Retention Rules Ahead of Mega Auction
Each franchise can retain up to five players, including three capped Indian players, two foreign players, and two uncapped Indian players. Importantly, if a team chooses to retain all five players, at least one must be an uncapped Indian.

The upcoming mega auction will test franchises’ strategic planning as they decide how to balance player retentions with Right-to-Match (RTM) options, making WPL 2026 more competitive and engaging for teams and players alike.

Franchise Budget and Retention Deductions
Each franchise has a total auction purse of ₹15 crore. The amount deducted from this purse depends on the number of players retained:

• 5 players: ₹9.25 crore
• 4 players: ₹8.75 crore
• 3 players: ₹7.75 crore
• 2 players: ₹6 crore
• 1 player: ₹3.5 crore

Teams can negotiate higher prices for retained players, but any excess amount spent above the retention slab will also be deducted from their auction purse, ensuring careful financial planning.

RTM Card Introduced for the First Time
WPL 2026 will feature the Right-to-Match (RTM) card for the first time, allowing franchises to re-sign a player who is bought by another team during the auction.

The number of RTM cards available depends on retentions:

• 5 retentions: 0 RTM
• 4 retentions: 1 RTM
• 3 retentions: 2 RTMs
• 2 retentions: 3 RTMs
• 1 retention: 4 RTMs

For example, if Mumbai Indians retain four players and another franchise buys Amandeep Kaur for ₹1 crore, Mumbai can use an RTM card to match the bid and retain her in their squad.

Minimum Salary for Uncapped Players
The minimum salary for uncapped Indian players has been set at ₹50 lakh, though teams and players can mutually agree to increase this amount.

With these new rules and the mega auction, WPL 2026 promises to bring fresh strategies, exciting player movements, and intense competition across all franchises.