The much-anticipated Women’s Premier League (WPL) is set to launch its third edition, with teams scheduled to announce their retention and release lists by November 7. The auction date remains unconfirmed, and the tournament is expected to take place in its usual February-March window, unlike future editions which, according to the Women’s Future Tour Programs, will be held in January starting in 2026.
Five teams—Mumbai Indians, Delhi Capitals, UP Warriorz, Royal Challengers Bangalore, and Gujarat Giants—will compete in the third season. The inaugural season in 2023 crowned Mumbai Indians as champions, while Royal Challengers Bangalore claimed the title in the following season. Ahead of the upcoming edition, teams are set to confirm their retained and released players by November 7.
Modeled closely after the Indian Premier League (IPL), the WPL follows rules that promote competitive balance and bring international talent to the league. Here’s an in-depth look at the main rules governing team composition, player retention, auction processes, and playing XI selections for the WPL.
1. Squad Composition
Each WPL team is allowed a squad of up to 18 players, with the option to include six overseas players and one player from an associate nation. The WPL permits teams to release players at the end of each season, providing flexibility to refresh the squad for the upcoming year.
WPL also aims to encourage a mix of local and international talent. In each match, a team can field up to five overseas players in its playing XI, with one of these players allowed to be from an associate nation. This rule expands opportunities for players from associate nations, enriching the league’s diversity and global appeal.
2. Player Retention and Mini-Auction
The WPL allows teams to retain a set number of players each season. After player releases, a mini-auction is conducted, allowing teams to fill gaps in their squad and make new acquisitions. The BCCI oversees this process, though the specific timeline for the auction is yet to be confirmed.
For replacement players, retention is allowed only for one player. For example, when Heather Knight opted out of WPL 2024, Nadine de Klerk was brought in by RCB as her replacement. RCB now has the option to retain only one of the two.
3. Auction Structure and Purse
The WPL employs an annual auction model similar to the IPL, with the auction purse for each team increasing steadily to accommodate rising player values. For the third season, the auction purse stands at INR 15 crores, up from INR 12 crores in the first season and INR 13.5 crores in the second. Although the auction date is not yet confirmed, each team must assemble a squad of at least 15 players, with an option to go up to 18.
Bidding Increments –
The base price for an uncapped player is set between ₹10 lahk and ₹20 lahk, while the base price for a capped player is between ₹30 lahk and ₹50 lakh. The WPL has defined specific bidding increments for different auction brackets to maintain structured bidding:
– Up to INR 1 crore: Increments of INR 5 lakh
– INR 1 crore to INR 2 crore: Increments of INR 10 lakh
– INR 2 crore to INR 3 crore: Increments of INR 20 lakh
– Above INR 3 crore: At the auctioneer’s discretion, though not less than INR 20 lakh
Differences Between the IPL and WPL Rules –
Most WPL rules align with the IPL, with the notable exception of the Impact Player rule. In the IPL, teams can replace a player from their starting lineup with a specialist batter or bowler at any point during a match. This rule has not yet been introduced in the WPL.
The WPL will host its third edition, and there is a possibility that next year’s edition could feature a mega auction if the league adopts the IPL’s approach of conducting a mega auction every third season.
Loves all things female cricket