The countdown to the Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2026 mega auction has begun, with Delhi preparing to host one of the most competitive bidding days the tournament has yet seen. A total of 277 players have registered themselves for what will be a contest for only 73 available positions, 23 of which are reserved for overseas cricketers.
Among these 277 entrants are 83 overseas players, 155 uncapped names and four players from Associate nations, forming a diverse pool that merges international pedigree with emerging Indian talent. Collectively, the five franchises will walk into the auction room with a purse of INR 41.1 crore following the retentions.
The event will begin with an eye-catching marquee set, which brings together eight high-profile performers. Deepti Sharma and Renuka Singh Thakur represent the Indian contingent, while the overseas stars include Sophie Devine, Sophie Ecclestone, Alyssa Healy, Meg Lanning, Amelia Kerr and Laura Wolvaardt. In this group, Renuka has set her base price at INR 40 lakh and Wolvaardt at INR 30 lakh, while the remaining six marquee players have opted for the maximum reserve price of INR 50 lakh.
The storyline around this set is particularly compelling because Deepti, Ecclestone and Healy all previously featured for the UP Warriorz, a franchise that will arrive at the auction with four Right To Match cards, the most among all teams. UPW retained only Shweta Sehrawat, an uncapped player, and now holds the largest purse of INR 14.50 crore.
Two of Australia’s most recognisable performers, Tahlia McGrath from the UP Warriorz and Sophie Molineux from the Royal Challengers Bengaluru, are notable absentees from their country’s list, even though Australia contributes 23 players to the pool. England’s representation stands at 22 players, New Zealand’s at 13 and South Africa’s at 11.
From Sri Lanka, Chamari Athapaththu, Harshitha Samarawickrama and Inoka Ranaweera enter the auction, with Athapaththu having played for UPW in the previous season. Bangladesh’s three entrants—Marufa Akter, Shorna Akter and Rabeya Khan—have all declared a base price of INR 30 lakh.
Across the wider list, 19 players have placed themselves in the highest reserve price category of INR 50 lakh. This group includes Phoebe Litchfield and Harleen Deol, along with Uma Chetry, Kranti Gaud, Pratika Rawal, Pooja Vastrakar and Georgia Wareham. Deol, who wore the Gujarat Giants colours for the first three editions, appears in the capped all-rounders’ set this year.
Although Phoebe Litchfield has also entered the top bracket, the Giants cannot use an RTM card on her since they have already retained their full quota of two overseas players, Beth Mooney and Ashleigh Gardner. In the same capped all-rounders’ group, Radha Yadav, Sneh Rana, Grace Harris, Chinelle Henry and N Shree Charani all appear with a base price of INR 30 lakh, with Deol remaining the only exception at INR 50 lakh.
The spinners’ category includes some of the most sought-after slow bowlers on the circuit. Australia’s Alana King enters with a reserve price of INR 40 lakh, while India’s Asha Sobhana, Priya Mishra and Saika Ishaque are all listed at INR 30 lakh.
Among the Associate nations, Thailand’s Thipatcha Putthawong stands as her country’s lone representative in the auction, and the USA finds its only participant in Tara Norris, famously the first bowler to register a five-wicket haul in WPL history. The Associate contingent is completed by the UAE’s captain Esha Oza and wicketkeeper Theertha Satish. There are no entries from Ireland or Scotland this year, even though Scottish wicketkeeper Sarah Bryce played for the Delhi Capitals last season.
India unsurprisingly dominates the auction sheet with 194 players, forming the overwhelming majority of the pool. Australia follows with 23 names, while England contributes 22, New Zealand 13 and South Africa 11. The West Indies appear with four players, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka with three each, the UAE with two, and both Thailand and the USA with one apiece. Among all these names, Bangladesh’s Shorna Akter and West Indies’ Jahzara Claxton emerge as the youngest capped players registered for the WPL 2026 auction.
On the financial front, the UP Warriorz’ purse of INR 14.50 crore stands as the highest. The Gujarat Giants hold INR 9 crore, placing them well ahead of the Royal Challengers Bengaluru, who enter with INR 6.15 crore. Mumbai Indians, the defending champions after their eight-run victory against Delhi Capitals in the 2025 final, have INR 5.75 crore to spend, while Delhi Capitals stand right behind them with INR 5.70 crore.
Both Mumbai and Delhi retained five players each and will therefore not have any RTM cards at their disposal this year. Delhi, led for three consecutive finals under Meg Lanning, will enter a new chapter this season after releasing their long-time captain.
With 73 slots, including 23 overseas openings, up for grabs and 277 players lined up, the WPL 2026 auction promises intensity, unpredictability and a reshaping of team identities across the board. The stakes are towering; the talent pool is rich and the margin for error is minimal setting the stage for a gripping auction day in New Delhi.
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