Women's Premier League

The 2026 edition marks the WPL's first shift to a January-February slot, unlike previous seasons that ran from February to March ahead of the IPL

Anushka's breakout moment arrived at the Senior Women's Interzonal Trophy, where she smashed 80 off 58 balls for Central Zone

Retaining just two players in the form of Ashleigh Gardner (INR 3.5 Crore) and Beth Mooney (INR 2.5 Crore), they had a lot of work to do in terms of completing their squads with important players.

Following the triumph in WPL 2024, when RCB claimed their maiden championship, the franchise faced a challenging 2025 season.

After three sub-par WPL seasons, UP Warriors decided to revamp their whole squad, and as a result, they only retained one uncapped player in the form of Shewta Sherat

The two-time WPL champions left no one surprised when they used all five retention options ahead of the WPL 2026 mega auction, given how stable their squad was

Delhi went big when they offered ₹3.2 crore for Deepti Sharma, but UP Warriorz used the RTM card to retain her

The WPL 2026 season will begin on January 7 and will conclude on February 5. Mumbai and Vadodara named venues

The headline moment of the WPL 2026 auction came when India's star all-rounder Deepti Sharma returned to UP Warriorz via RTM for ₹3.2 crore

The second-most expensive deal of WPL 2026 auction came from Mumbai Indians, who signed New Zealand's Amelia Kerr for Rs 3 crore. UP bags Shikha for Rs 2.4 crore after intense bidding war with RCB

While these Indian players didn't enter the top-price bracket, they still remain crucial additions because of their international experience and versatility.

Deepti's signing set the tone for a thrilling auction where several marquee players and young stars triggered intense competition to complete the list of the top 10 most expensive picks of WPL 2026.

Among them, Deepti Sharma and Shree Charani, two standout performers from India's world champion squad, triggered intense bidding wars, securing massive contracts far exceeding their base prices.

DC owner says an expanded WPL could enable a home-and-away format; franchise signs Laura Wolvaardt, Chinelle Henry and Shree Charani at the 2026 auction.

In the previous three editions of the WPL, Deepti represented UP Warriorz, who had bought her for Rs 2.60 crore.

For the upcoming WPL season, each franchise will be permitted to assemble a squad comprising a maximum of 18 players. Across the five teams, a total of 73 vacancies remain

The adjustment in schedule comes ahead of the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026, which is set to take place in February-March next year.

RCB skipper Smriti Mandhana, with the whopping ₹3.4 crore price tag during the inaugural season auction, holds the top spot as the most expensive player in WPL auction history

Aussie all-rounder Ashleigh Gardner's ₹3.2 crore pick in the inaugural season has been the most expensive overseas auction pick in WPL history

With 73 total slots available, 50 for Indian players and 23 for overseas cricketers, franchises are preparing to invest smartly in proven match-winners and emerging talent.