WPL Playing Combination Rules Explained: Squad, Overseas Limits & Match Regulations

The stage is set for the next edition of the Women's Premier League (WPL) as the tournament is all set to begin in January. The WPL 2026 will be the fourth edition of the tournament and just like the last three editions, it is expected to be a blockbuster clash.

Like the last four editions, the WPL 2026 will see a battle between the five teams. Ahead of the tournament, the attention will be on the WPL mega auction 2026. The event is all set to take place in Delhi on November 27 and some of the big names in women’s cricket are all set to go under the hammer.

Some of the best women cricketers like Alyssa Healy, Deepti Sharma, Laura Wolvaardt, Pratika Rawal, and Meg Lanning are some of the big names who are all set to go under the hammer out of the total of 277 players. But with only 73 slots available, some of the players are all set to face heartbreak as well.

This will be the second mega auction, which will feature 194 (52 capped and 142 uncapped) Indian players and 83 overseas players (66 capped and 17 uncapped). The focus will be on all the franchises as they look to fill in their squad with some of the big names.

WPL Playing Combination Rules

The WPL has been one of the biggest cricket leagues in the world. Top players over the years have graced the tournament and hence, all eyes are on it. The WPL follows the same rules as those of T20 cricket, barring the slight changes, which are there as per the needs of the rules.

The WPL playing combination rules are the same as those in the Indian Premier League (IPL). As per the rules, a team is allowed only four overseas players in the XI, while seven need to be local players. However, there can be an exception if a team has an Associate player as she can play as the fifth overseas player in the XI.

WPL 2026 Squad Rules

The WPL 2026 squad rules are the same as they have been since the inaugural edition of the league. Each team can fill up to 15 to 18 members in their squads. However, out of these players, six need to be the overseas players.

WPL 2026 Format

As per the WPL 2026 format, five teams will be up against each other twice in the league stage, which will follow the round-robin method. According to the format, each team will play eight matches in the tournament with overall league games being 20.

The franchise which will finish at the top of the points table will head straight to the final. The second and third-placed teams will lock horns with each other in the eliminator and the winner of that clash will earn entry in the final of the tournament.

Mumbai Indians Women are the most successful franchise in the WPL, having won the title two times in the league. Royal Challengers Bengaluru Women are next with one title under their belt, which came in the 2024 edition of the tournament. Delhi Capitals Women have finished runners-up on all the three occasions the tournament has been played so far.