5 Players who will make their teams rethink Retention Strategy ahead of WPL 2026 Auction
The 2025 ICC Women’s World Cup concluded on Sunday with India lifting the trophy. As celebrations continue, the focus now shifts to the upcoming WPL 2026 auction, scheduled for late November. But before the auction, all 5 franchises will announce their player retention lists by the November 5, 2025 deadline.
Under the new retention rules, each team can retain a maximum of 5 players, including up to 3 capped Indian players, 2 overseas players and 2 uncapped Indian players. A new Right-to-Match (RTM) card system has been introduced for the first time, allowing teams to match auction bids for their released players. Additionally, if a team retains all 5 players, at least one must be an uncapped Indian to promote India’s domestic cricket talent.
New WPL 2026 Retention Rules:
- Teams can retain up to 5 players before the auction.
- A maximum of 3 capped Indian players.
- Up to 2 overseas players.
- Up to 2 uncapped Indian players.
- If all 5 retention slots are used, at least 1 must be an uncapped Indian player.
As teams finalise their retention lists, here are some big players expected to spark major discussions for their franchise’s management or attract heavy bidding wars in the upcoming WPL 2026 Auction.
1. Nadine de Klerk
South African all-rounder Nadine de Klerk has emerged as one of the top performers heading into the WPL 2026 auction. Her ability to deliver yorkers and score quick runs makes her a valuable asset for T20 cricket. She was a part of Mumbai Indians in WPL 2025, she didn’t feature in a single match throughout the season. In the recent World Cup, she recorded a strike rate of 131.64, second only to Richa Ghosh’s 133.52 (min. 20 balls faced). She also picked up 9 wickets, the third-most for South Africa. Her composure in the final-over spell where she conceded only 6 singles, helped her side close out a tight game.
2. Amanjot Kaur
Indian all-rounder Amanjot Kaur had a strong comeback from a back stress fracture earlier this year. Both her stints, in WPL 2025 and the 2025 World Cup, ended in title wins for her. Her recent performances make her a strong contender for retention by MI, possibly ahead of Pooja Vastrakar who has struggled with long injuries keeping her out. Amanjot’s versatility as a seam-bowling all-rounder is well evident. But her adaptability in the lower & middle batting order is a new discovery, while her exceptional fielding makes her a complete package for any T20 side.
3. Annabel Sutherland and Marizanne Kapp
Australia’s Annabel Sutherland and South Africa’s Marizanne Kapp were both key performers for Delhi Capitals last season. Sutherland finished the World Cup with 17 wickets, second only to Deepti Sharma’s 22, while Kapp took 12 wickets, including a match-winning 5-wicket haul in the semi-final against England. Kapp went wicketless in 4 of the 9 matches at the World Cup.
In WPL 2025, Sutherland was DC’s third-highest wicket-taker with 9 wickets, one more than Kapp’s tally of 8 wickets. With both contributing with the bat as well, the Capitals face a tough choice. Retaining one could mean releasing another which could potentially trigger a bidding war in the auction room.
4. N Shree Charani
Left-arm spinner N Shree Charani impressed in both the WPL and World Cup. Although she played only 2 games for DC in WPL 2025, her impact earned her a World Cup call-up. The management must’ve seen something that played her ahead of the experienced Radha Yadav. She ended up picking 14 wickets, the second-most for India and was instrumental in both of India’s wins against Australia, where her variations restricted the defending champions to below-par totals. If Delhi Capitals release her, she will be among the most wanted Indian players at the WPL 2026 auction.
5. Laura Wolvaardt
South Africa’s Laura Wolvaardt continues to prove her consistency across formats. She has now topped the run charts in 3 consecutive World Cups (ODIs and T20Is), including the recently concluded 2025 Women’s World Cup in India. The opener hit 7 sixes out of her 18 ODI sixes at the tournament and even scored a century in the Final against India. She has shown clear improvement in her strike rate and range of scoring shots.
Despite her class, Gujarat Giants fielded her in only 3 matches last season during WPL 2025, experimenting with 5 different opening combinations across 9 games. If the Giants do not retain her, Wolvaardt’s leadership skills and versatility as a batter will make her one of the hottest picks at the WPL 2026 auction.