The WPL 2026 Mega Auction concluded in New Delhi with high drama, close bidding wars and several record-breaking signings. A total of 277 players entered the auction pool, out of which 67 players were sold, including 23 overseas stars. The five franchise teams together spent ₹40.8 crore, completing their squads for the upcoming season starting 9 January 2026.
Indian star Deepti Sharma stole the spotlight after UP Warriorz used their RTM (Right To Match) to bring her back for ₹3.2 crore, making her the most expensive player of the auction. Meanwhile, New Zealand all-rounder Amelia Kerr became the highest-paid overseas player, bought by Mumbai Indians for ₹3 crore.
The auction saw a mix of strategy, surprises, and smart picks as every team tried to build a balanced squad for the title race. Here is a complete breakdown of all five WPL teams after the final auction.
UP Warriorz – Most Balanced Squad with Deepti, Lanning & Ecclestone
UP Warriorz entered the auction with clear plans and executed them perfectly. Their biggest move was retaining Deepti Sharma using RTM for ₹3.2 crore after a tense bidding battle. They later shocked everyone by grabbing ex-Delhi Capitals captain Meg Lanning for ₹1.9 crore, giving them world-class leadership.
The team also strengthened its batting and spin with Phoebe Litchfield, Sophie Ecclestone, Asha Sobhana, Kranti Goud, and Indian youngster Shikha Pandey, making UP Warriorz one of the strongest units this season.
UP Warriorz Full Squad
| Player | Role |
|---|---|
| Deepti Sharma | All-rounder |
| Meg Lanning | Batter |
| Sophie Ecclestone | Bowler (Spinner) |
| Phoebe Litchfield | Batter |
| Shikha Pandey | Bowler (Pacer) |
| Asha Sobhana | Bowler (Leg-spinner) |
| Kranti Goud | Bowler (Pacer) |
| Harleen Deol | All-rounder |
| Kiran Navgire | Batter |
| Deandra Dottin | All-rounder |
| Chloe Tryon | All-rounder |
| Pratika Rawal | All-rounder |
| Shweta Sehrawat | Batter |
| Simran Shaikh | Batter |
| Shipra Giri | Bowler |
| Suman Meena | Bowler |
| Tara Norris | Bowler |
| G Trisha | Batter |
Delhi Capitals – Strong Core Retained, New Batting Power Added
Delhi Capitals started the auction with limited purse money but a strong core already retained — Shefali Verma, Jemimah Rodrigues, Marizanne Kapp, Annabel Sutherland and Nikki Prasad.
After missing out on Deepti due to UPW’s RTM, Delhi shifted focus to adding depth in middle order and all-rounder department. They made three big buys —
- Laura Wolvaardt (₹1.1 crore)
- Chinelle Henry (₹1.3 crore)
- Shree Charani (₹1.3 crore)
All three players bring powerful batting and all-round skill, making Delhi’s lineup more explosive than previous seasons.
Delhi Capitals Full Squad
| Player | Role |
|---|---|
| Jemimah Rodrigues | Batter |
| Shafali Verma | Batter |
| Marizanne Kapp | All-rounder |
| Annabel Sutherland | All-rounder |
| Nikki Prasad | Bowler |
| Laura Wolvaardt | Batter |
| Chinelle Henry | All-rounder |
| Shree Charani | Bowler (Spinner) |
| Sneha Rana | All-rounder |
| Lizelee Lee | Wicketkeeper-Batter |
| Taniya Bhatia | Wicketkeeper |
| Minu Mani | All-rounder |
| Lucy Hamilton | Bowler |
| Mamta Madiwala | Bowler |
| Nandini Sharma | All-rounder |
| Diya Yadav | Bowler |
Gujarat Giants – Heavy Hitters & Strong Bowling Attack
Gujarat Giants opened the auction with an aggressive approach. Their headline buy was Sophie Devine for ₹2 crore, bringing in massive power hitting.
GG also strengthened pace and spin by adding Renuka Singh, Georgia Wareham, Kim Garth, and Rajeshwari Gayakwad. With Beth Mooney and Ashleigh Gardner already retained, Gujarat looks more balanced and powerful moving into WPL 2026.
Gujarat Giants Full Squad
| Player | Role |
|---|---|
| Ashleigh Gardner | All-rounder |
| Beth Mooney | Wicketkeeper-Batter |
| Sophie Devine | All-rounder |
| Renuka Singh | Bowler (Pacer) |
| Bharati Fulmali | Batter |
| Titas Sadhu | Bowler (Pacer) |
| Kashvee Gautam | Bowler (Pacer) |
| Kanika Ahuja | All-rounder |
| Tanuja Kanwer | Bowler (Spinner) |
| Georgia Wareham | Bowler (Leg-spinner) |
| Anushka Sharma | All-rounder |
| Happy Kumari | All-rounder |
| Kim Garth | All-rounder |
| Yastika Bhatia | Wicketkeeper-Batter |
| Shivani Singh | Bowler |
| Danielle Wyatt-Hodge | Batter |
| Rajeshwari Gayakwad | Bowler (Spinner) |
| Ayushi Soni | All-rounder |
Mumbai Indians – Title Defence with Strong Core & Amelia Kerr
Defending champions Mumbai Indians focused on retaining their champion players —
- Harmanpreet Kaur
- Nat Sciver-Brunt
- Hayley Matthews
- Amanjot Kaur
Their biggest moment came when they signed Amelia Kerr for ₹3 crore, making her the most expensive overseas signing. Mumbai also added pace firepower with Shabnim Ismail and strengthened their bench with promising young talents like Sankriti Gupta.
This squad looks compact, confident, and dangerous — fully capable of defending their title.
Mumbai Indians Full Squad
| Player | Role |
|---|---|
| Harmanpreet Kaur | Batter |
| Nat Sciver-Brunt | All-rounder |
| Hayley Matthews | All-rounder |
| Amanjot Kaur | All-rounder |
| Amelia Kerr | All-rounder |
| Shabnim Ismail | Bowler (Pacer) |
| Nicola Carey | All-rounder |
| Saika Ishaque | Bowler (Spinner) |
| Mili Illingworth | Bowler |
| Ji Kamalini | Bowler |
| Nalla Reddy | Bowler |
| Sankriti Gupta | Batter |
| Sajeevan Sajana | Batter |
| Triveni Vashistha | All-rounder |
| Poonam Khemnar | Bowler |
| Rahila Firdaus | Bowler |
Royal Challengers Bengaluru – Experience + Youth, Best Bowling Depth
RCB retained their key pillars —
Smriti Mandhana, Richa Ghosh, Ellyse Perry, and Shreyanka Patil.
During the auction, they added powerful players like
- Georgia Voll (₹60 lakh)
- Nadine de Klerk (₹65 lakh)
- Lauren Bell (₹90 lakh)
- Pooja Vastrakar (₹85 lakh)
- Lindsay Smith (₹30 lakh)
This gives RCB one of the best pace + spin combinations in WPL 2026. Their squad has energy, power, and experience — making them strong contenders for the playoffs.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru Full Squad
| Player | Role |
|---|---|
| Smriti Mandhana | Batter |
| Richa Ghosh | Wicketkeeper-Batter |
| Ellyse Perry | All-rounder |
| Shreyanka Patil | All-rounder |
| Georgia Voll | Batter |
| Nadine de Klerk | All-rounder |
| Radha Yadav | Bowler (Spinner) |
| Lauren Bell | Bowler (Pacer) |
| Lindsay Smith | Bowler (Spinner) |
| Arundhati Reddy | Bowler (Pacer) |
| Pooja Vastrakar | All-rounder |
| Grace Harris | All-rounder |
| Gautami Naik | Bowler |
| Prema Rawat | Batter |
| Prathyusha Kumar | Bowler |
| D Hemalatha | Batter |
Which Team Looks the Strongest for WPL 2026?
✔ UP Warriorz look the most complete with Deepti, Ecclestone, Lanning, Litchfield & Asha Sobhana.
✔ Mumbai Indians remain title favourites with Kerr joining their champion core.
✔ Delhi Capitals improved batting depth and all-round abilities.
✔ RCB have the best pace attack and solid middle-order balance.
✔ Gujarat Giants are unpredictable but dangerous with Devine, Mooney, Wareham & Gardner.
The WPL 2026 Mega Auction has set the stage for the most competitive season yet. With big signings, smart RTM use, and exciting young talents joining the league, the upcoming season promises high-voltage cricket, explosive batting, and world-class performances.
