The Women's Premier League (WPL) 2026 retention phase revealed some eye-catching details about the salaries of top Indian players as the franchises have picked their retentions for next season.
In the WPL
2026 retentions, Mumbai Indians women and Delhi Capitals women were the only two teams to acquire their full quota of retained players, with 5 each. Royal Challengers Bengaluru women will take the next step with 4 retentions. On the other hand, Gujarat Giants retained two of their foreign stars, while UP Warriorz only retained uncapped India batter Shweta Sehrawat.
Who is the Most Expensive India Player?
Among the Indian players retained ahead of the WPL mega auction, Smriti Mandhana stands out as the highest-paid retained Indian player. The Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) retained Mandhana with a whopping salary of ₹3.5 crore, reflecting her immense value as a world-class batter and former WPL champion.
Harmanpreet Kaur follows closely, retained by the Mumbai Indians for ₹2.5 crore. The World Cup-winning captain has been an influential figure in Indian women's cricket and continues to command a premium in the league. Meanwhile, other Indian stars like Shafali Verma (₹2.2 crore), Jemimah Rodrigues (₹2.2 crore), and Richa Ghosh (₹2.75 crore) have also secured lucrative retention deals.
These retention figures mark a significant rise in player salaries compared to previous seasons, underscoring increasing investments in the women's game and the growing popularity of the WPL. Smriti Mandhana's retention at ₹3.5 crore not only makes her the top-paid Indian player but also cements her legacy as a marquee player for RCB going into WPL 2026.
Most Expensive Retained Players in WPL 2026
Smriti Mandhana (RCB) - ₹3.5 crore
Nat Sciver-Brunt (Mumbai Indians) - ₹3.5 crore
Ashleigh Gardner (Gujarat Giants) - ₹3.5 crore
Harmanpreet Kaur (Mumbai Indians) - ₹2.5 crore
Beth Mooney (Gujarat Giants) - ₹2.5 crore
