The WPL 2026 Mega Auction reminded everyone why this league has become one of the most competitive platforms in women’s cricket. The stakes were high. The strategies were bold. And the money on the table showed how quickly the league has grown. Five franchises walked in with a combined purse of ₹41.1 crore. They walked out with 67 players and a sense that the race for the title just became tighter.
This auction marked a shift in how teams value experience, versatility, and long-term stability. It was not just about star names. It was about building cores that can dominate for the next three years. And it was also about sending statements.
The biggest statement came from UP Warriorz. They did not just spend big. They reshaped the tone of the auction. Deepti Sharma became the first woman in WPL history to cross the ₹2.5 crore mark twice. UPW used their Right to Match (RTM) card at ₹3.2 crore.
Mumbai Indians also made noise. Amelia Kerr’s ₹3 crore tag showed their determination to strengthen the middle. I feel this is a masterstroke. Kerr brings balance, calmness, and match-winning ability. Sophie Devine’s ₹2 crore signing by Gujarat Giants added an early spark to the bidding frenzy. Gujarat needed power and presence. Devine gives them both.
The surprises, however, were just as telling. Alyssa Healy going unsold shocked many. A World Cup-winning captain with a base price of ₹50 lakh failing to attract bids says something deeper. I think franchises now prize domestic depth and all-round utility more than ever before. They want players who fit specific roles, not just big reputations. Uma Chetry, Tazmin Brits, and Alana King also went unsold. Again, this signals shifting market dynamics.
UP Warriorz entered with the biggest purse. They used it aggressively. They secured Sophie Ecclestone via RTM for ₹85 lakh. They added Phoebe Litchfield for ₹1.2 crore. They even brought in Meg Lanning for ₹1.9 crore. This team now looks like a balanced squad with intelligence, firepower, and variety. I feel they walked out as the biggest winners.
Mumbai Indians reunited with Shabnim Ismail for ₹60 lakh. RCB strengthened their bowling with Nadine de Klerk and Radha Yadav at ₹65 lakh each. These are smart, no-nonsense moves. RCB, especially, needed depth. They added exactly that.
What stood out to me was the league’s financial maturity. Teams knew what they wanted. They stayed disciplined. They avoided emotional bidding. Out of 277 players in the pool, only 67 were picked. That alone shows selectiveness. And yet, ₹40.8 crore was spent. The value of quality has gone up. The margin for error has gone down.
With the WPL 2026 season set from January 9 to February 5 in Navi Mumbai and Vadodara, the anticipation already feels electric. Captaincy calls and training camps will shape the final picture. But the foundations are clear. This season will be intense. It will be tactical. And it will be a showcase of how far women’s cricket has come in such a short time.
Below are the complete squads after the WPL 2026 Mega Auction:
Delhi Capitals
Jemimah Rodrigues, Shafali Verma, Annabel Sutherland, Marizanne Kapp, Niki Prasad, Laura Wolvaardt, Chinelle Henry, Sree Charani, Sneh Rana, Lizelee Lee, Deeya Yadav, Taniyaa Bhatia, Mamatha Madiwala, Nandani Sharma, Lucy Hamilton, Minnu Mani
Gujarat Giants
Ashleigh Gardner, Beth Mooney, Sophie Devine, Renuka Singh, Bharti Fulmali, Titas Sadhu, Kashvee Gautam, Kanika Ahuja, Tanuja Kanwar, Georgia Wareham, Anushka Sharma, Happy Kumari, Kim Garth, Yastika Bhatia, Shivani Singh, Danni Wyatt-Hodge, Rajeshwari Gayakwad, Ayushi Soni
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Mumbai Indians
Nat Sciver-Brunt, Harmanpreet Kaur, Hayley Mathews, Amanjot Kaur, G Kamalini, Amelia Kerr, Shabnim Ismail, Sanskriti Gupta, Sajeevan Sajana, Rahila Firdous, Nicola Carey, Poonam Khemnar, Triveni Vasistha, Nalla Reddy, Saika Ishaque, Milly Illingworth
Royal Challengers Bengaluru
Smriti Mandhana, Richa Ghosh, Ellyse Perry, Shreyanka Patil, Georgia Voll, Nadine de Klerk, Radha Yadav, Lauren Bell, Linsey Smith, Prema Rawat, Arundathi Reddy, Pooja Vastrakar, Grace Harris, Gautami Naik, Prathyoosha Kumar, D Hemalatha
UP Warriorz
Shweta Sehrawat, Deepti Sharma, Sophie Ecclestone, Meg Lanning, Phoebe Litchfield, Kiran Navgire, Harleen Deol, Kranti Goud, Asha Sobhana, Deandra Dottin, Shikha Pandey, Shipra Giri, Simran Shaikh, Tara Norris, Chloe Tryon, Suman Meena, G Trisha, Pratika Rawal
