Indian women’s cricket is experiencing a golden era. Just days after the nation celebrated its first-ever senior-level ICC title, the 2025 ICC Women’s ODI World Cup triumph under Harmanpreet Kaur’s leadership and Amol Mazumdar’s tactical stewardship, the focus now shifts to the Women’s Premier League (WPL).
As the tournament heads into its fourth edition in 2026, teams have redefined their cores, balance experience with emerging brilliance, revealing their retentions, and prepare for yet another high-voltage season that reflects the ever-growing depth in India’s women’s cricket ecosystem.
The Mega Auction will take place on 27th November 2025, in New Delhi. The WPL 2026 Retentions mark the crucial first step in shaping the auction dynamics and competitive balance for the upcoming season. With franchises navigating budget caps, overseas quotas, and long-term contracts, this phase determines who stays, who’s released, and which players will trigger bidding wars.
Mumbai Indians Retentions WPL 2026:
Harmanpreet Kaur, Nat Sciver-Brunt, Amanjot Kaur, G Kamalini and Hayley Matthews
Mumbai Indians, led by Harmanpreet Kaur, entered this retention phase aiming to fortify their dynasty after clinching two of the three titles so far, including the inaugural 2023 championship and a dominant 2025 campaign. Their consistency, coupled with tactical foresight, has made them the benchmark franchise.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru Retentions WPL 2026:
Smriti Mandhana, Ellyse Perry, Richa Ghosh, Shreyanka Patil
Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), under Smriti Mandhana, epitomise resurgence, rebounding from a forgettable 2023 to script a fairytale title win in 2024, before settling for a mid-table finish with six points in 2025. Their retention decisions reflect their pursuit to reclaim that magic blend of aggression and composure.
Delhi Capitals Retentions WPL 2026:
Annabel Sutherland, Marizanne Kapp, Jemimah Rodrigues, Shafali Verma, Niki Prasad
Delhi Capitals, captained by Meg Lanning, remain the most consistent yet heartbreakingly short-changed unit of the league, finishing as runners-up in all three editions. Their top-of-the-table finishes in 2023, 2024, and 2025 underline a squad that has mastered the league stage yet seeks that elusive final flourish.
Gujarat Giants Retentions WPL 2026:
Ashleigh Gardner, Beth Mooney
Across the table, Gujarat Giants and UP Warriorz are chasing contrasting goals. Gujarat’s transformation under Ashleigh Gardner in 2025 from serial strugglers to semi-finalists showcased their growing balance, while UP Warriorz, despite early promise, slipped to the bottom last season under stand-in skipper Deepti Sharma.
UP Warriorz Retentions WPL 2026:
Shweta Sehrawat
As the 2026 retentions unfold, each franchise stands at a strategic crossroads: preserve the core or reset for the future. The decisions made during this window don’t just define team compositions but will shape the next chapter of the WPL’s competitive narrative in a post-World Cup era-defining phase where women’s cricket in India sits firmly at the heart of global attention.
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