NewKerala.com

Key Points

WPL teams are gearing up for some big decisions ahead of the 2026 season. Franchises can now retain up to five players from their current squads with specific caps on Indian and overseas players. The introduction of the right-to-match card gives teams another way to keep their key players. With the retention deadline set for November 5, teams have just weeks to finalize their core squads before the mega auction kicks off later that month.

Key Points: WPL 2026 Teams Can Retain Five Players Before Mega Auction

  • Teams must submit retention lists by November 5 deadline before mega auction
  • Franchises can use right-to-match cards to buy back former squad players
  • Auction purse set at Rs 15 crore with five-tier retention salary slabs
  • Maximum five RTMs allowed unless team retains all five players
2 min read

WPL teams allowed to retain five players before mega auction; RTM set to be introduced

WPL franchises can retain up to 5 players with specific caps before the 2026 mega auction. Retention deadline is November 5 with RTM option introduced.

"Each team can retain a maximum of three capped Indian players, a maximum of two overseas players, and a maximum of two uncapped Indian players - WPL Official Communication"

New Delhi, October 9

In the upcoming season of the Women's Premier League (WPL) 2026, franchises can retain a maximum of five players ahead of the mega auction, according to ESPNcricinfo.

The deadline for announcing retentions has been set for November 5, which has been communicated to the teams. The auction window will be between November 25 and 29, according to ESPNcricinfo.

In an email on Thursday, the WPL confirmed that each team can retain a maximum of three capped Indian players, a maximum of two overseas players, and a maximum of two uncapped Indian players. In a scenario where a franchise opts to exercise the option to retain all five players, at least one of them should be an uncapped Indian player.

Notably, the WPL has decided to allow franchises to use the right-to-match (RTM) option at the auction. With RTM, a franchise can buy back a player who was part of its 2025 squad.

This time, the WPL has set an auction purse of Rs 15 crore. The retention slabs listed are: Rs 3.5 crore (Player 1), Rs 2.5 crore (Player 2), Rs 1.75 crore (Player 3), Rs 1 crore (Player 4) and Rs 50 lakh (Player 5). If a franchise elects to retain five players, Rs 9.25 crore would be deducted from its purse, while for four, the deduction sum would be Rs 8.75 crore; for three, it would result in Rs 7.75 crore; for two, Rs 6 crore; and for one, Rs 3.5 crore.

In the upcoming mega auction, a franchise can use a maximum of five RTMs. However, if a franchise retains five players, then the RTM option would be unavailable.

The WPL has also instructed the franchises that they can negotiate a different amount from the guideline price listed in the retention slabs. However, if the amount exceeds the slab, it will be deducted from the auction purse.

All five franchises must submit their retention lists by November 5. The franchises then need to share their lists of players for the auction by November 7. The last date for player registration is November 18. On November 20, the BCCI will release the list of players participating in the mega auction.

- ANI

Share this article:

Reader Comments

R
Rohit P
The salary slabs seem reasonable, but I'm concerned about the tight timeline. Teams have less than a month to decide retentions - that's quite rushed for such important decisions. Hope franchises make wise choices for our women cricketers.
A
Ananya R
Love the focus on uncapped Indian players! This will give so many talented domestic players a platform to shine. The women's game in India is growing rapidly, and such policies will only strengthen our bench strength. 🇮🇳✨
D
David E
The RTM system is interesting but complicated. If you retain 5 players, no RTM? That forces teams to choose between securing their core or having flexibility in auction. Strategic nightmare for team management!
S
Shreya B
Finally some clarity on the auction process! The increased purse to 15 crore shows WPL's commitment to women's cricket. Can't wait to see which franchises make the smartest retention decisions. Mumbai Indians, don't disappoint! 😄
K
Karthik V
The negotiation clause is a game-changer! Teams can now offer better deals to retain key players beyond the fixed slabs. This shows WPL is learning from IPL's experiences and adapting well for women's cricket.

We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.

Leave a Comment

Minimum 50 characters 0/50