The Women's Premier League (WPL) 2026 auction concluded today in New Delhi, with all five teams – Mumbai Indians, Delhi Capitals, Royal Challengers Bangalore, UP Warriorz, and Gujarat Giants – revamping their squads for the upcoming season. A total of 277 players went under the hammer, with 73 slots to be filled across the teams.

Key Highlights

• Deepti Sharma Top Pick: Indian all-rounder Deepti Sharma was the highest bid in the category phase, with UP Warriorz securing her services for ₹3.2 crore using their Right to Match (RTM) card.
• Overseas Stars in Demand: Amelia Kerr was the top overseas player, bought by Mumbai Indians for ₹3 crore. Other sought-after international players included Sophie Devine, who went to Gujarat Giants for ₹2 crore, and Georgia Wareham, also picked up by Gujarat Giants for ₹1 crore.
• Mumbai Indians and Delhi Capitals Face Budget Constraints: Mumbai Indians and Delhi Capitals were the most financially constrained heading into the accelerated round, with only ₹80 lakh each remaining in their purse.
• Gujarat Giants Had the Largest Purse: UP Warriorz entered the auction with the largest purse of ₹14.5 crore.

Team-wise Squads and Remaining Purse

Here's a look at the squads and remaining purse for each team after the auction:

• Mumbai Indians (MI): Key players include Nat Sciver-Brunt, Harmanpreet Kaur, Hayley Mathews, and Amelia Kerr. They had ₹80 lakh remaining.
• Delhi Capitals (DC): Notable players in their squad are Jemimah Rodrigues, Shafali Verma, Annabel Sutherland and Marizanne Kapp. The Capitals also had ₹80 lakh left in their purse.
• Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB): Their squad features Smriti Mandhana, Richa Ghosh, and Ellyse Perry. RCB had ₹1.25 crore remaining.
• UP Warriorz (UPW): Key acquisitions include Deepti Sharma, Sophie Ecclestone, and Meg Lanning. They had ₹1.45 crore left in their purse.
• Gujarat Giants (GG): Their squad includes Sophie Devine, Beth Mooney, and Ashleigh Gardner. The Giants had the most substantial remaining purse at ₹2.45 crore.

List of Players Sold

Some of the key players sold in the auction include:

• Sophie Devine to Gujarat Giants for ₹2 crore
• Deepti Sharma to UP Warriorz for ₹3.2 crore (RTM)
• Amelia Kerr to Mumbai Indians for ₹3 crore
• Renuka Singh to Gujarat Giants for ₹60 lakh
• Meg Lanning to UP Warriorz for ₹1.90 crore
• Laura Wolvaardt to Delhi Capitals for ₹1.10 crore
• Chinelle Henry to Delhi Capitals for ₹1.20 crore
• Nadine de Klerk to Royal Challengers Bangalore for ₹65 lakh

Unsold Players

Several notable players remained unsold in the initial rounds, including Alyssa Healy.

Auction Dynamics

The auction witnessed intense bidding wars, particularly for Deepti Sharma and Pooja Vastrakar. UP Warriorz and Royal Challengers Bangalore were often seen competing for the same players. The Gujarat Giants and Mumbai Indians strategically secured key players to bolster their squads.

The WPL 2026 promises to be an exciting season with the teams having strategically rebuilt their squads.