Star Indian all-rounder Deepti Sharma, who won the Player of the Tournament award in the recently concluded ICC Women’s ODI World Cup 2025, and South Africa’s captain Laura Wolvaardt, who scored a century in the final against India at DY Patil Stadium on Sunday, November 2, are set to be released by their Women’s Premier League (WPL) teams, UP Warriorz and Gujarat Giants, respectively.
According to a report in ESPN Cricinfo on Wednesday (November 5), UP Warriorz will only retain one uncapped Indian player, Shweta Sehrawat, and GG will continue their association with only two Australians – Ashleigh Gardner and Beth Mooney.
Two-time champions Mumbai Indians will retain five players – Harmanpreet Kaur, Nat Sciver-Brunt, Amanjot Kaur, G Kamilini and
Hayley Mathews – and part ways with New Zealand all-rounder Amelia Kerr, who won the ICC Women’s Cricketer of the Year award in 2024.
Delhi Capitals are also expected to retain five players – Annabel Sutherland, Marizanne Kapp, Jemimah Rodrigues, Shafali Verma, and Niki Prasad. However, the surprising news is that they will not retain Meg Lanning, who led them to three back-to-back WPL finals.
Smriti Mandhana, Elysse Perry, Richa Ghosh and Shreyanka Patil are four players expected to be retained by Royal Challengers Bengaluru.
In the 2025 edition of the WPL, UP Warriorz finished at the bottom of the points table, and they are now looking to make a fresh start. They will have an option to re-sign four players via RTM card in the mega auction. The players who are set to be available via RTM are Australia’s captain Alyssa Healy, England spinner Sophie Ecclestone, and the Australian trio of Grace Harris, Tahila McGrath and Alana King, along with Sri Lankan captain Chamari Athapaththu.
They can also use the RTM card for India pacer Kranti Gaud in addition to Deepti.
As for Gujarat Giants, apart from Wolvaardt, who became the world’s No. 1 ODI batter on Tuesday, they are also parting ways with Phoebe Litchfield. The Australian batter scored a century against India in the second semifinal of the ICC Women’s ODI World Cup 2025 last week.
Likely retentions ahead of WPL 2026
Delhi Capitals: Annabel Sutherland, Marizanne Kapp, Jemimah Rodrigues, Shafali Verma, Niki Prasad
Mumbai Indians: Harmanpreet Kaur, Nat Sciver-Brunt, Amanjot Kaur, G Kamilini, Hayley Mathews
Royal Challengers Bengaluru: Smriti Mandhana, Elysse Perry, Richa Ghosh, Shreyanka Patil
Gujarat Giants: Ashleigh Gardner, Beth Mooney
UP Warriorz: Shweta Sehrawat.
