The Women’s Premier League 2026 auction delivered high drama, strategic bidding, and several headline-making signings as all five franchises UP Warriorz, Delhi Capitals, Mumbai Indians, Royal Challengers Bangalore, and Gujarat Giants retooled their squads for the season scheduled from January 9 to February 5 in Navi Mumbai.
Indian all-rounders remained the biggest attraction, with Deepti Sharma once again proving her value as one of the most sought-after picks. Known for her control with the ball and dependable middle-order batting, Deepti drew an intense bidding war before being secured on a premium deal. Teams emphasised versatility this year, prioritising all-rounders capable of influencing matches across formats.
Sree Charani emerged as one of the notable young Indian talents to earn a significant contract. Her recent domestic performances, especially her explosive batting, impressed scouts and pushed her into the spotlight. The auction also highlighted the increasing depth of India’s women’s cricket pipeline, as several uncapped players received strong interest from franchises.
Among overseas stars, teams focused heavily on bowlers with variations suited to Navi Mumbai’s surfaces. While the established names were picked early, franchises also looked for value buys among emerging international players. The trend suggested a shift toward developing multi-year squads rather than short-term fixes.
Mumbai Indians and RCB approached the auction with clear tactical plans, strengthening their pace and spin departments respectively. Delhi Capitals continued their strategy of banking on experienced Indian core players, while Gujarat Giants sought balance after an inconsistent previous season. UP Warriorz invested in power-hitters and death-overs specialists, signalling a more aggressive brand of cricket.
This year’s auction underlined the WPL’s growing stature, both in financial scale and competitive quality. With strong squads now assembled, the 2026 season promises high-intensity contests, rising stars, and a serious push for the title from every camp.
