The Women’s Premier League (WPL) is heading towards a significant revamp as preparations begin for the 2026 season mega auction. While the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has yet to officially confirm the date and venue, sources indicate that New Delhi is likely to host the event in the last week of November. The tentative window communicated informally to all five franchises is November 26–27.
This will be the first mega auction since the WPL’s inception and will introduce some key structural changes that could reshape team strategies and player movements.
Player Retention Rules Updated Ahead of WPL 2026 Auction
One of the biggest shifts involves the player retention policy. Each franchise will now be allowed to retain a maximum of five players, with the following restrictions:
- A maximum of three capped Indian players
- Up to two overseas players
- A maximum of two uncapped Indian players, as long as the total does not exceed five
These new rules are expected to intensify the auction dynamics as franchises face tough decisions on which players to hold onto and whom to release back into the pool.
Salary Slabs, Purse Deductions, and RTM Cards Explained
Each team will enter the auction with a purse of INR 15 crore. However, the salaries of retained players will be deducted from this total, based on fixed slabs:
- First retention: INR 3.50 crore
- Second retention: INR 2.50 crore
- Third retention: INR 1.75 crore
- Fourth retention: INR 1 crore
- Fifth retention: INR 50 lakh
So, if a franchise opts to retain the full five players, INR 9.25 crore will be deducted from their auction purse, leaving INR 5.75 crore to spend in the auction.
An important strategic factor this time around is the introduction of the Right-to-Match (RTM) cards—a first in WPL history. RTM allows franchises to reclaim released players during the auction by matching the highest bid for that player. However, franchises that retain all five players will not be eligible to use RTM cards, giving those with fewer retentions more flexibility at the auction table.
Given the league’s format—five teams with a maximum squad size of 18—the auction is expected to be completed in a single day.
With these new rules and strategies in play, fans and franchises alike are eagerly awaiting what could be the most exciting WPL auction yet.
