All six teams appear well balanced after the TATA WPL 2026 Mega Auction, with squads now shaping up strongly for the new season beginning January 9, 2026. Speaking on JioHotstar, experts Saba Karim and
Aakash Chopra analysed the strategies behind Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Delhi Capitals’ auction picks, highlighting their combinations, key signings, and overall squad depth heading into the tournament.
Speaking on JioHotstar, JioStar expert Saba Karim shared his assessment of the RCB squad:
“I felt that RCB clearly leaned towards all-rounders this time, which is why you see so many in their line-up, starting from Nadine de Klerk, Arundhati Reddy, Grace Harris, and Pooja Vastrakar. There are multiple options for Smriti Mandhana to find the right combination. It is a powerful side, and because they are blessed with so many all-rounders, they seem to have built their squad keeping venue conditions in mind. They will play matches in Navi Mumbai before going to Vadodara, and I believe the kind of wickets they will get there will complement this combination. Overall, this squad looks well balanced for RCB.”
On Delhi Capitals’ squad:
“For Delhi Capitals, the auction has never been the issue, it is about how they finish the tournament. Despite having match-winners in the line-up, for some inexplicable reason they haven’t been able to cross the line in key knockout moments. Can they do it this time? They had a purse of 5.7 crore and worked very intelligently. Chinelle Henry at 1.30 crore is a smart buy. Laura Wolvaardt at the top will add stability. They’ve addressed their spin options with Shree Charani and Sneh Rana, and Rana can contribute runs down the order. They clearly want players who can finish games for them, which is why someone like Sneh Rana at No. 8 or 9 becomes important. So, while finishing has been an issue for DC, they have done some sharp work at the auction table.”
Speaking on JioHotstar, JioStar expert Aakash Chopra shared his thoughts on RCB’s selections and Pooja Vastrakar’s value:
“The way RCB has collected and selected players gives them great flexibility. Based on pitch conditions, form, or injuries, they can make tactical changes, whether it’s choosing between Grace Harris or Lauren Bell depending on the opposition. When you look at Indian fast-bowling all-rounders, Pooja Vastrakar stands out because she brings a quality of batting that others—like Renuka Singh Thakur, Shikha Pandey, Arundhati Reddy, or Kranti Gaud, do not offer at the same level. She is a rare commodity. Yes, she has had injury concerns, but there’s only one Pooja Vastrakar in the country. That’s exactly why we saw a bidding war for her. UP Warriorz were very interested, but RCB knew what they wanted, and they secured her. In my opinion, it’s a tremendous addition.”
On Delhi Capitals’ bowling & leadership:
“Between Marizanne Kapp and Annabel Sutherland, you already have eight quality overs. We’ve spoken about Nandini Sharma, she can be the third bowling option. DC have two excellent spinners in Sneh Rana and Shree Charani, and Chinelle Henry adds strong fast-bowling support. With their overseas players, they can easily get ten overs, if not twelve. If Nandini Sharma plays, she gives them even more pace-bowling depth. Their spin attack is already impressive. But the most interesting aspect is how Jemimah Rodrigues captains this side. We’ve seen her flourish as a player and as a strong team personality, but this is her first time leading a successful franchise. It’s a big elevation and will be fascinating to watch.”
