Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) has made strategic retentions ahead of the WPL 2026 mega auction, retaining a core group of players to build around.
The four players retained by RCB are captain Smriti Mandhana (retained for ₹3.5 crore), wicketkeeper-batter Richa Ghosh (₹2.75 crore), Australian all-rounder Ellyse Perry (₹2 crore), and Shreyanka Patil (₹60 lakh). These retentions have cost the franchise a total of ₹8.85 crore from their purse, leaving them with ₹6.15 crore for the remaining auction. RCB also holds one Right to Match card to potentially buy back a released player during the auction if outbid by others. This approach offers them flexibility and scope to strengthen their squad, especially targeting strike bowlers and adding middle-order
stability around their core players.
In terms of WPL history, RCB were the 2024 WPL champions, which sets a high benchmark for their upcoming campaign. Their retention reflects an effort to maintain leadership continuity with Smriti Mandhana and a balanced team composition that includes reliable batting, world-class all-round skills via Ellyse Perry, and depth in the bowling attack. Significantly, many players from their previous roster were released to refresh the squad for the new season, underlining a clear strategy to reinforce strike bowling and middle-order resilience during the November 27 mega auction.
The auction strategy points to RCB aiming to add 1-2 key players in the bowling department while filling other roles with value picks. Maintaining a strong leadership core and balanced squad gives them a solid foundation to compete strongly in WPL 2026.
RCB WPL 2026 Retained Players
Smriti Mandhana (INR 3.5 crore)
Richa Ghosh (INR 2.75 crore)
Ellyse Perry (INR 2 crore)
Shreyanka Patil (INR 60 lakh)
RCB WPL 2026 Auction Buys
Georgia Voll - Rs 60 lakh
Nadine de Klerk - Rs 65 lakh
Radha Yadav - Rs 65 lakh
Lauren Bell - Rs 90 lakh
Prema Rawat - Rs 20 lakh
Arundhati Reddy - Rs 75 lakh
Pooja Vastrakar - Rs 85 lakh
RCB Women WPL 2026 Squad
Smriti Mandhana, Richa Ghosh, Ellyse Perry, Shreyanka Patil, Georgia Voll, Nadine de Klerk, Radha Yadav, Lauren Bell, Prema Rawat, Arundhati Reddy, Pooja Vastrakar
