WPL 2026 Auction: Official Dates, Retention Rules, and Team Strategy Breakdown

The excitement is building once again as the WPL 2026 auction is just around the corner. This tournament has helped Indian cricket grow at a very fast pace and has become one of the biggest women's T20 leagues in the world in a very short span of time. The impact of this league can be seen in Indian cricket as India won the latest edition of the ICC Women's World Cup 2025. One of the best Women's cricketers in the world, Shafali Verma, emerged as the player of the match in the night of the final.

After an entertaining 2025 season filled with great performances and close finishes, all five franchises are ready to build their squads for the next edition. Fans are expecting thrilling bidding moments, surprise picks as teams are planning carefully. Whether it's experienced international players or young Indian talents, everyone will be looking to make their mark in the tournament with some blistering performances throughout the league.

When and Where Will the WPL 2026 Mega Auction Take Place?

The WPL 2026 Auction will officially take place on November 26–27, 2025. The bidding time is yet to be disclosed. All five franchises will enter the auction with a renewed purse and the chance to rebuild their squads from the ground up. Since this is a mega auction, most players will return to the pool, giving teams a fresh opportunity to form new combinations and strategies. Fans can expect intense bidding wars, last-minute surprises, and exciting signings as franchises compete against each other to create the strongest lineup ahead of one of the biggest cricket leagues in the world, Women’s Premier League 2026. This is going to be an epic season, and fans will get full of entertainment throughout the league.

WPL 2026 Retention Rules

Before the WPL 2026 Mega Auction, teams have a chance to keep a few of their key players. The WPL 2026 player retention process helps franchises maintain their core while allowing others to rebuild with fresh talent. Here are the WPL 2026 retention rules for this season:

• Each team can retain a maximum of 5 players; out of these, 3 can be Indian and 2 can be overseas players. All other players will return to the auction pool.
• The WPL has decided to have an auction purse of INR 15 crore for the auction. Retained players’ salaries will be deducted from the team’s purse. The remaining purse will be used during the auction.
• If a franchise opts to retain five players, INR 9.25 crore would be deducted from its purse, while for four, the deduction would be INR 8.75 crore; for three, it would be INR 7.75 crore; for two INR 6 crore; and for one INR 3.5 crore.
• A franchise can use a maximum of five RTMs, but in case it retains five players, then the RTM option would be lost. In case a franchise retains four players, it will be left with one RTM; for three, there will be two RTMs; for two, three RTMs; and for one, four RTMs.

Top 5 Highest-Paid Players In WPL 2025 Auction

The player for whom franchises broke their bank, which shows the capabilities of these players, here is the list of the top 5 players of 2025: