WPL 2026 Retention List & Rules - Shocking to see Deepti Sharma not being retained by UP
The WPL 2026 retention list is out! With the new buzz in Indian women’s cricket and the WPL 2026 mega auction planned for 27th November’25, all five franchises were handed a clear retention framework — a chance to keep their biggest stars before the reshuffle begins. The retention deadline was November 5, 2025.
Retention Rules
- Each franchise can retain up to 5 players ahead of the mega auction.
- Within those five retentions:
- Maximum of 3 capped Indian players allowed.
- Maximum of 2 overseas players allowed.
- Also, maximum of 2 uncapped Indian players allowed
- If a franchise chooses to retain all five players, then at least one must be an uncapped Indian.
- Retention deadline: Franchises need to submit their lists by November 5, 2025.
High Level Retention & Purse Stats
Retentions announced by teams
Royal Challengers Bangalore
- Smriti Mandhana – ₹3.75 Cr
- Richa Ghosh – ₹2.75 Cr
- Ellyse Perry – ₹2 Cr
- Shreyanka Patil – ₹60 Lakhs
Purse Remaining – ₹6.15 Cr
Mumbai Indians
- Nat Sciver-Brunt – ₹3.5 Cr
- Harmanpreet Kaur – ₹2.5 Cr
- Hayley Matthews – ₹1.75 Cr
- Amanjot Kaur – ₹1 Cr
- G Kamalini (uncapped) – ₹50 Lakhs
Purse Remaining – ₹5.75 Cr
Delhi Capitals
- Jemimah Rodrigues – ₹2.2 Cr
- Shefali Verma – ₹2.2 Cr
- Annabel Sutherland – ₹2.2 Cr
- Marizanne Kapp – ₹2.2 Cr
- Niki Prasad (uncapped) – ₹50 Lakhs
UP Warriorz
- Shweta Sehrawat – ₹50 Lakhs
Purse Remaining – ₹14.5 Cr
Players Released:
- Deepti Sharma
- Alyssa Healy
- Sophhie Ecclestone
- Kranti Gaud
- Grace Harris
Gujarat Giants
- Ashleigh Gardner – ₹3.5 Cr
- Beth Mooney – ₹2.5 Cr
Purse Remaining – ₹9 Cr
RTM (Right to Match) cards
If a team retains fewer players, they’ll likely get RTM cards (reportedly 1–2), allowing them to match the final bid for one of their former players. So you might see something like:
UP releases Deepti Sharma, bids go wild — and UP swoops back in with RTM to reclaim her.
That’s strategic leverage for teams that chose flexibility over heavy retentions.
What this means for the auctions
This retention window is more than just a rule — it defines the auction dynamics. Teams with full retentions (like Mumbai Indians Women or Delhi Capitals Women) secure stability but will have smaller purses to work with.
Meanwhile, sides that retain fewer players — possibly Gujarat Giants or UP Warriorz — could enter the auction with heavy wallets and fresh flexibility, setting the stage for fierce bidding wars.
For the first time, franchises will also get Right-to-Match (RTM) cards, allowing them to reclaim a player they released if they can match the winning bid. This adds another layer of tactical intrigue to the WPL 2026 auction.
