WPL Mega Auction: Teams can retain up to five players, RTM option introduced for first time

NEW DELHI: The Women’s Premier League (WPL) has announced key guidelines for the upcoming mega auction, allowing teams to retain up to five players ahead of the high-profile event. The retention deadline is set for November 5, while the auction window will be between November 25 to 29, as communicated to franchises on Thursday.

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Each team can retain a maximum of three capped Indian players, two overseas players, and two uncapped Indian players. If a franchise chooses to retain all five players, at least one must be an uncapped Indian. This rule ensures a balance between experienced stars and emerging talent in the squads.

For the first time in WPL history, franchises can use the Right-to-Match (RTM) option, allowing them to buy back players from their 2025 squads. Each team is entitled to five RTMs, though the number varies depending on retention. Teams retaining all five players lose the , while those retaining fewer players get more RTMs — four for one retention, three for two, two for three, and one for four.


The league has set an auction purse of Rs 15 crore per team. Standard retention prices have been outlined across five slabs: Rs 3.5 crore for Player 1, Rs 2.5 crore for Player 2, Rs 1.75 crore for Player 3, Rs 1 crore for Player 4, and Rs 50 lakh for Player 5. Deductions from the auction purse are proportional to the number of retained players, with Rs 9.25 crore deducted for five retentions. Negotiations between franchises and players can alter these amounts, with uncapped Indians carrying a minimum retention value of Rs 50 lakh.

The WPL has also set a clear timeline leading up to the auction: player retention lists are due by November 5, auction entry lists by November 7, the final player registration by November 18, and the official auction list will be released on November 20. These measures aim to ensure transparency and maintain competitive balance as the WPL gears up for another thrilling season.

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