The Women's Premier League franchises have made their retention and release calls ahead of the WPL 2026 auction, and not every decision looks straightforward in hindsight. Several experienced and impactful cricketers have been let go at relatively modest price points. Some of these players carry strong T20 records at the international level, while others have already shown what they can do inside the WPL itself.
Here are five players teams could regret releasing:
1. Asha Sobhana
UP Warriorz Women have released Asha Shobhana ahead of the upcoming season. The leg-spinner
was acquired for INR 1.1 crore and has featured in 23 matches, picking up 20 wickets. Despite her experience in domestic and franchise cricket, Shobhana has had limited opportunities at the international level, having represented India in only six T20I matches. Her release could open the door for a fresh opportunity with another franchise in the Women's Premier League. She will aim to build on her experience and deliver consistent performances to strengthen her prospects in the upcoming seasons.
2. Grace Harris
Royal Challengers Bangalore Women released Australian allrounder Grace Harris at INR 75 lakh, a figure that looks modest given her WPL output. Across her WPL career, Harris has accumulated 818 runs and taken 15 wickets, making her one of the more productive allrounders in the competition. In WPL 2025 alone, she struck 237 runs at a remarkable strike rate of 178.19, underlining her ability to accelerate in the middle and lower order. Her overall T20I record adds further weight to her credentials, with 578 runs scored at the international level. Releasing a player of that output for such a base price is a call RCB may find difficult to justify.
3. Chloe Tryon
South Africa's Chloe Tryon is another allrounder who became available at a low price point, with her base price set at INR 30 lakh ahead of the WPL 2026 auction. Her WPL appearances have been limited to just five games across her time in the competition, which may explain why UP Warriorz Women chose to move on. However, her broader T20 record is substantial: Tryon has scored 1,422 runs and taken 51 wickets in T20I cricket overall, numbers that reflect genuine match-winning ability with both bat and ball. Franchises looking for a proven international allrounder at a bargain price will have taken notice.
4. Kiran Navgire
UP Warriorz Women also released Indian batter Kiran Navgire at a price of INR 60 lakh. Navgire has been a consistent contributor within the WPL, having scored 435 runs across 31 appearances in the competition. Despite her domestic output, her international opportunities have been limited, with just six matches played at that level. Her WPL run tally alone suggests she has the ability to perform in franchise cricket, and franchises searching for a reliable top-order option may find her release a useful opportunity.
5. Sneh Rana
Sneh Rana's release by DC Women at INR 50 lakh is another decision that raises questions. The India Women offspinner has played 31 T20Is for the national side and has taken 13 wickets in WPL cricket. Her experience as a spinning allrounder who has operated at the highest level of the women's game gives her clear value in a T20 franchise setup. Releasing a player with that depth of international exposure at such a base price is a call that could look costly once the auction concludes.
