The countdown to the next chapter of the Women’s Premier League has officially begun! The BCCI has confirmed that the WPL Mega Auction for the 2026 season will take place on November 27 in New Delhi . This isn’t just any auction—it’s a mega event where the five franchises will rebuild their squads almost from scratch, setting the stage for an even more competitive and thrilling tournament.
With a combined purse of a whopping Rs 41.1 crore and 73 player slots to fill (including 23 for overseas stars), expect a flurry of high-stakes bidding wars for the world’s finest talent. The player pool reads like a who’s who of global women’s cricket, with Indian stalwart Deepti Sharma and South African superstar Laura Wolvaardt joined by returning legends Alyssa Healy and Meg Lanning. This auction is poised to be a defining moment for the league’s growth.
The WPL Mega Auction is scheduled for Wednesday, November 27, 2025, in the national capital, New Delhi . This date gives franchises just over a week to finalize their retention and RTM (Right-to-Match) strategies before the main event.
A total of 73 slots are up for grabs across the five teams. This includes a maximum of 23 overseas player slots, ensuring a perfect blend of international firepower and domestic depth. The auction will be conducted with the same transparency and high production values as its predecessor, guaranteeing a thrilling spectacle for fans worldwide.
The list of available players is incredibly deep. The BCCI has confirmed the participation of several global icons:
This is just the tip of the iceberg. The pool also includes other global stars like Ashleigh Gardner, Sophie Ecclestone, Amelia Kerr, and a host of top Indian talent like Shafali Verma, Richa Ghosh, and Pooja Vastrakar.
Each franchise has been allocated a specific purse to build its squad. The team with the largest war chest is UP Warriorz, who have retained the fewest players from the previous season.
The total combined purse for all five teams stands at Rs 41.1 crore. The purse distribution is typically as follows (based on the previous season’s structure):
Teams will need to be highly strategic, balancing their spending between a core group of reliable players and a few marquee, high-priced stars. The team that builds the most balanced and cohesive unit will be the one to watch in 2026.
Beyond Deepti Sharma, the Indian player pool is exceptionally strong. Franchises will be fighting for:
These players form the backbone of any successful WPL team, and their retention or acquisition will be a top priority.
The international contingent is arguably even more exciting. Aside from Healy, Lanning, and Wolvaardt, keep an eye on:
Squads that can successfully integrate two or three of these overseas giants with their Indian core will be in a formidable position.
Unlike a mini-auction where teams make minor tweaks, a mega auction is a complete reset. Franchises can only retain a very limited number of players (usually 3-4) from their previous squads. All other players go back into the pool and are available for all teams to bid on .
This system ensures a high level of player mobility and gives every team a relatively even chance to build a champion squad from the ground up. It prevents any one team from becoming a dynasty and keeps the competition fresh and unpredictable—key ingredients for a league’s long-term health, as seen in the [INTERNAL_LINK:wpl-2025-season-review].
The WPL Mega Auction on November 27 is more than just a team-building exercise; it’s a celebration of the global growth of women’s cricket. With a record purse, a glittering array of talent, and five ambitious franchises, the stage is set for a bidding war that will capture the imagination of fans across the world. This auction will not only determine the teams for WPL 2026 but will also signal the league’s maturity and its position as a premier destination for the best female cricketers on the planet.
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