Good news is coming for WPL fans! The cricket board is planning to make WPL 2026 even better. The tournament might start earlier this time, maybe on January 6 or 8, 2026.
Usually, WPL happens in February and March, but next year it might finish by early February.
The Men’s T20 World Cup will happen in February-March 2026 in India and Sri Lanka. BCCI wants to finish WPL before the World Cup starts so fans can enjoy both tournaments.
WPL Auction 2026 Date And Time
The auction might happen in November 2025 instead of December. This is earlier than usual, which means fans will get to see the team selections sooner.
There is also talk about having a mega-auction where teams can buy many new players and make big changes to their squads.
BCCI has not decided where the matches will happen yet. The first WPL was only in Mumbai. The second season had games in Bengaluru and Delhi.
Last year, in 2025, matches were played in four cities: Baroda, Bengaluru, Lucknow, and Mumbai. Fans are waiting to know which cities will host WPL 2026.
Recap Of WPL 2025 Auction: Key Stats and Top Bids
The WPL 2025 auction was amazing for cricket fans. Teams bought 19 players for ₹9.05 crores in total.
Fans watched with excitement as teams fought to get the best players. The biggest surprise was Simran Shaikh getting ₹1.9 crores from Gujarat Giants.
This made fans very happy because it showed teams care about young Indian players.
- 19 players got new teams (14 Indian, 5 from other countries)
- Teams spent ₹9.05 crores total
- Simran Shaikh got the most money: ₹1.9 crores
Top 5 Highest-Paid Players In WPL 2025 Auction
Apart from the highest bid players, these players earned the most from TATA WPL 2025:
| Player Name | Team | Earnings | Nationality |
|---|---|---|---|
| Smriti Mandhana | RCB | ₹3.4 crore | Indian |
| Ashleigh Gardner | Gujarat Giants | ₹3.2 crore | Australian |
| Nat Sciver-Brunt | Mumbai Indians | ₹3.2 crore | English |
| Deepti Sharma | UP Warriorz | ₹2.6 crore | Indian |
| Jemimah Rodrigues | Delhi Capitals | ₹2.2 crore | Indian |
Fans saw that famous players still get the most money. Smriti Mandhana stayed with RCB for ₹3.4 crores.
Teams also paid ₹3.2 crores each for Ashleigh Gardner and Nat Sciver-Brunt. This made fans happy because their favorite star players are still in the league.
Team Retentions and Releases From 2025
Fans noticed that teams tried to keep their good players. Delhi Capitals kept 14 players, including stars like Meg Lanning. This made their fans happy because they did not lose their favorite players.
| Franchise | Retained Players | Key Players Retained | Purse Left (₹ crore) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mumbai Indians | 14 | Smriti Mandhana, Harmanpreet Kaur, Nat Sciver-Brunt | ₹0.45 crore |
| Delhi Capitals | 15 | Meg Lanning, Shafali Verma, Jemimah Rodrigues | ₹1.65 crore |
| Gujarat Giants | 14 | Deandra Dottin, Simran Shaikh, Beth Mooney | ₹0.40 crore |
| Royal Challengers | 14 | Ashleigh Gardner, Sophie Devine, Ellyse Perry | ₹1.75 crore |
| UP Warriorz | 15 | Alyssa Healy, Chamari Athapaththu, Sophie Ecclestone | ₹3.4 crore |
Gujarat Giants let go of 7 players. This meant they wanted big changes. It worked well because they got new stars like Deandra Dottin for ₹1.7 crores.
Rising Stars and Important International Signings From 2025
Mumbai Indians paid ₹1.6 crores for G Kamalini, a very young player. RCB bought Prema Rawat for ₹1.2 crores. This made fans happy because teams believe in young Indian talent.
| Player Name | Player Type | Team | Bid Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Simran Shaikh | Indian Uncapped | Gujarat Giants | ₹1.9 crore |
| Deandra Dottin | Overseas | Gujarat Giants | ₹1.7 crore |
| G Kamalini | Indian Youngster | Mumbai Indians | ₹1.6 crore |
Every team got 18 players, 12 Indian and 6 from other countries. Fans liked this because it means every team has both experienced foreign players and good Indian players. This makes games more exciting to watch.
Franchise Strategies and Squad Balance: Past Trends and Future Outlook
More people are watching women’s cricket now than ever before. Fans think the 2026 auction will be even bigger than 2025. They expect teams to pay more money for the best players.
Cricket experts think that if the 2025 players do well, teams will spend even more money next year. This makes fans very excited.
Fans are talking a lot on social media about which players they want their teams to buy. They are making lists of dream players and guessing which teams will spend the most money.
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What This Means For Women’s Premier League
The WPL keeps getting better every year. Fans are the most important part of this success. When fans watch games and support teams, it helps women’s cricket grow bigger and better.
As we wait for the 2026 auction date, fans can keep dreaming about their perfect team and supporting women’s cricket in India.
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