WPL 2026 Retention Review: UP Warriorz Go for Full Reset, MI Forced into Big Cuts

WPL 2026 Retention Review: UP Warriorz Overhaul Squad as MI and DC Make Tough Calls.

The Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2025 retentions appear to be finalised, with franchises submitting their lists ahead of the BCCI’s November 5 deadline. The auction is set for November 27 at Aerocity, New Delhi. Before the official announcement, ESPNcricinfo accessed the confirmed retention lists, offering a first glimpse at how the five teams are shaping up ahead of WPL 2026.

As expected, the spotlight was on Mumbai Indians (MI) — the league’s most successful side with titles in 2023 and 2025 — and the Delhi Capitals (DC), perennial contenders who have narrowly missed out three seasons in a row. Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) fans were eager to see how their champions from 2024 approached this window, while UP Warriorz and Gujarat Giants looked set for rebuilding phases after inconsistent performances.

Mumbai Indians: Champions Forced into Difficult Choices

Mumbai Indians had to make some of the toughest calls this season, especially with a roster packed with international stars. The franchise retained Nat Sciver-Brunt and Hayley Matthews — both crucial all-rounders — but released Amelia Kerr, Chloe Tryon, and Nadine de Klerk due to overseas player constraints.

Amanjot Kaur, fresh from her World Cup heroics, and young sensation G Kamalini, the youngest debutant in WPL history, were also retained — signalling MI’s confidence in domestic youth.

Retained: Amanjot Kaur, Harmanpreet Kaur, Hayley Matthews, Nat Sciver-Brunt, G Kamalini
Released: Amelia Kerr, Chloe Tryon, Jintimani Kalita, Saika Ishaque, Yastika Bhatia, Shabnim Ismail, S Sajana, Amandeep Kaur, Keerthana Balakrishnan, Nadine de Klerk, Sanskriti Gupta, Akshita Maheshwari, Parunika Sisodia, Pooja Vastrakar
Purse left: ₹5.75 crore | RTM left: 0

Delhi Capitals: Lanning Era Ends, New Leadership Beckons

The Delhi Capitals have bid farewell to their iconic captain Meg Lanning, marking the end of an era. The franchise retained Jemimah Rodrigues, Shafali Verma, Annabel Sutherland, and Marizanne Kapp — all proven match-winners.

Uncapped batter Niki Prasad earned a surprise retention, edging out Nandini Kashyap, while N Shree Charani was unexpectedly released despite a strong World Cup showing.

Retained: Jemimah Rodrigues, Shafali Verma, Marizanne Kapp, Annabel Sutherland, Niki Prasad
Released: Alice Capsey, Arundhati Reddy, Jess Jonassen, Meg Lanning, Minnu Mani, Radha Yadav, Shikha Pandey, Sneha Deepthi, Taniya Bhatia, Titas Sadhu, N Shree Charani, Nandini Kashyap, Sarah Bryce

Purse left: ₹5.75 crore | RTM left: 0

Royal Challengers Bengaluru: Keeping Core Intact

Fresh off their historic 2024 WPL title, RCB have kept their championship core largely intact. Smriti Mandhana and Richa Ghosh were automatic retentions, while veteran Ellyse Perry stays on — this time purely as a batter.

Shreyanka Patil, the 2024 Purple Cap winner, has also been retained despite recent injuries. The franchise holds one RTM, possibly for Sophie Devine or Renuka Singh.

Retained: Smriti Mandhana, Ellyse Perry, Richa Ghosh, Shreyanka Patil
Released: Sabbineni Meghana, Georgia Wareham, Renuka Singh, Ekta Bisht, Kanika Ahuja, Danni Wyatt-Hodge, Heather Graham, Kim Garth, Charlie Dean, Nuzhat Parween, Prema Rawat, Joshitha VJ, Jagravi Pawar, Raghvi Bisht, Sophie Devine, Kate Cross, Sophie Molineux, Asha Sobhana
Purse left: ₹6.25 crore | RTM left: 1

UP Warriorz: Major Overhaul and Big Purse to Spend

The UP Warriorz have gone for a complete reset, releasing nearly their entire squad, including skipper Alyssa Healy and world No. 1 T20I bowler Sophie Ecclestone.

Other surprise exits include Kiran Navgire, who recently smashed the fastest T20 century in the Senior Women’s Trophy, and Chinelle Henry, who equalled the fastest WPL fifty last season. With ₹14.5 crore in their purse and four RTMs, UPW are set to dominate the upcoming auction.

Retained: Shweta Sehrawat
Released: Alyssa Healy, Chinelle Henry, Anjali Sarvani, Deepti Sharma, Grace Harris, Kiran Navgire, Chamari Athapaththu, Rajeshwari Gayakwad, Sophie Ecclestone, Tahlia McGrath, Vrinda Dinesh, Poonam Khemnar, Saima Thakor, Gouher Sultana, Kranti Goud, Arushi Goel, Alana King
Purse left: ₹14.5 crore | RTM left: 4

Gujarat Giants: Strategic Streamlining Ahead of Auction

The Gujarat Giants — who finally reached the Eliminator in 2025 — have also made sweeping changes. Only Ashleigh Gardner and Beth Mooney have been retained, while several big names like Laura Wolvaardt, Phoebe Litchfield, and Deandra Dottin have been released.

The Giants, with three RTMs, could still reclaim some of these stars when the bidding begins later this month.

Retained: Ashleigh Gardner, Beth Mooney
Released: Dayalan Hemalatha, Harleen Deol, Laura Wolvaardt, Shabnam Shakil, Tanuja Kanwar, Phoebe Litchfield, Meghna Singh, Kashvee Gautam, Priya Mishra, Mannat Kashyap, Sayali Sathgare, Simran Shaikh, Deandra Dottin, Prakashika Naik, Danielle Gibson
Purse left: ₹9.5 crore | RTM left: 3