WPL 2026 Auction: Who are the Five Most Expensive India players before Mega Auction?

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The Women's Premier League (WPL) 2026 retention phase has brought several intriguing developments, particularly regarding the soaring salaries of India's leading women cricketers.

As teams finalized their retention lists, the Mumbai Indians and Delhi Capitals emerged as the only franchises to fill their entire quota of five retained players each.

Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) locked in four key names, while Gujarat Giants decided to keep two of their overseas stars. UP Warriorz, meanwhile, opted to retain only uncapped Indian batter Shweta Sehrawat for the upcoming season.

Smriti Mandhana Tops Salary Chart

Among the Indian talents retained ahead of the WPL 2026 mega auction, Smriti Mandhana stands out as the highest-paid Indian player. RCB secured the star opener's services for a hefty ₹3.5 crore, reaffirming her stature as one of the most valuable assets in women's cricket and a past WPL champion.

Mumbai Indians' captain Harmanpreet Kaur follows next with a ₹2.5 crore deal, continuing her position as a marquee player and a key figure in India's cricketing setup. Other major Indian names-Shafali Verma (₹2.2 crore), Jemimah Rodrigues (₹2.2 crore), and Richa Ghosh (₹2.75 crore)-also secured lucrative extensions with their respective teams.

WPL 2026 Auction: Most Expensive Indian Players before Mega Auction

Smriti Mandhana (RCB Women) - Rs 3.5 crore

Richa Ghosh (RCB Women) - Rs 2.75 crore

Harmanpreet Kaur (MI Women) - Rs 2.5 crore

Jemimah Rodrigues (DC Women) - Rs 2.20 crore

Shafali Verma (DC Women) - Rs 2.20 crore