The auction date for the Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2026 has been announced. This mega auction will be held in Delhi on November 26th and 27th.
WPL Auction Format
This time, certain rules will apply in the auction. Each franchise will have the opportunity to retain five players, including three Indian players (who have played international cricket), two foreign players, and two uncapped Indian players.
However, no more than five players can be retained in total.
Notably, the “Right to Match (RTM)” rule will be implemented for the first time. Under this rule, teams can recall their released players by placing the highest bid in the auction.
However, if a team retains five players, ₹9.25 crore will be deducted from their auction purse and they will not be able to use the RTM.
The last date for retention is November 5th. Players must register by November 18th. The board will release the auction list on November 20th. This is all designed to make the league more exciting.
New Team Strategy
Previously, the WPL auction was held in Mumbai and Bengaluru, but now it’s Delhi’s turn. This is the first time the WPL will host a mega auction.
Each team will have a budget of ₹15 crore. Last season, names like Smriti Mandhana and Harmanpreet Kaur generated significant buzz. A big splash is expected this time as well.
Under the retention rules, if a team retains five players, it will not receive a “Right to Match” card. Four players will receive one card, and three or fewer will receive two.
Fans are excited about this auction in Delhi. The board has yet to make an official announcement, but sources are reporting the news.
