As the cricketing spotlight turns to the fourth edition of the Women’s Premier League (WPL) in 2026, the retention rules and strategies are set to redraw the outline of franchise squad-building. The retention deadline of November 5 is a key date for teams eager to lock in their core stars before the November 27 mega auction in New Delhi, where INR 15 crore per team will be up for grabs amid new Right-to-Match (RTM) possibilities and stricter retention slabs.
WPL Champions and the Shifting Power Dynamics
Mumbai Indians have asserted themselves as the dominant force in the WPL’s early seasons, clinching the inaugural title in 2023 and repeating the feat in 2025 under the leadership of Harmanpreet Kaur. Royal Challengers Bengaluru, under Smriti Mandhana, broke new ground in 2024 by winning their franchise’s maiden title, finally delivering silverware before the men’s team achieved their own IPL breakthrough in 2025. Notably, Delhi Capitals, skippered by Meg Lanning, have been perennial contenders, finishing as runners-up in all three completed editions, but never quite crossing the final hurdle.
Retention Guideline Overview: Purse Deductions and Strategic Levers
For 2026, franchises are allowed to retain a maximum of five players, subject to a mix of three capped Indians, two overseas, and two uncapped Indian players. Retaining five triggers a minimum requirement; at least one must be an uncapped Indian talent. Retention slabs have been pegged to player ranks: INR 3.5 crore for the first, INR 2.5 crore for the second, INR 1.75 crore for the third, INR 1 crore for the fourth, and INR 50 lakh for the fifth. Each choice directly affects purse deductions, retaining five players costs INR 9.25 crore, leaving the team with INR 5.75 crore to spend at auction.
Dropping to zero retention leaves a full INR 15 crore purse but throws the team into the auction pool with no player insurance. In the case of five retentions, the franchise will have no RTMs in their bank at the auction.
Teams may negotiate individual terms above the guidelines, but any excess over the slab will be cut from the purse. The minimum for any retained uncapped Indian is INR 50 lakh, but real deals will likely exceed this for premier talents.
Introducing the Right-to-Match (RTM) Card
For the first time, franchises can deploy RTM options at the auction, letting them reclaim released players if rivals bid for them. The RTM slots are inversely tied to retention activity; a full set of five retentions means no RTM cards; four retentions mean just one RTM to play with; the fewer the retentions, the more RTM cards at a team’s disposal (up to five if none are retained).
Key Dates and Broadcast Information
November 5: Team retention submission deadline.
November 7: List of auction target players from franchises
November 18: Last date for player registration for the auction.
November 20: BCCI releases finalised mega auction player pool.
November 27: Mega Auction in New Delhi.
All the pivotal moments, including the retention reveal, will air live on Star Sports 1 and stream on Jio Cinema as well as Jio Hotstar, ensuring fans don’t miss a second of the action.
Strategic Takeaways for 2026
The tightened purse deductions and cap on retentions invite franchises to weigh the value of continuity against the allure of the full auction pool. Choosing between retaining core match-winners or leveraging a larger purse and RTMs could shape team balance for seasons to come.
Meanwhile, the league continues to ride a wave of Indian women’s cricket success after Harmanpreet Kaur’s national side captured India’s maiden ICC Women’s ODI World Cup trophy, defeating South Africa in the final at Navi Mumbai. With anticipation at fever pitch and new mechanisms at play, the 2026 WPL retentions promise to set the stage for another compelling act in the league’s narrative.
With new rules raising the stakes, the November 2025 retention deadline is where the foundation for WPL 2026 glory will be laid.
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