High drama, big spending, and strategic squad reconstruction marked the WPL Auction 2026 season across all five franchises. Here’s a closer look at how each team has shaped up ahead of the new Women’s Premier League season.
Mumbai Indians: Rebuilding the Championship Core In WPL Auction 2026
Mumbai Indians were faithful to their title-winning core at the WPL Auction, using over half their purse on buying Amelia Kerr back in for INR 3 crore. Shabnim Ismail’s pick at INR 60 lakh was a steal, while they brought back Saika Ishaque and S Sajana in what appeared to be value-plus-emotion calls.
Still, Mumbai lack depth in the Indian medium-pace department apart from Amanjot Kaur. Despite that gap, MI continue to retain its hallmark of squad continuity with many exciting uncapped additions.
Key Squad Groups
Batters: Harmanpreet Kaur (C), Hayley Matthews, G Kamilini, Rahila Firdous
Allrounders: Nat Sciver-Brunt, Amelia Kerr, Amanjot Kaur, Nicola Carey, Poonam Khemnar, S Sajana, Sanskriti Gupta, Triveni Vasistha
Wicketkeepers: G Kamilini
Fast bowlers: Shabnim Ismail, Milly Illingworth, Nalla Reddy
Spinners: Saika Ishaque, Sanskriti Gupta
Strongest XI
Hayley Matthews, G Kamilini (wk), Nat Sciver-Brunt, Harmanpreet Kaur (C), Amelia Kerr, Amanjot Kaur, S Sajana, Poonam Khemnar, Sanskriti Gupta, Shabnim Ismail, Saika Ishaque
The Delhi Capitals: Future-Ready Squad Despite Limited Budget
Delhi Capitals went into the WPL Auction with one of the smallest purses but pulled off a real shrewd game-plan centered around fine all-rounders. While they couldn’t bring back Meg Lanning, they got Laura Wolvaardt, adding both form and leadership.
While Chinelle Henry and Sree Charani were secured for INR 1.3 crore each, the return of Taniyaa Bhatia and Minnu Mani ensures continuity. Sneh Rana bolsters the spin attack, though Delhi’s pace unit will rely heavily on overseas players.
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Key Squad Groups
Batters: Jemimah Rodrigues, Shafali Verma, Laura Wolvaardt, Lizelle Lee.
Allrounders: Marizanne Kapp, Annabel Sutherland, Chinelle Henry, Sree Charani, Niki Prasad, Minnu Mani, Sneh Rana
Wicketkeepers: Taniyaa Bhatia
Pacers: Nandni Sharma, Mamatha Madiwala, Deeya Yadav, Lucy Hamilton
Strongest XI
Shafali Verma, Laura Wolvaardt, Jemimah Rodrigues, Marizanne Kapp, Annabel Sutherland, Niki Prasad, Chinelle Henry, Sneh Rana/Minnu Mani, Taniyaa Bhatia (wk), Sree Charani, Nandni Sharma
Gujarat Giants: Star Overseas Picks, Missed Domestic Opportunities
Gujarat Giants made one of the headlines of the WPL Auction by securing Sophie Devine for INR 2 crore. With Beth Mooney continuing as a central figure, GG have a formidable overseas core.
However, the franchise missed out on several opportunities to rope in big Indian names. The involvement of Yastika Bhatia depends on her ACL recovery, while Kashvee Gautam too returns from a long layoff because of injury. The side is still highly top-heavy with limited experienced Indian depth.
Key Squad Groups
Batters: Danni Wyatt-Hodge, Beth Mooney, Bharti Fulmali
Allrounders: Ash Gardner, Sophie Devine, Kanika Ahuja, Ayushi Soni
Wicketkeepers: Beth Mooney, Yastika Bhatia
Pacers: Renuka Thakur, Titas Sadhu, Happy Kumari
Spinners: Rajeshwari Gayakwad, Georgia Wareham, Shivani Singh, Tanuja Kanwer
Strongest XI
Beth Mooney (wk), Sophie Devine, Yastika Bhatia, Ash Gardner (C), Bharti Fulmali, Kashvee Gautam, Georgia Wareham, Kanika Ahuja, Tanuja Kanwer, Titas Sadhu, Renuka Thakur
Royal Challengers Bengaluru: Allrounders and Overseas Firepower Lead the Way
The champions coming into 2024 made their game plan pretty clear at the WPL Auction: target experienced allrounders and capped players. RCB added English bowlers Lauren Bell and Linsey Smith, along with Australians Grace Harris and Georgia Voll.
Nadine de Klerk strengthened the middle order, and Pooja Vastrakar and Arundhati Reddy provided stability to the pace unit, but the Indian middle order still looks a little vulnerable.
Key Squad Groups
Batters: Smriti Mandhana (C), Georgia Voll, D Hemalatha
Allrounders: Ellyse Perry, Grace Harris, Nadine de Klerk, Pooja Vastrakar
Wicketkeepers: Richa Ghosh
Pacers: Lauren Bell, Arundhati Reddy, Prathyoosha Kumar
Spinners: Shreyanka Patil, Radha Yadav, Prema Rawat, Linsey Smith
Strongest XI
Smriti Mandhana (C), Grace Harris, Ellyse Perry, D Hemalatha, Richa Ghosh (wk), Nadine de Klerk, Pooja Vastrakar, Shreyanka Patil, Arundhati Reddy, Prema Rawat, Linsey Smith
UP Warriorz: Big Spenders Build a New-Look Squad
UP Warriorz have come with the largest budget in the WPL Auction and are aggressively targeting top names like Meg Lanning, Phoebe Litchfield, Shikha Pandey, and Asha Sobhana.
The costliest pick of the auction was Deepti Sharma at INR 3.2 crore via RTM. They also retained Sophie Ecclestone and Kashvee Gautam through RTM at bargain prices. While the team looks balanced across departments, the absence of a first-choice experienced wicketkeeper is a major oversight.
Key Squad Groups
Batters: Shweta Sehrawat, Meg Lanning, Phoebe Litchfield, Kiran Navgire, Harleen Deol
Allrounders: Deepti Sharma, Deandra Dottin, Asha Sobhana, Chloe Tryon, Pratika Rawal Wicketkeepers: Shipra Giri Pacers: Shikha Pandey, Tara Norris, Suman Meena
Spinners: Sophie Ecclestone, G Trisha
Strongest XI Meg Lanning, Phoebe Litchfield, Harleen Deol, Kiran Navgire, Deepti Sharma, Deandra Dottin, Sophie Ecclestone, Asha Sobhana, Shipra Giri(wk), Kranti Gaud, Shikha Pandey.
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