The Women's Premier League 2026 mega auction kicks off today in New Delhi, drawing intense focus as five franchises aim to fill 73 squad spots with 277 players-194 from India and 83 overseas-divided into 39 sets.
Boosted by India's Women's World Cup 2025 success, bidding wars are anticipated for top talents like Deepti Sharma, Renuka Singh, Sophie Devine, Amelia Kerr, Sophie Ecclestone, Alyssa Healy, Meg Lanning, and Laura Wolvaardt, who lead the marquee list at high base prices up to ₹50 lakh. UP Warriorz hold a commanding edge with ₹14.5 crore in purse money and four Right to Match (RTM) cards, while Delhi Capitals face a tighter rebuild at ₹5.7 crore without RTMs.

Ahead of the auction, franchises retained just 17 players total (seven overseas, three uncapped), sticking to a maximum of five per team from their prior squads. Delhi Capitals and Mumbai Indians each locked in five, including Jemimah Rodrigues, Shafali Verma, Annabel Sutherland, and Marizanne Kapp for DC, plus Harmanpreet Kaur, Natalie Sciver-Brunt, and Hayley Matthews for MI. Royal Challengers Bengaluru secured four like Smriti Mandhana, Richa Ghosh, and Ellyse Perry; Gujarat Giants kept two overseas stars Ashleigh Gardner and Beth Mooney; and UP Warriorz retained only Shweta Sehrawat.
So far in the auction, Deepti Sharma has garnered the biggest amount with Rs 3.20 crore, whereas Alyssa Healy has gone unsold. South African batter Tazmin Brits has failed to find a team as well.