The WPL 2026 (Women’s Premier League) auction in New Delhi reshaped all five franchises from the ground up, marking one of the most aggressive talent overhauls in the tournament’s short history. With teams allowed to retain only a limited number of players, this year’s mega auction pushed franchises into strategic rebuild mode, leading to high-stakes bidding wars and surprising roster compositions.
UP Warriorz made the boldest move of the day by signing Deepti Sharma for Rs 3.2 crore, making her the most expensive player of the auction. Mumbai Indians followed closely with Amelia Kerr, securing the New Zealand all-rounder for Rs 3 crore. Meanwhile, several teams leaned heavily on overseas talent to reinforce their cores, while others opted for emerging domestic prospects.
Below is a complete breakdown of every WPL 2026 squad, followed by a detailed analysis of team balance, auction trends, and what fans can expect next season.
How did the WPL 2026 mega auction unfold?
This year’s auction operated under unusual constraints. With only a small pool of retained players allowed, franchises had to rebuild nearly from scratch. This resulted in:
- More aggressive bidding patterns
- A higher emphasis on all-rounders
- A surge in valuations for Indian core players
- Renewed focus on strategic overseas picks
Deepti Sharma’s record-smashing Rs 3.2 crore bid underscores the premium teams placed on players who can contribute across formats. Similarly, Amelia Kerr’s Rs 3 crore signing reinforced the Mumbai Indians’ philosophy of building around international match-winners.
WPL 2026 squads: Full list of all five teams
Delhi Capitals squad for WPL 2026
Shafali Verma, Annabel Sutherland, Jemimah Rodrigues, Marizanne Kapp, Shree Charani, Chinelle Henry, Laura Wolvaardt, Niki Prasad, Sneh Rana, Taniya Bhatia, Lizelle Lee, Deeya Yadav, Mamatha Madiwala, Nandani Sharma, Lucy Hamilton
Gujarat Giants squad for WPL 2026
Ashleigh Gardner, Beth Mooney, Sophie Devine, Georgia Wareham, Bharti Fulmali, Kashvee Gautam, Renuka Singh, Yastika Bhatia, Anushka Sharma, Tanuja Kanwar, Kanika Ahuja, Titas Sadhu, Happy Kumari, Kim Garth, Shivani Singh
Mumbai Indians squad for WPL 2026
Nat Sciver-Brunt, Amelia Kerr, Harmanpreet Kaur, Hayley Matthews, Amanjot Kaur, Sajeevan Sajana, Shabnim Ismail, Gunalan Kullkarni, Nicola Carey, Sanskriti Gupta, Rahil Firdous, Poonam Khemnar, Triveni Vasistha, Nalla Reddy
Royal Challengers Bengaluru squad for WPL 2026
Smriti Mandhana, Richa Ghosh, Ellyse Perry, Lauren Bell, Pooja Vastrakar, Arundhati Reddy, Radha Yadav, Nadine de Klerk, Shreyanka Patil, Georgia Voll, Linsey Smith, Prema Rawat, Gautami Naik
UP Warriorz squad for WPL 2026
Deepti Sharma, Shikha Pandey, Meg Lanning, Phoebe Litchfield, Asha Sobhana, Sophie Ecclestone, Deandra Dottin, Kiran Navgire, Kranti Gaud, Shweta Sehrawat, Harleen Deol, Chloe Tryon, Suman Meena, Simran Shaikh
Which team won the WPL 2026 mega auction?
While every franchise made calculated moves, three teams stood out for the clarity of their auction strategy and depth in squad-building.
Mumbai Indians
Mumbai emerged with one of the most balanced squads of the season. The combination of Nat Sciver-Brunt, Amelia Kerr, Hayley Matthews, and Harmanpreet Kaur ensures experience, explosive batting, and versatile bowling options. Their recruitment emphasizes multi-dimensional players who can adapt to different match scenarios.
This roster positions Mumbai as one of the early favourites for the title.
UP Warriorz
UP Warriors made the boldest purchase of the auction by securing Deepti Sharma for Rs 3.2 crore. Pairing her with international stars like Meg Lanning, Sophie Ecclestone, Deandra Dottin, and Chloe Tryon gives the Warriors a strong spine. Their lineup is a mix of tactical experience and youthful energy.
The Warriors appear to be the best-prepared team in terms of leadership depth, balance, and batting power.
Gujarat Giants
Gujarat doubled down on elite overseas talent with Ashleigh Gardner, Beth Mooney, Sophie Devine, Georgia Wareham, and Kim Garth. Their squad may rely heavily on overseas performers, but the domestic group, including Renuka Singh, Titas Sadhu, and Yastika Bhatia, adds stability.
The Giants’ key challenge will be rotation under overseas-player restrictions.
Which teams face challenges heading into WPL 2026?
Delhi Capitals
Delhi possesses tremendous star power in Shafali Verma, Jemimah Rodrigues, Marizanne Kapp, and Laura Wolvaardt, but the squad lacks bowling depth beyond Annebel Sutherland and Kapp. Their middle-order consistency will also be tested.
Delhi remains dangerous but unpredictable.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru
RCB boasts big names like Smriti Mandhana, Ellyse Perry, Richa Ghosh, and Pooja Vastrakar, yet their squad composition leans heavily on familiar faces. Their spin options are limited, and the middle order appears thin compared to rival teams.
RCB’s campaign will depend heavily on Mandhana and Perry’s individual brilliance.
Key trends visible in the WPL 2026 mega auction
All-rounders were the most valuable assets
The top signings, Deepti Sharma, Amelia Kerr, Hayley Matthews, and Ashleigh Gardner, underscore how much teams prioritized players who can contribute in multiple departments.
Bowling depth became a priority
With pitches expected to slow down in the later leg of the season, teams strengthened their bowling attacks with swing options, wrist-spin variety, and death-overs specialists.
Overseas dominance remains strong
Despite efforts to nurture Indian domestic talent, the league continues to rely heavily on international stars to anchor squads. This improves global competitiveness but also raises questions about long-term bench development.
Youth picks are getting smarter
Franchises have shifted away from speculative young-player purchases and are now selecting based on concrete performances in domestic circuits and Under-19 platforms.
What can fans expect from WPL 2026?
WPL 2026 is poised to be the most competitive edition so far. With teams rebuilt almost entirely from scratch, existing rivalries will resurface with new dynamics. The rise of younger domestic players, combined with experienced overseas icons, ensures unpredictable matchups and higher tactical complexity.
Several storylines to watch:
- Will UP Warriorz justify their record-breaking investment in Deepti Sharma?
- Can Harmanpreet Kaur lead Mumbai back to a title push?
- Will Smriti Mandhana’s RCB overcome historical inconsistency?
- Can Gujarat’s international-heavy squad succeed under rotation restrictions?
- Will Delhi finally convert its star power into silverware?
The 2026 season promises new rivalries, revitalised squads, and a league that continues to grow in global prestige and audience engagement.
