WPL Auction 2026: RCB retain Smriti Mandhana for Rs 3.5 crore

Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) retained four players including skipper Smriti Mandhana (Rs 3.5 crore) ahead of the Women's Premier League (WPL) 2026 auction to be held in New Delhi on November 27.

Other players retained include Richa Ghosh (Rs 2. 75 Cr), Ellyse Perry (Rs 2 Cr) and Shreyanka Patil (Rs 60 lakh).

"A calm & tactically astute leader , a wicketkeeper who’s among, if not the best middle order batter , an all time great who sets high standards for everyone including herself , and an exceptional off-spinner who bowls in all phases of the game," tweeted RCB's new coach Malolan Rangarajan.

As per WPL retention rules, each franchise can retain a maximum of three capped Indian players, two overseas players, and two uncapped Indian players.

In cases where a team retains five players, at least one must be an uncapped Indian.

For the first time, the WPL will also allow franchises to exercise a right-to-match (RTM) option at the auction to buy back a player who was part of their 2025 squad.

Earlier in the day, RCB named Rangarajan as their new coach.

Among others, Indian stars Harmanpreet Kaur, Jemimah Rodrigues, Shafali Verma and Richa Ghosh have all been retained by their respective franchises.

In contrast, Australian stalwarts Alyssa Healy and Meg Lanning, along with New Zealand's Amelia Kerr, have been released.

(with inputs from agencies)