WPL Mega Auction 2026: Meet the Mastermind of Every Team

The WPL 2026 mega auction, scheduled for 27 November 2025 in New Delhi, will be a milestone event in women’s cricket, as all five franchises prepare for a complete squad overhaul ahead of the new season. Each team can retain up to five players before the auction, including a combination of capped and uncapped Indian players as well as overseas stars, with at least one uncapped Indian required if a franchise uses all five retention slots.

The total purse for each team is ₹15 crore, while the Right to Match (RTM) has also been introduced, which gives teams the flexibility to bring back released players. A massive pool of 277 players, including 194 Indians and 83 overseas cricketers, has been confirmed for the auction. The auction is expected to see intense bidding wars, with franchises looking for proven match-winners in the best women's cricket league in the world.

List of Attendees at the WPL Auction 2026 for Each Team?

The are several key figures expected to represent each franchise at the WPL 2026 mega auction. For the Mumbai Indians Women (MI‑W), prominent names like Anant Ambani, Nita Ambani, and Mahela Jayawardene are likely to be present. Delhi Capitals Women (DC‑W) are expected to have Kiran Kumar Grandhi and Parth Jindal at the auction table.

The Royal Challengers Bengaluru Women (RCB‑W) may be represented by Prathmesh Mishra and Malolan Rangarajan. Gujarat Giants (GG‑W) will likely have Michael Klinger managing their auction strategy with a few other stakeholders, and UP Warriorz Women (UPW) could be represented by Rajesh Sharma and Abhishek Nayar. These attendees are expected to make crucial decisions regarding player bidding war, Right-to-Match cards, and purse management.

Who will be Present at the WPL Auction 2026 for Each Team?

Many prominent decision makers and key stakeholders are likely to be present at the WPL 2026 auction table. As this will be the first mega auction in WPL, some franchises are looking to rebuild their squad from scratch. Let's have a look at the mastermind of each team at the WPL Auction.

1. Mumbai Indians Women (MI‑W)

Mumbai Indians Women have retained five players ahead of the WPL 2026 auction and do not have any Right-to-Match (RTM) cards left. It is expected that senior figures from the franchise, such as Anant Ambani, Mahela Jayawardene, and Nita Ambani, will be present at the auction table.

2. Delhi Capitals Women (DC‑W)

Delhi Capitals Women have also retained five players, leaving them with no RTM options. It is likely that a senior representative, such as the son of the chairman of the GMR group, Kiran Kumar Grandhi, will be seen at the table along with Parth Jindal of the JSW Group.

3. Royal Challengers Bengaluru Women (RCB‑W)

RCB Women have retained four players, leaving one RTM card available. This approach suggests the franchise will actively participate in the auction, with senior management officials like Prathmesh Mishra to be present at the WPL Auction. Malolan Rangarajan, who is the new head coach of the team, might also be present at the table.

4. Gujarat Giants (GG‑W)

Gujarat Giants Women have retained only two players while holding three RTM cards, so they will look to a significant rebuild. This indicates that key decision-makers from the franchise will probably be at the auction. Head Coach Michael Klinger is also expected to be at the table along with other stakeholders.

5. UP Warriorz (UPW)

UP Warriorz have retained just one uncapped Indian player and hold 4 RTM cards, the highest number among all franchises. Given this aggressive rebuild strategy, it is expected that Rajesh Sharma, who is the owner of Capri Global and also the managing director of the UP Warriorz Women, will be present at the table along with the head coach Abhishek Nayar.