Ahead of the upcoming mega auction, the list of WPL 2026 retained players was finalized with 17 cricketers secured across the five franchises. Under the new rules, teams could retain up to five players, including a mix of capped Indians, overseas stars, and uncapped talent. While the Mumbai Indians and Delhi Capitals maximized their stability by retaining five marquee players each, the UP Warriorz opted for a radical rebuild, holding onto only uncapped Shweta Sehrawat.
These retention choices heavily influenced the teams’ financial power and access to Right to Match (RTM) cards. Mumbai and Delhi entered the auction with the lowest purses (₹5.75 crore) and zero RTMs, whereas the Warriorz wielded a massive ₹14.5 crore budget and four RTM cards. Despite late shifts like Alana King replacing Annabel Sutherland, these early retentions formed the core of the teams for the 2026 season.
WPL 2026 Retained Players Complete List:
Below is the official breakdown of players retained by each franchise before the 2026 mega auction.
| Team | Retained Players | Retention Cost | Remaining Purse |
| Mumbai Indians | Nat Sciver Brunt, Harmanpreet Kaur, Hayley Matthews, Amanjot Kaur, G Kamalini | 9.25 Crore | 5.75 Crore |
| Delhi Capitals | Jemimah Rodrigues, Shafali Verma, Marizanne Kapp, Annabel Sutherland, Niki Prasad | 9.25 Crore | 5.75 Crore |
| RCB | Smriti Mandhana, Richa Ghosh, Ellyse Perry, Shreyanka Patil | 8.85 Crore | 6.15 Crore |
| Gujarat Giants | Ashleigh Gardner, Beth Mooney | 6.00 Crore | 9.00 Crore |
| UP Warriorz | Shweta Sehrawat | 0.50 Crore | 14.5 Crore |
The Women’s Premier League returns on January 9, 2026, at the DY Patil Stadium following India’s historic World Cup victory. Before the mega auction reshaped the squads, franchises made critical decisions to secure their core foundations. This guide breaks down the full list of WPL 2026 retained players and the logic behind these franchise defining choices:
Mumbai Indians:
Mumbai Indians (MI) opted for a strategy of stability and continuity heading into the 2026 season. By retaining their core championship winning group, the franchise has ensured that their leadership and world class all round depth remain intact.
Notable for this cycle was the tactical decision regarding the retention slabs: captain Harmanpreet Kaur reportedly took a “sacrifice” to allow England’s Nat Sciver Brunt to be placed in the top ₹3.50 crore bracket, prioritizing the team’s balance. Additionally, the retention of 17 year old young talent G Kamalini highlights MI’s ongoing commitment to developing the brightest young stars in Indian cricket.
| Player | Role | Retention Price |
| Nat Sciver Brunt | Allrounder (Overseas) | ₹3.50 Crore |
| Harmanpreet Kaur | Batter | ₹2.50 Crore |
| Hayley Matthews | Allrounder (Overseas) | ₹1.75 Crore |
| Amanjot Kaur | Allrounder | ₹1.00 Crore |
| G Kamalini | Wicketkeeper (Uncapped) | ₹50 Lakh |
Delhi Capitals:
Delhi Capitals have been the picture of consistency, reaching the finals in every edition of the WPL. For 2026, they have signaled a major “changing of the guard” by releasing legendary captain Meg Lanning and appointing Jemimah Rodrigues to lead a younger, more dynamic core. By retaining a powerhouse bowling duo and two of India’s most explosive batters, DC heads into the new cycle with a clear vision for the future.
| Player | Role | Retention Price |
| Jemimah Rodrigues | Batter (Captain) | ₹2.20 Crore |
| Shafali Verma | Batter | ₹2.20 Crore |
| Marizanne Kapp | Allrounder (Overseas) | ₹2.20 Crore |
| Annabel Sutherland | Allrounder (Overseas) | ₹2.20 Crore |
| Niki Prasad | Allrounder (Uncapped) | ₹50 Lakh |
Royal Challengers Bengaluru:
The defending champions from 2024 have stayed true to the “Big Four,” who define their identity. Led by Smriti Mandhana, RCB’s retention list features some of the most popular names in the sport. By choosing to retain only four players, the management has tactically kept one Right to Match (RTM) card available, allowing them to remain flexible during the high pressure auction environment.
| Player | Role | Retention Price |
| Smriti Mandhana | Batter (Captain) | ₹3.50 Crore |
| Richa Ghosh | Wicketkeeper | ₹2.75 Crore |
| Ellyse Perry | Allrounder (Overseas) | ₹2.00 Crore |
| Shreyanka Patil | Bowler | ₹60 Lakh |
Gujarat Giants:
After a historic 2025 campaign that saw them reach their first ever playoffs, the Gujarat Giants have opted for a “lean and mean” retention strategy. By keeping only their two most influential Australian superstars, they have secured the highest financial flexibility among the teams that retained capped players. This move allowed them to enter the auction with a massive ₹9 crore purse to fix their previous domestic inconsistencies.
| Player | Role | Retention Price |
| Ashleigh Gardner | Allrounder (Overseas) | ₹3.50 Crore |
| Beth Mooney | Wicketkeeper (Overseas) | ₹2.50 Crore |
UP Warriorz:
In one of the boldest moves of the pre auction phase, the UP Warriorz released almost their entire squad, including stars like Deepti Sharma and Sophie Ecclestone. This was a calculated gamble to maximize their RTM cards (4) and auction purse. By retaining only the young Shweta Sehrawat, they positioned themselves as the “market makers” of the 2026 auction, with the power to outbid any team for marquee talent.
| Player | Role | Retention Price |
| Shweta Sehrawat | Batter (Uncapped) | ₹50 Lakh |
Player Retentions In WPL 2026:
The retention strategy for 2026 was heavily influenced by the new salary slabs. With the first retention costing ₹3.5 crore, the second ₹2.5 crore, and the third ₹1.75 crore, teams retaining three capped Indian stars found themselves spending nearly half their total budget before the auction even began.
This fixed price structure created a high stakes environment where teams had to decide if a player’s on field value truly matched the mandatory retention price tag, or if they would be better off seeking a bargain in the open market.
How The RTM Card Changed WPL 2026 Strategies?
The introduction of the Right to Match (RTM) card fundamentally altered the auction floor dynamics. For the first time, franchises had a “safety net” that allowed them to be more aggressive with their release lists.
- The “Release and Reclaim” Tactic: Teams like UP Warriorz strategically released marquee players, such as Deepti Sharma, to avoid the fixed high cost retention slabs.
- Market Value vs. Fixed Slabs: By using the RTM, teams could let the market dictate a player’s price. If the bidding stopped at a figure lower than the ₹3.5 crore retention slab, the franchise could step in and secure the player at a discount.
- Purse Management: With a ₹14.5 crore total purse, the RTM card gave teams with larger remaining balances the power to block rivals from poaching their core talent, provided they were willing to match the final bid.
What To Expect?
With the squads now finalized following the November auction, the focus shifts to the field. Mumbai Indians look like the team to beat once again, having added Amelia Kerr back to their ranks during the auction. However, the revamped UP Warriorz, now featuring Meg Lanning and Shikha Pandey alongside a retained Shweta Sehrawat, look incredibly dangerous.
The 2026 season will travel through Navi Mumbai and Vadodara. The “caravan model” ensures that more fans get to witness their favorite retained stars in action. Whether it is Mandhana’s elegant drives or Harmanpreet’s power hitting, the foundation laid during the retention window will define the road to the trophy.
Conclusion:
The player retentions for 2026 reflect a league that is rapidly maturing. Established teams are doubling down on chemistry and loyalty, while others have utilized the mega auction reset to find a new winning formula. These retained stars represent the elite foundation of the competition.
As the new season kicks off on January 9 at the DY Patil Stadium, all eyes will be on whether these core players can justify the immense faith and investment placed in them. With the influx of world class talent from the auction, the 2026 edition promises to be the most explosive yet.
FAQs:
Smriti Mandhana (RCB) and Nat Sciver Brunt (MI) are the top earners among retained players, both sitting in the 3.5 crore bracket. Ashleigh Gardner (GG) also commands the same price as the first retention for her franchise.
Mumbai Indians and Delhi Capitals both retained the maximum allowed limit of five players. This included four capped players and one uncapped Indian player each.
UP Warriorz opted for a “purse heavy” strategy. By retaining only Shweta Sehrawat, they entered the auction with 14.5 crore and four Right to Match (RTM) cards. This allowed them to control the bidding for almost every marquee player.
No, the WPL 2026 season continues with the five founding franchises: Mumbai Indians, Delhi Capitals, Royal Challengers Bengaluru, Gujarat Giants, and UP Warriorz.
The opening match of WPL 2026 takes place on January 9, 2026. It features a match between defending champions Mumbai Indians and Royal Challengers Bengaluru at the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai.