By Rajdeep Saha | Oct 09, 2025, 01:14 am
**BCCI to Hold Mega Auction for Women’s Premier League Franchises Ahead of 2026 Season**
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has announced plans to conduct a mega auction for the Women’s Premier League (WPL) franchises. This decision aims to revamp the five teams ahead of the 2026 season. According to ESPNcricinfo, the franchises have been informally informed about this development, with the auction expected to take place by the end of November.
### Auction Specifics: Franchises Awaiting Confirmation
Currently, the franchises are awaiting clarification from the WPL regarding several key aspects of the upcoming mega auction. These include the number of players each team can retain, the total auction purse, retention slabs, and the number of right-to-match (RTM) card options available. All these details will be finalized by a WPL committee, although there is no confirmed timeline for when the committee will meet to decide.
### About the WPL: A Brief History
Launched in 2023, the Women’s Premier League quickly established itself as the most lucrative event in women’s cricket. Mumbai Indians Women were crowned the inaugural champions in this five-team league. The BCCI had previously indicated that the next edition of the WPL would be held during the January-February window, though exact dates are yet to be announced.
### Franchise Feedback: Mixed Reactions to the Mega Auction
The decision to hold a mega auction has received mixed responses from the franchises. Mumbai Indians, Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), and Delhi Capitals have opposed the move. These teams expressed concern that their efforts in building strong squads over the past three seasons might be undone just as the WPL brand is beginning to establish itself.
On the other hand, Gujarat Giants and UP Warriorz support the revamp. Both teams see the mega auction as an opportunity to rebuild and strengthen their squads after missing out on finals in the previous editions.
### Retention Policy: Teams to Retain Core Players
Despite the mixed reactions, a WPL official has assured teams that they will have the opportunity to retain their core players. Although the exact retention formula is yet to be finalized, it is expected that each team could retain at least five players. The official emphasized the importance of maintaining five strong teams to enhance the tournament’s overall brand value.
### WPL: A Gamechanger for Women’s Cricket
The Women’s Premier League has been widely hailed as a gamechanger for women’s cricket, particularly in terms of the financial benefits it offers players. Between 2023 and 2027, the league’s brand value reached approximately ₹700 crore (about $86 million), with a per-match value of ₹7.09 crore (around $866,000).
India’s star batter Smriti Mandhana was the first player to be bought at the inaugural WPL auction in 2023 and remains the most expensive buy, having been purchased for ₹3.2 crore (approximately $415,000).
The upcoming mega auction and the evolving structure of the WPL underscore the league’s commitment to growth and competitive balance, promising an exciting future for women’s cricket in India and beyond.
https://www.newsbytesapp.com/news/sports/women-s-premier-league-to-see-mega-auction-be-held/story
