Every cricket era has its flashpoint moment. For men’s cricket, it was the first IPL auction in 2008, raw, chaotic, and revolutionary. For women’s cricket, that moment might just be November 27, 2025, at 3.30 pm in Delhi. The WPL is rolling out its first-ever mega auction, and with 277 players (194 Indian, 83 overseas) entering the hammer’s spotlight, the stakes feel higher than ever.

 

And if history teaches anything, it’s this: the first mega auction always creates both legends and leftovers. The WPL is about to discover its own.

 

Purse Disparity Sets the Auction’s First Battle

 

UP Warriorz are entering the arena with a jaw-dropping ₹14.50 crore, an almost comical war chest compared to DC and MI, who are scraping along with just above ₹5.7 crore each. Money doesn’t always win titles, but in auctions, it wins flexibility.

 

UPW can swing big on multiple marquee names, especially since they retained just one player. MI and DC? They must fill at least 10 slots each, which usually forces teams toward calculative, value-based buying rather than glamorous chases.

 

This is where the pressure cooker begins: the rich can chase dreams, the rest must chase balance.

 

A Star-Studded Overseas Pool Ready for Fireworks

 

Meg Lanning rediscovering form in the WBBL is almost unfair for auction dynamics. A rested, rejuvenated Lanning in an open market? You can expect teams to pile in. Amelia Kerr and Phoebe Litchfield, two players who blend modern T20 tempo with ODIs’ strategic depth, should attract multi-team bidding wars.

 

Wolvaardt and Nadine de Klerk, fresh off stellar ODI World Cup outings, represent a different category: consistency with ceiling. Teams building a long-term core will circle them relentlessly. With only six overseas slots available per squad, every franchise will be playing chess, not checkers.

 

India’s Rising Trio and the Deepti Sharma Derby

 

If the overseas names are fireworks, the Indian marquee pool is the slow-burning furnace. Deepti Sharma might be the most “auction-friendly” profile ever produced by an Indian allrounder: Player of the Tournament, match-up proof, leadership material, plays all phases. Expect her to trigger an early bidding war that shapes the purse management for every franchise.

 

Kranti Gaud and N Shree Charani represent the upside category, relatively raw but ideal for teams planning. Someone will break the bank for potential.

 

Retention Strategies Reveal Team Philosophies

 

Some teams played Tetris with the rules; others simply hedged.

 

  • MI and DC retained the maximum five players each, no RTM cards, but strong continuity.
  • GG kept just two overseas stars (Mooney and Gardner) and now owns three RTMs but only for Indians.
  • RCB retained a powerful core and has only one RTM card for an uncapped Indian.
  • UPW retained just one player and now holds four RTM cards, the largest tactical weapon of the auction.

 

This is where the auction will pivot: RTM cards can kill bidding wars in an instant, and UPW’s four-card arsenal may change the power balance.

 

Scarcity of Associate Players Adds Another Layer

 

The Associate rule allowing a fifth overseas player in the XI if she comes from an Associate nation should’ve been a tactical dream. Instead, only four players fit that category this year: Esha Oza, Theertha Satish, Tara Norris, and Thipatcha Putthawong.

 

But scarcity creates leverage. Someone smart will snatch one of them early just to unlock that elusive “extra overseas” playing XI slot. It’s not a rule; it’s a cheat code disguised as one.

 

Key Takeaway

 

The WPL 2026 mega auction won’t just fill squads, it will rewrite the league’s future power structure.

 

FAQs

 

1. What makes the WPL 2026 auction different?

 

It’s the league’s first mega auction, featuring retentions, RTM cards, and 73 available slots.

 

2. Why is UP Warriorz a team to watch?

 

They have the biggest purse (₹14.50 crore) and four RTM cards, giving them unmatched tactical flexibility.

 

3. How many players are part of the auction?

 

A total of 277 players, 194 Indian and 83 overseas, are in the pool.

 

Disclaimer: This blog post reflects the author’s personal insights and analysis. Readers are encouraged to consider the perspectives shared and draw their own conclusions.

 

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