The Women’s Premier League (WPL) is preparing for its next big auction, which is expected to take place in New Delhi later this year. Although the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has not officially informed the franchises through a formal communication, sources suggest that the teams have already been told informally to prepare for the auction in the national capital.
The auction window has now been narrowed down to November 26–27, than the earlier proposed November 26–29. While the BCCI is yet to finalize the exact date, the event is expected to be confirmed soon. Despite being referred to as a “mega auction,” the process will likely be wrapped up in just one day, given the limited number of teams and players involved.
Teams have been asked to submit their list of retained players by November 5. Each franchise can retain up to five players, but every retention will directly affect the team’s auction purse. With a total purse of ₹15 crore, retaining all five players will significantly reduce the funds available for bidding.
According to the BCCI’s retention slabs, the first retained player will cost ₹3.5 crore, the second ₹2.5 crore, the third ₹1.75 crore, the fourth ₹1 crore, and the fifth ₹50 lakh. Therefore, a team opting to retain all five players will spend ₹9.25 crore, leaving ₹5.75 crore for the auction.
The BCCI has clarified that these figures are meant solely for salary cap calculations and do not necessarily reflect the actual payment made to players. Teams are free to negotiate their own contracts, but the deduction from the auction purse will follow these official guideline values.
In terms of composition, a franchise can retain a maximum of three capped Indian players, two overseas players, and two uncapped players, with uncapped players valued at ₹50 lakh each. This structure encourages teams to strike a balance between star power and emerging talent while staying within their financial limits.
Adding a layer of strategy to the process, the BCCI has also introduced Right to Match, allowing franchises to buy back previously released players during the auction. However, the number of RTMs available depends on the number of players retained. For every player a team retains, it loses one RTM card. This means a team with five retentions will have no RTM options, while a team with no retentions can use all five.
With the retention deadline approaching and the auction window drawing closer, franchises are now finalizing their strategies. Over the next few weeks, fans can expect some major announcements, surprising releases, and smart tactical moves as teams try to balance retaining their top performers with rebuilding their squads ahead of the auction in New Delhi.
(Inputs sourced from Cricbuzz)
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