WPL Mega Auction: Player Loyalty, RTM Rules, Purse Details and Everything You Need to Know

Women’s Premier League (WPL) is ready for its historic mega auction, introducing significant changes to team building and player management strategies for the upcoming season. With player retention caps, the beginnings of Right of consideration (RTM) option and a structured auction exchange, the tournament’s competitive landscape is poised for an exciting transformation.

Key Retention Policies and Timeline for the WPL Mega-Auction

Franchises will be allowed to retain up to five players before the auction, forcing teams to make tactical decisions on team composition and long-term planning. The shelf-life date is November 5, and the auction is scheduled for November 25-29. Teams can retain a maximum of three capped Indian players, two foreign stars and two uncapped Indian talents. Notably, if a franchise retains the full quota of five players, at least one must be an uncapped Indian, ensuring emerging domestic cricketers get the chance to shine in a league loaded with international experience. The tiered retention system means that the balance between well-known, established performers and emerging prospects will define the core of each team.

Financially, the auction purse per franchise stands at ₹15 crore, with a five-tier retention slab system applying proportional deductions: ₹3.5 crore for player 1, ₹2.5 crore for player 2, ₹1.75 crore for player 3, ₹1 crore for player 4 and ₹50 lakh for player 5. Keeping all five players means a deduction of ₹9.25 crore from the scholarship, with similar amounts. deductions for lower withholdings. There is room for negotiation between teams and players on these figures, but uncapped Indians must receive a minimum retention value of ₹50 lakh. Critical pre-auction steps include submission of retention list (November 5), list of auction participants (November 7), player registration deadline (November 18), and publication of final auction list (November 20).

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Introduction of RTM rules and competitive balance

For the first time, franchises will be able to deploy the Right-to-Match option in the WPL, mirroring a successful IPL mechanism. This allows teams to buy out a player from their 2025 team by matching the highest bid. The number of RTMs available is directly linked to the number of players retained: franchises retaining all five players lose all RTM cards, while those retaining fewer players unlock more RTMs: four RTMs for one retained player, up to one RTM for four retentions. This structure encourages dynamic team building, allowing teams to either anchor their core with retentions or leave slots open for strategic use of RTM.

The WPL’s revised bidding and retention rules reflect a forward-thinking approach to nurturing a dynamic mix of stars and local talent, while maintaining league parity and audience appeal at a high level. With teams set to undergo a dramatic overhaul, fans and franchises are anticipating a season where team strategies, retention strategies and RTM tactics could spark new rivalries and showcase the next generation of cricket stars.

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This article was first published on WomenCricket.com, a Cricket Times company.