The Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2026 Mega Auction has arrived, and the excitement is soaring higher than ever. Set to take place in New Delhi, the mega auction arrives at a moment when women’s cricket in India is enjoying unprecedented attention following the national team’s World Cup victory.
With 277 players registering for only 73 available slots, including 23 overseas openings, this auction promises to deliver drama, rivalry and a complete reshaping of all five franchises. The collective purse stands at ₹41.1 crore after retentions, setting up a high-pressure battlefield where every bid will be decisive.
Where to Watch WPL 2026 Mega Auction
Fans can follow every moment of the action live on the Jio Hotstar app and its official website. With a star-studded marquee set and several unexpected entrants and omissions, this auction is expected to draw massive viewership across the country.
Time
The WPL Mega Auction 2026 begins on Thursday, November 27, at 3:30 PM IST in New Delhi. The league will finalise its full match schedule after the auction, but organisers have already blocked January – February 2026 as the tournament window, with Vadodara and Navi Mumbai leading the race to host the season.
Slots
A total of 73 slots will be contested by 277 registered players. Among the five franchises, UP Warriorz enter with the largest purse of ₹14.50 crore and hold the advantage of four Right To Match (RTM) cards, having retained only Shweta Sehrawat. Gujarat Giants follow with ₹9 crore, Royal Challengers Bengaluru carry ₹6.15 crore, defending champions Mumbai Indians enter with ₹5.75 crore, while Delhi Capitals hold ₹5.70 crore. With both MI and DC retaining five players each, neither franchise will have any RTM cards this year, adding a fascinating dimension to their auction strategy.
Overseas Players Available
The auction features 83 overseas entrants, forming one of the most exciting international pools the league has seen. Australia leads with 23 names, although Tahlia McGrath and Sophie Molineux are notable absentees despite the country’s strong representation. England contributes 22 players, New Zealand 13, and South Africa 11. Sri Lanka enters with Chamari Athapaththu, Harshitha Samarawickrama and Inoka Ranaweera, while Bangladesh’s representatives — Marufa Akter, Shorna Akter and Rabeya Khan — have all declared a base price of ₹30 lakh.
The Associate nations add diversity with Thailand’s Thipatcha Putthawong, USA’s Tara Norris — the first bowler to take a five-wicket haul in WPL history — and UAE’s duo of captain Esha Oza and wicketkeeper Theertha Satish. Among all overseas entrants, Bangladesh’s Shorna Akter and West Indies’ Jahzara Claxton stand out as the youngest capped players in the pool.
Indians Players Available
India dominates the auction list with 194 players, forming the backbone of this mega event. India also brings an enormous pool of 155 uncapped players, offering franchises multiple opportunities to unearth new stars.
Among all players, 19 have set themselves in the highest reserve price bracket of ₹50 lakh, including Phoebe Litchfield, Harleen Deol, Uma Chetry, Kranti Gaud, Pratika Rawal, Pooja Vastrakar and Georgia Wareham. Harleen Deol, who represented Gujarat Giants for the first three seasons, appears in the capped all-rounders’ set this year. Although Phoebe Litchfield is also in the top bracket, Gujarat cannot use an RTM option on her since they have already retained their full quota of overseas players — Beth Mooney and Ashleigh Gardner.
The capped allrounders’ category further includes Radha Yadav, Sneh Rana, Grace Harris, Chinelle Henry and N Shree Charani, all listed at ₹30 lakh except Deol. The spinners’ group features Australia’s Alana King with a reserve price of ₹40 lakh, along with India’s Asha Sobhana, Priya Mishra and Saika Ishaque, each valued at ₹30 lakh.
The marquee group includes Deepti Sharma, Renuka Singh, Sophie Devine, Sophie Ecclestone, Alyssa Healy, Meg Lanning, Amelia Kerr and Laura Wolvaardt. Renuka Singh has set her base price at ₹40 lakh, Wolvaardt at ₹30 lakh, while the remaining six have opted for the maximum ₹50 lakh category.
With 277 players fighting for 73 coveted slots, including 23 overseas positions, the WPL 2026 Mega Auction is set to be one of the most intense and unpredictable cricketing events of the year. The wealth of Indian talent, the depth of overseas quality and the high-stakes strategies of all five franchises guarantee a gripping evening in New Delhi. With the tournament scheduled for January 2026, this auction will not just shape squads — it will set the tone for the next era of the Women’s Premier League.
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