowess. Her dual capabilities are essential. Kapp generates good pace while claiming important wickets.

Marizanne Kapp
Source: NDTV

Boundary-hitting complements her bowling skills. All-rounders of Kapp’s caliber are extremely rare. DC requires both her disciplines.

Why keep her? Pace-bowling all-rounder. Dual threat. Invaluable asset.

5. Niki Prasad (Batter)

Niki Prasad represents young uncapped Indian potential. Her batting provides squad depth. Young domestic players help team structure.

Niki Prasad
Source: News18

Quality bench strength proves vital during tournaments. Niki offers readiness when opportunities arise. DC invests in future prospects through her.

Why keep her? Emerging Indian player. Depth provider. Tomorrow’s investment.

GG Retained Players for WPL 2026

Gujarat Giants struggled in the first two seasons. But they improved a lot in 2025 and reached the playoffs! The team is finally finding its rhythm.

Player NameRoleCost
Ashleigh GardnerCaptain & All-Rounder₹3.5 cr
Beth MooneyBatter & Wicket-Keeper₹2.5 cr

1. Ashleigh Gardner (Captain & All-Rounder)

Ashleigh Gardner leads Gujarat from Australia. Her powerful batting combines beautifully with effective off-spin. Gardner orchestrated Gujarat’s 2025 transformation.

Ashleigh Gardner
Source: Female cricket

Strong leadership accompanies her on-field contributions. Ashleigh delivers complete all-round performances. Gujarat’s revival hinges on her abilities.

Why keep her? Transformational captain. Complete player. Leadership excellence.

2. Beth Mooney (Batter & Wicket-Keeper)

Beth Mooney opens batting while keeping wickets for Australia. Her consistency in run-scoring is remarkable. Mooney ensures strong starts repeatedly.

Beth Mooney
Source: WPL

She ranks among women’s cricket’s most dependable batters. Beth constructs substantial innings intelligently. Gujarat needs her vast experience.

Why keep her? Reliable opener. Wicketkeeping skills. Proven performer.

UPW Retained Players for WPL 2026

UP Warriorz have good players but have not done well yet. They need to perform better in WPL 2026. The team has a fresh strategy for building their squad.

Player NameRoleCost
Shweta SehrawatBatter₹0.5 cr

1. Shweta Sehrawat (Batter)

Shweta Sehrawat showcases promising uncapped Indian batting talent. She vice-captained India’s U19 World Cup-winning squad.

 Shweta Sehrawat
Source: WPL

Her top-order skills show bright future prospects. UPW invests in developing Indian youth talent. Retaining only one uncapped player maximizes available auction budget.

Why keep her? Promising young batter. Development focus. Maximum purse flexibility.

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Conclusion: WPL 2026 Mega Auction is Happening on 27 November 2025

All five WPL teams have now confirmed their retained players. The retention window closed on November 5, 2025, and the mega auction will be held on November 27, 2025, in New Delhi.

Each team has kept their best players and captains. Mumbai Indians and RCB have strong winning cores. Delhi Capitals will aim for their first title, while Gujarat Giants and UP Warriorz will look to rebuild with fresh strategies.

WPL 2026 is going to be the biggest season yet! Fans can’t wait to see who joins which team at the auction. The Women’s Premier League keeps getting better every year!

FAQs

When was the WPL 2026 retention deadline?

The WPL 2026 retention deadline was November 5, 2025. All five teams had to submit their list of retained players to the BCCI by this date. The mega auction will be held on November 27, 2025, in New Delhi.

How much purse amount do teams have for WPL 2026?

Each franchise has a total purse of ₹15 crore. The amount spent on retained players is deducted from this purse, and the remaining balance will be used to buy new players at the auction.

Can teams buy back players they release?

The Right-to-Match (RTM) card will be introduced for the first time in WPL 2026. This allows teams to buy back a released player during the auction by matching the highest bid for that player.

Which team has the strongest retained squad for WPL 2026?

The Mumbai Indians have a very strong core with stars like Harmanpreet Kaur, Nat Sciver-Brunt, and Hayley Matthews. However, the Royal Challengers Bengaluru are the defending champions and have built an equally balanced squad around Smriti Mandhana and Ellyse Perry.

Did all teams retain five players?

Not all teams retained the maximum number of players. While most teams kept five, UP Warriorz retained only one player (Shweta Sehrawat) to keep a bigger purse for the auction.

About the Author

Shreya Patil is a Mumbai-based documentary photographer turned cricket storyteller. Having covered local leagues through her lens, she now writes feature pieces at WPLeague, capturing the human side of women’s cricket beyond the boundary ropes.

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