RCB May Target New ‘Lady Virat’ in WPL 2026 Auction, Could Open With Smriti Mandhana

There is a lot of buzz around Smriti Mandhana, who has been retained by Royal Challengers Bengaluru Women for a whopping ₹3.5 crore, as she looks set to once again lead the charge at the top of the order. There’s speculation that she could be joined by a seasoned Australian batter, giving RCB an incredible opening pair for WPL 2026. Mandhana’s retention at a whopping price shows her value to the franchise, and her presence provides stability around which the rest of the batting lineup can be structured.

Meanwhile, the Delhi Capitals made a surprising move by releasing Meg Lanning ahead of the mega auction. The Australian stalwart, who had been a key figure for Delhi in recent seasons, is one of the best women cricketers to have played the game. As a result, she is now available for other franchises at the mega auction, which is likely to take place in the last week of November.

DC's move has created new possibilities for teams looking for an experienced overseas player. If RCB were to pair Mandhana with Meg Lanning, it could be a game-changing combination. Although the Delhi Capitals management will have their RTM (Right to Match) card during the auction, and might bring Lanning back from the auction table.

Meg Lanning to be Smriti Mandhana Opening Partner in WPL 2026?

Smriti Mandhana is already firmly in place at the top of the order for RCB as she has been retained ahead of WPL 2026. The franchise is now facing a crucial decision on her opening partner. One very attractive option could be Meg Lanning, who has just been released by the Delhi Capitals ahead of the mega auction. Lanning is not just an overseas player but a seasoned WPL campaigner and a proven leader with experience at the highest levels of the game.

RCB WPL auction strategy might include partnering her with Smriti Mandhana, and that would give RCB a world-class opening pair. Such a combination could give RCB a strong foundation in the powerplay and set the stage for the middle order to capitalise. Her availability in the auction is a golden opportunity for the franchise to secure a marquee overseas player who can make an immediate impact, but the Delhi Capitals are likely to bring Lanning back at the auction table using their RTM card.

At the same time, Pratika Rawal presents an exciting alternative. The right-handed opener has been scoring consistently in domestic and international cricket. She has already shared significant opening partnerships with Mandhana for India. When compared to an overseas star like Lanning, Rawal could also be a more cost-effective option, giving RCB the opportunity to strengthen other areas of the squad.

RCB WPL Retention List 2025

The BCCI has set the auction purse for the WPL 2026 at ₹15 crore, with specific retention price brackets for franchises. The first retained player comes at ₹3.5 crore, the second at ₹2.5 crore, the third at ₹1.75 crore, and the fourth at ₹1 crore. If a team chooses to retain a fifth player, the cost would be ₹50 lakh.

Ahead of the November 27 auction in New Delhi, Royal Challengers Bengaluru confirmed the retention of four key players, including their captain, Smriti Mandhana. The other three retained players are Ellyse Perry, Richa Ghosh, and Shreyanka Patil.While Perry and Patil had played match-winning roles in RCB’s 2024 winning campaign, Ghosh is one of the best women's wicketkeepers of all time.

According to the BCCI release, the total deduction from a franchise’s auction purse varies depending on the number of players retained. Retaining five players would result in a ₹9.25 crore deduction, four players would cost ₹8.75 crore, three players ₹7.75 crore, two players ₹6 crore, and retaining just one player would deduct ₹3.5 crore from the available auction funds.