With the Women's Premier League 2026 mega auction fast approaching, all five franchises have finalized their retention lists, keeping faith in key performers who shaped their past campaigns. Although the list is not
yet officially out, ESPNCricinfo has reported the upcoming list of the retained players of all teams.
Defending champions Mumbai Indians and last year's finalists Delhi Capitals have retained the maximum allowed five players each, strengthening their cores around proven international stars. Royal Challengers Bengaluru have opted for four retentions, while Gujarat Giants and UP Warriorz have retained two and one, respectively.
For the Mumbai Indians, captain Harmanpreet Kaur remains central to their plans after leading the side to title glory earlier this year. She will continue to anchor the middle order alongside England's Nat Sciver-Brunt, whose all-round contributions were pivotal to Mumbai's success. The franchise has also backed young allrounder Amanjot Kaur and uncapped batter G Kamalini, rewarding their consistency from the previous season. West Indies skipper Hayley Matthews, known for her explosive starts, completes the five-player retention list for Mumbai.
Delhi Capitals have likewise stuck with their experienced international combination. Australian star Annabel Sutherland, South African allrounder Marizanne Kapp, and Indian batting duo Jemimah Rodrigues and Shafali Verma headline their lineup. Young uncapped talent Niki Prasad has also been retained, fulfilling the league's rule of including at least one uncapped Indian player in a five-player retention list.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru, under Smriti Mandhana, have locked in a balanced squad featuring Ellyse Perry, wicketkeeper-batter Richa Ghosh, and emerging allrounder Shreyanka Patil.
Meanwhile, Gujarat Giants retained their overseas pairing of Ashleigh Gardner and Beth Mooney, both vital to the team's foundation. UP Warriorz, however, took a bolder route, keeping only uncapped batter Shweta Sehrawat. With a maximum purse and four right-to-match (RTM) options, they are expected to rebuild aggressively around their new leadership core at the Delhi auction scheduled for November 27.
WPL 2026 Retention List, Remaining Purse
| Team | Retained Players | Purse Remaining (INR crore) | RTMs Available |
|---|---|---|---|
| Delhi Capitals | Annabel Sutherland, Marizanne Kapp, Jemimah Rodrigues, Shafali Verma, Niki Prasad | 5.75 | 0 |
| Mumbai Indians | Harmanpreet Kaur, Nat Sciver-Brunt, Amanjot Kaur, G Kamalini, Hayley Matthews | 5.75 | 0 |
| Royal Challengers Bengaluru | Smriti Mandhana, Ellyse Perry, Richa Ghosh, Shreyanka Patil | 6.25 | 1 |
| Gujarat Giants | Ashleigh Gardner, Beth Mooney | 9.00 | 3 (Indian players only) |
| UP Warriorz | Shweta Sehrawat | 14.50 | 4 |
