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The WPL 2026 auction witnessed intense bidding as India’s star all-rounder Deepti Sharma was retained by UP Warriorz using the first-ever RTM card for ₹3.2 crore, making her the league’s second-costliest player. Her outstanding World Cup 2025 performance drove the fierce bidding.
Deepti Sharma Becomes Second-Costliest WPL Player
New Delhi: The Women's Premier League 2026 auction on Thursday was a major source of excitement for Indian cricket fans, as India's legendary all-rounder Deepti Sharma once again created history. After being named Player of the Tournament in the 2025 ODI World Cup, her popularity and performance skyrocketed, a result that was clearly visible on the auction table. Deepti's bid started at a base price of ₹50 lakh and gradually rose to crores. Delhi Capitals continued to raise the bid, and it seemed that Deepti would finally be seen in the Delhi jersey. Meanwhile, UP Warriors, using the RTM (Right to Match) feature, reinstated her for ₹3.2 crore. This bid made Deepti the second most expensive player in WPL history.
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The biggest attraction of this auction was the RTM card, which teams were allowed to use for the first time this year. This gave teams the opportunity to reclaim their former players, who had been released for various reasons, in the auction. Deepti was previously part of the UP Warriors, so the team used their RTM card at the last minute to reinstate her. This moment was extremely emotional and historic not only for the team but also for Deepti herself.
The most significant chapter of Deepti Sharma's career was written in the World Cup 2025, where she delivered a performance with both bat and ball that is considered one of the greatest achievements in women's cricket. She surpassed all bowlers in the tournament by taking 22 wickets and also amassed 215 runs. Her most historic innings came in the final, where she scored 58 runs and took five wickets for 39 runs against South Africa. She became the first player in World Cup history to achieve the double of a half-century and five wickets in a knockout match. Based on this performance, she was named 'Player of the Tournament'.
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Along with the auction, the full schedule for the Women's Premier League 2026 was also revealed. The tournament will begin on January 9th, with the final match being played in Vadodara on February 5th. The league will once again be held in a caravan model, with the initial matches being played at the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai, before the second phase of the tournament shifts to Vadodara. League Chairperson Jayesh George stated that the structure, management, and facilities have been further strengthened to provide a better experience for spectators and players.
Harmanpreet Kaur's Mumbai Indians, who won both the 2023 and 2025 seasons, are set to defend their title this time around. Meanwhile, teams including Delhi Capitals, UP Warriors, and RCB are all eyeing the title with their new combinations.
