At the Women’s Premier League 2026 auction held on 27 November in New Delhi, franchises spent heavily to strengthen their squads. Defending champions Royal Challengers Bangalore also bolstered their team, securing one overseas player who instantly became a major talking point Lauren Bell.
Led by Smriti Mandhana, RCB will aim to defend their WPL title in 2026. Before the auction, they had retained four players, including Mandhana. RCB bought 12 more players at the auction, forming a strong 16-member squad.
Their biggest purchase of the day was Lauren Bell, for whom a fierce bidding war unfolded between RCB and Mumbai Indians. Starting from a base price of ₹30 lakh, the battle intensified before RCB finally secured her for ₹90 lakh, making her their top buy.
After joining RCB, Bell wrote on social media: “Very happy. Can’t wait to play in the RCB jersey.”
The 24-year-old England fast bowler standing 6 ft 2 in is known for her sharp pace and swing. She has played 5 Tests, 31 ODIs and 36 T20Is, taking a total of 112 wickets. Apart from being a fearsome bowler, Bell is also widely admired for her glamour and style, which has made her a social media sensation. Since RCB bought her, fans have dubbed her the new “internet crush” and even “the reason to watch WPL 2026.”
Born in Swindon, Bell played football for Reading FC Academy before switching to cricket at 16, encouraged by her father. She made her England debut across all formats in 2022 and quickly became a key bowler, known for natural swing, bounce and pace.
Bell was previously part of UP Warriorz in the WPL but didn’t get a chance to play. In 2026, she will arrive in India aiming to make a big impact for the defending champions, RCB.
