The upcoming Women's Premier League (WPL) 2026 auction is generating significant buzz as a total of 277 players are set to enter the bidding process on November 27 in New Delhi. Among the standout names in the eight-player Marquee set are Deepti Sharma, Alyssa Healy, and Laura Wolvaardt. This group also features Renuka Singh as the sole Indian representative, alongside international stars Sophie Devine, Sophie Ecclestone, Amelia Kerr, and Meg Lanning. Each player in this elite category is expected to attract substantial attention due to their exceptional skills and prior performances in various leagues and tournaments.
Renuka Singh has attracted a reserve price of INR 40 lakh, while Wolvaardt is listed at INR 30 lakh. The other players in the Marquee group boast a base price of INR 50 lakh, indicating their value in the evolving landscape of women's cricket. Notably, a total of 19 players have positioned themselves at the highest reserve price of INR 50 lakh, which includes emerging talents like Phoebe Litchfield, Harleen Deol, Uma Chetry, Kranti Goud, Pratika Rawal, Pooja Vastrakar, and Georgia Wareham, among others.
Franchises participating in the auction will have an overall budget of INR 41.1 crore available, following previous player retentions. The UP Warriorz will have the largest financial allocation, amounting to INR 14.5 crore, particularly as they opted to retain only Shweta Sehrawat. In contrast, the defending champions, Mumbai Indians, will operate with a budget of INR 5.75 crore, while the Delhi Capitals, who were the finalists, will have INR 5.7 crore at their disposal. Additionally, teams will utilize eight Right To Match (RTM) cards during the auction, with the UP Warriorz able to exercise four of these cards, further adding to their strategic options during the bidding process.
The WPL 2026 auction promises to be an exciting event that will shape the future dynamics of women's cricket, as franchises aim to assemble talented teams that can compete at the highest level. With numerous skilled players in the mix and substantial budgets to guide bidding strategies, the outcome of this auction will be closely watched by fans and analysts alike.