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The fourth season of the Women's Premier League (WPL) is set to begin with an auction in Delhi on November 27. The full schedule for the upcoming season will be released immediately following the auction. It is confirmed that the entire tournament will be played in January 2026. Vadodara and Navi Mumbai could be the potential host cities for this mega event.
The tournament's first mega auction
In the inaugural season in 2023, RCB Women acquired Smriti Mandhana for a whopping ₹3.40 crore (340 million rupees). Nat Sciver-Brunt, who plays for MI Women, was also purchased for ₹3.20 crore (320 million rupees). The tournament's first mega auction will take place in 2026. It will be interesting to see if any player sells for a higher price than RCB captain Smriti Mandhana. Therefore, it's important to know when and what time the WPL 2026 auction will be live streamed.
Auction rules
Each team will be allowed to build a squad of up to 18 players. In all, 73 slots - including 23 overseas spots - are available to be filled across the five teams. For the first time, the WPL auction rules allow the franchises the use up to five Right to Match (RTM) options, depending on the number of retentions, to buy back a player who was part of their squad in 2025.
Teams that retained fewer players will have more RTM options and a larger purse going into the mega auction. All teams will have a combined purse of INR 41.1 crore to spend at the auction.
Remaining purse for each team
| Team | Purse remaining (INR) | Available Slots | Overseas Slots |
|---|---|---|---|
| Delhi Capitals | 5.70 | 13 | 4 |
| Gujarat Giants | 9.00 | 16 | 4 |
| Mumbai Indians | 5.75 | 13 | 4 |
| Royal Challengers Bengaluru | 6.15 | 14 | 5 |
| UP Warriorz | 14.50 | 17 | 6 |
Also Read: Indian Cricket Team's upcoming schedule (men and women)
When will the WPL 2026 auction start?
The WPL 2026 auction will take place on Thursday, November 27.
How many teams will participate in the WPL 2026 auction?
In just three seasons, the WPL has transformed into one of the biggest women’s T20 leagues globally, now valued higher than Pakistan’s PSL. Five teams - Royal Challengers Bengaluru Women, Mumbai Indians Women, Delhi Capitals Women, UP Warriorz and Gujarat Giants Women will participate in the WPL 2026 auction.
What time will the WPL 2026 auction start?
The WPL 2026 auction will begin at 3:30 PM IST.
Which TV channels will broadcast the WPL 2026 auction live in India?
Indian fans will be able to watch the WPL 2026 auction live on TV on Star Sports Network channels.
How to watch live-streaming of the WPL 2026 auction in India?
Live-streaming of the WPL 2026 auction will be available on the JioHotstar app and its official website.