The all-important WPL 2026 mega auction will take place on November 27 in New Delhi. All five teams have already announced their list of retained players, and now all eyes will be on their approach in a bid to build a strong and competitive squad for the coming seasons.
The auction will begin at 3:30 PM and will start with the marquee set featuring eight players – Deepti Sharma (India), Renuka Singh (India), Sophie Devine (New Zealand), Sophie Ecclestone (England), Alyssa Healy (Australia), Amelia Kerr (New Zealand), Meg Lanning (Australia), and Laura Wolvaardt (South Africa).
All these big names are expected to trigger bidding wars as their inclusion will boost any team’s strength and the brand value of the league. But which teams might go after them, and why? Let’s take a look.
Deepti Sharma
Base Price – Rs. 50 Lakh
WPL experience – 25 matches for UP Warriorz (UPW), 507 runs, 27 wickets
Delhi Capitals (DC) might target veteran Indian all-rounder Deepti Sharma. She has shown huge improvement with the bat in the last year and recently won Player of the Tournament in India’s ICC ODI World Cup win (215 runs, 22 wickets).
Her presence and experience will strengthen DC’s middle order. All their retained batters, Shafali Verma, Jemimah Rodrigues, Annabel Sutherland, Nikki Prasad, and Marizanne Kapp, are right-handed. Deepti adds a left-handed, experienced option. With her in the attack, DC can secure 12 overs from top-quality all-rounders (Kapp, Sutherland, and Deepti).
Renuka Singh
Base Price – Rs. 40 Lakh
WPL experience – 23 matches for Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), 13 wickets
Renuka Singh Thakur, Team India pacer, is also coming off the ODI World Cup win. Teams like DC, Gujarat Giants (GG), and UPW might go for her. An experienced Indian pacer leading the attack will help any side. For DC, especially, Renuka can complete a strong seam trio with Sutherland and Kapp. Both Kapp and Renuka with the new ball can be very dangerous.
Sophie Devine
Base Price – Rs. 50 Lakh
WPL experience – 18 matches for RCB, 402 runs, 9 wickets
Since GG have retained only Ashleigh Gardner and Beth Mooney, they may look at Sophie Devine. The veteran New Zealand all-rounder can add value and leadership alongside Gardner and Mooney. She retired from ODIs after the World Cup and is currently playing in the WBBL for the Perth Scorchers. Her scintillating form in the recently concluded Women’s World Cup also makes her a lucrative option for teams seeking a top-order batter.
UPW may also target Devine as they need a captain and a strong leader. A proven all-rounder like her fits that role well.
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Sophie Ecclestone
Base Price – Rs. 50 Lakh
WPL experience – 25 matches for UPW, 187 runs, 36 wickets
RCB might look to bring in England spinner Sophie Ecclestone to pair with Shreyanka Patil. Their eight overs of spin could be key in the middle overs.
If not RCB, GG could also go for her. Ecclestone and Gardner together would give them eight overs of high-quality spin bowling.
Alyssa Healy
Base Price – Rs. 50 Lakh
WPL experience – 17 matches for UPW, 428 runs
DC fans would love to see Alyssa Healy opening with Shafali Verma. After letting Meg Lanning go, DC will want another opener. Shafali and Healy together can create a powerful pair. Healy will also take up wicketkeeping.
GG could also be keen because of the Australian connection. With coach Michael Klinger and only Gardner and Mooney retained, they may want another Aussie star. Healy can open and do wicketkeeping for them. Leadership would not be an issue either, as she is already playing under Gardner in the ongoing WBBL.
Amelia Kerr
Base Price – Rs. 50 Lakh
WPL experience – 29 matches for Mumbai Indians (MI), 437 runs, 40 wickets
Amelia Kerr is known for her strong all-round skills — a top leg-spinner and a steady middle-order batter. UPW may look to add her for stability and control.
If RCB fail to secure Ecclestone, Kerr could be their alternative. Eight overs from her and Shreyanka Patil can also be crucial.
Meg Lanning
Base Price – Rs. 50 Lakh
WPL experience – 27 matches for DC, 952 runs
Meg Lanning led DC to all three WPL finals but fell short each time. She is currently in great form in the WBBL, scoring 288 runs in four innings so far, including a 135 off 74 balls against Sydney Sixers.
DC fans may want her back, and if the franchise can get her at a lower price, they might go for the Australian legend again.
UPW could also target Lanning. For a fresh start, there is no better leader than her.
Laura Wolvaardt
Base Price – Rs. 30 Lakh
WPL experience – 13 matches for GG, 342 runs
RCB fans would be ecstatic seeing Smriti Mandhana opening with Laura Wolvaardt. She was outstanding in the recent ODI World Cup, finishing as the top scorer with 571 runs in nine innings, including centuries in both the semi-final and final.
She also showed leadership qualities. After a heavy loss in the opener, South Africa bounced back under her and reached the final. UPW may also go for Wolvaardt, especially if they miss out on Lanning as their captain.