The five teams together retained 17 players, with only two franchises deciding to retain all 5 players.
The Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2026 mega auction has forced franchises to make tough decisions. The five teams have released some of the biggest names in women’s cricket due to the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) retention rules.
With no more than two overseas players and three capped Indian players allowed to be retained, several big names will go under the hammer at the auction later this month in Delhi.
10 biggest players release before WPL 2026 mega auction
| Player | Type | Team | Price (2025) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Meg Lanning | Batter | DC | INR 1.10 crore |
| Deepti Sharma | All-rounder | UPW | INR 2.60 crore |
| Pooja Vastrakar | All-rounder | MI | INR 1.90 crore |
| Harleen Deol | Batter | GG | INR 40 lakh |
| Renuka Singh | Fast bowler | RCB | INR 1.50 crore |
| Sophie Ecclestone | All-rounder | UPW | INR 1.80 crore |
| Phoebe Litchfield | Batter | GG | INR 1.00 crore |
| Radha Yadav | Spinner | DC | INR 40 lakh |
| Amelia Kerr | All-rounder | MI | INR 1.00 crore |
| Sophie Devine | All-rounder | RCB | INR 50 lakh |
Reports have already suggested that Meg Lanning might be released, but even the official update from Delhi Capitals (DC) Women was a bit shocking since the Australian legend was their captain for the first 3 seasons and took them to the WPL final in each of the editions.
Deepti Sharma and Sophie Ecclestone’s release is similarly surprising. Both are two of the best spinners in the world, and while the former is a proper all-rounder, the latter can whack it hard. Neither has been retained, as the UP Warriorz have decided to retain just one uncapped Indian player in Shweta Sehrawat.
Mumbai Indians (MI) Women have decided to retain Amanjot Kaur over Pooja Vastrakar, who hasn’t been playing much for the last couple of months due to injury. While Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) Women have picked Shreyanka Patil over Renuka Singh Thakur.
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