WPL 2026: Released Players and Team Strategies Ahead of Mega Auctions
The five Women’s Premier League (WPL) teams revealed their retained players lists on Thursday as they prepare for the upcoming mega auctions later this month. While some franchises chose to keep their entire core squads intact, others released several prominent players to rebuild their teams for the next cycle.
Mumbai Indians
The Mumbai Indians retained their entire core group but released notable international players such as Amelia Kerr and Chloe Tryon. They utilized their full quota of three Indian retentions: Harmanpreet Kaur, Amanjot Kaur, and G Kamalini. Since they retained five players, the reigning champions cannot use the Right to Match (RTM) option. With a new coach leading the side, Mumbai aims to strengthen their squad at the auction.
Players Released by Mumbai Indians
- Amandeep Kaur
- Amelia Kerr
- Chloe Tryon
- Jintimani Kalita
- Sathyamoorty Keerthana
- Parunika Sisodia
- Sajeevan Sajana
- Yastika Bhatia
- Saika Ishaque
- Shabnim Ismail
- Nadine de Klerk
- Sanskriti Gupta
- Akshita Maheshwari
- Danielle Gibson
Royal Challengers Bengaluru
The winners of the second season, Royal Challengers Bengaluru, released two World Cup winners—Sneh Rana and Renuka Singh Thakur—before the auctions began.
"While some teams decided to retain their entire core, others opted to release several big names in a bid to rebuild their squad for the next cycle."
The upcoming auction will be crucial as teams strategize to balance retaining talent while refreshing their rosters for sustained success.
Author's summary: The WPL 2026 retention and release lists reveal contrasting team strategies, with some franchises rebuilding aggressively while others maintain their core squads for the next season.