The deadline for franchises to submit their list of retained and released players for the Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2026 season has officially ended, marking the crucial prelude to the highly anticipated Mega Auction. Each of the five teams has announced their finalized core squads, providing clarity on which players will continue with their respective franchises and which will enter the massive auction pool. This comprehensive retention exercise is an essential step for teams to execute their long-term strategies and build a balanced lineup.

WPL retention 2026: Key Indian players retained by franchises ahead of the Women’s Premier league 2026 mega auction

Marquee Indian players like Smriti Mandhana, Harmanpreet Kaur and Jemimah Rodrigues have all been retained by their teams, showcasing the franchises’ continued trust in these established stars. Mandhana is expected to anchor RCB’s batting, while Harmanpreet will continue to lead the Mumbai Indians. Their retention reflects the importance of consistency and leadership that these players bring to their teams, forming a strong core for the franchises to build around.

With the retention window closed, teams are now gearing up for the Mega Auction, where they will have the opportunity to fill remaining spots and address key gaps in their squads. This phase is expected to bring in exciting talents from both domestic and international pools. For fans and teams alike, anticipation is building as franchises prepare to finalize their lineups and aim to create balanced squads that can compete at the highest level in the upcoming WPL season.

WPL 2026 Retention: Complete list of players retained ahead of the Women’s Premier league 2026 mega auction

1. Mumbai Indians (MI)

The defending champions, Mumbai Indians, retained the maximum allowed five players, choosing to keep their strong core. This decision means they have exhausted their Right to Match (RTM) options for the mega auction. Their retained list is anchored by their captain and includes two world-class overseas all-rounders.

Players Retained: Harmanpreet Kaur, Nat Sciver-Brunt, Hayley Matthews, Amanjot Kaur and G Kamalini.

• Purse Remaining: INR 5.75 crore
• RTM Cards: 0

2. Delhi Capitals (DC)

Delhi Capitals also retained the maximum of five players, maintaining a formidable lineup of Indian and overseas match-winners. Like MI, by retaining five players, they will not have any RTM cards available during the auction. The surprise move was the release of their charismatic captain, Meg Lanning.

Players Retained: Jemimah Rodrigues, Shafali Verma, Marizanne Kapp, Annabel Sutherland and Niki Prasad.

• Purse Remaining: INR 5.7 crore
• RTM Cards: 0

3. Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB)

The Royal Challengers Bengaluru opted for a strong core of four players. By retaining fewer than the maximum, the team has strategically secured one Right to Match (RTM) card, which they can use to buy back one of their released Indian players at the auction.

Players Retained: Smriti Mandhana, Ellyse Perry, Richa Ghosh and Shreyanka Patil.

• Purse Remaining: INR 6.15 crore
• RTM Cards: 1

4. Gujarat Giants (GG)

Gujarat Giants chose a minimal retention strategy, holding onto just two key overseas players. This approach has left them with a large auction purse and the maximum possible three RTM cards (applicable only for Indian players), indicating a major rebuild at the mega auction.

Players Retained: Beth Mooney and Ashleigh Gardner.

• Purse Remaining: INR 9.0 crore (Second Highest)
• RTM Cards: 3 (for Indian Players only)

5. UP Warriorz (UPW)

UP Warriorz went for a complete overhaul, retaining only one uncapped Indian player. By releasing their high-profile players like Alyssa Healy and World Cup Player of the Tournament Deepti Sharma, they enter the mega auction with the largest remaining purse and the full four RTM cards, positioning them for an aggressive rebuild.

Players Retained: Shweta Sherawat.

• Purse Remaining: INR 14.5 crore (Highest)
• RTM Cards: 4

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This article was first published at WomenCricket.com, a Cricket Times company.