The Women's Premier League (WPL) 2026 mega-auction took place today in New Delhi, with 277 players going under the hammer as franchises looked to build their squads for the upcoming season. With 73 slots available across the five teams, competition was fierce for the top talents.

Key Highlights from the Auction:

• Deepti Sharma a Top Draw: Indian all-rounder Deepti Sharma was one of the most sought-after players, eventually being retained by UP Warriorz for a staggering ₹3.2 crore. Delhi Capitals initially bid for her, but UP Warriorz used their Right to Match (RTM) card to secure her services.
• Amelia Kerr Joins Mumbai Indians: New Zealand's Amelia Kerr also sparked a bidding war, with Mumbai Indians ultimately securing her for ₹3 crore.
• Sophie Devine to Gujarat Giants: Gujarat Giants engaged in an intense battle with Delhi Capitals for Sophie Devine, finally acquiring the New Zealander for ₹2 crore.
• Meg Lanning Heads to UP Warriorz: Australian legend Meg Lanning will be playing for UP Warriorz in WPL 2026, as they bought her for ₹1.90 crore. Delhi Capitals attempted to buy her back but eventually withdrew from the bidding.
• Laura Wolvaardt Acquired by Delhi Capitals: South African Laura Wolvaardt was picked up by Delhi Capitals for ₹1.10 crore.
• Sophie Ecclestone Returns to UP Warriorz: UP Warriorz used their RTM card again to retain England's Sophie Ecclestone for ₹85 lakh after Delhi Capitals bid for her.
• Alyssa Healy Goes Unsold: In a surprising turn of events, Australian wicketkeeper-batter Alyssa Healy went unsold in the first round of the auction. Despite having a base price of ₹50 lakh, none of the franchises placed a bid. Healy has been suffering from a calf injury.
• Other Notable Sales: Renuka Singh was bought by Gujarat Giants for ₹60 lakh, Sree Charani was acquired by Delhi Capitals for ₹1.3 crore, and Radha Yadav was picked up by Royal Challengers Bangalore for ₹65 lakh.

Team Purse and Squad Composition:

Going into the auction, UP Warriorz had the highest remaining purse with ₹14.5 crore, while Delhi Capitals had the lowest with ₹5.70 crore. Each team needs to have a minimum of 15 players and a maximum of 18 in their squad. Teams were allowed to retain a maximum of five players prior to the auction. Mumbai Indians and Delhi Capitals retained the maximum of five players.

The WPL 2026 auction has set the stage for an exciting season, with teams strategically acquiring players to strengthen their squads.