The core WPL auction rules are simple: each team builds a squad of 15 to 18 players with a maximum of six overseas players, base prices run in five slabs from ₹10 lakh to ₹50 lakh, and bids rise in ₹5 lakh steps up to ₹1 crore. The right-to-match (RTM) card was used for the first time at the 2026 mega auction, but reports say it is not part of mini-auctions like the one in Kochi on 28 October 2026 (5:30 PM IST).
This page explains every rule in plain language and then walks through one bid, paddle by paddle, so you can follow any WPL auction without needing a rulebook. The numbers used in the examples are from the 2027 auction, but the rules apply every year.
WPL auction rules at a glance
| Rule | What it means |
|---|---|
| Squad size | Minimum 15, maximum 18 players per team |
| Overseas limit in squad | Maximum 6 overseas players |
| Overseas limit in playing XI | 4 overseas, or 5 if one is from an Associate nation |
| Base price slabs | ₹50 lakh, ₹40 lakh, ₹30 lakh, ₹20 lakh, ₹10 lakh |
| Lowest possible buy | ₹10 lakh |
| Bid increments (as reported since 2023) | ₹5 lakh up to ₹1 crore; ₹10 lakh from ₹1 crore to ₹2 crore; ₹20 lakh from ₹2 crore to ₹3 crore; auctioneer’s call above ₹3 crore (minimum ₹20 lakh) |
| Total salary purse | ₹15 crore per team (2026, and reported unchanged for 2027) |
| Right to match (RTM) | Introduced at the 2026 mega auction; reported as not available in mini-auctions |
| Retention limit | Up to 5 before a mega auction; no limit before a mini-auction |
| Most expensive buy in WPL history | Smriti Mandhana, ₹3.4 crore (RCB, 2023) |
| Next auction | 28 October 2026, Grand Hyatt Kochi, 5:30 PM IST (mini-auction) |
How a WPL auction works, step by step
An auction is the last step of a process that starts weeks earlier. First comes the retention deadline, when each franchise tells the BCCI which players it is keeping. For the 2027 season that deadline was 28 September 2026, and the five teams kept 63 players, 23 of them overseas.
Next, players register for the auction and choose a base price. Franchises then submit shortlists, and the BCCI publishes the final auction list. For 2027 that list has 146 players (119 Indian, 27 overseas) for 27 slots. The full names and base prices are in our WPL 2027 auction player list.
On auction day, players come up in sets. Earlier auctions grouped them as marquee players, then capped batters, all-rounders, keepers and bowlers, followed by uncapped sets. The auctioneer reads out each name and base price, teams raise paddles, and the highest bid when the hammer falls wins.
If nobody bids at the base price, the player goes unsold. Unsold players can come back later in the evening if teams ask for them; the 2026 auction was reported to include an accelerated round for exactly this. A player who stays unsold after that cannot join a team through the auction, though injury replacements during the season can bring some of them back.
For the date, timings, venue and current purse table for this year, use our WPL 2027 Auction: Date, Time, Venue, Purse and Slots guide. This page sticks to the rules themselves.
WPL auction purse rules: what a team can actually spend
The purse is the total salary a franchise can spend on its squad. It was ₹12 crore per team at the inaugural auction in 2023 and ₹15 crore for the 2026 mega auction. Reports say the cap is unchanged at ₹15 crore for 2027.
What matters on auction night is not the full ₹15 crore but what is left after retentions. Every retained player’s salary is deducted first. That is why the five teams arrive in Kochi with very different amounts.
| Team | Purse left for 2027 auction | Slots | Overseas slots | Squad size now |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| UP Warriorz | ₹3.75 crore | 8 | 3 | 10 |
| Gujarat Giants | ₹1.25 crore | 3 | 1 | 15 |
| Royal Challengers Bengaluru | ₹1.15 crore | 5 | 2 | 13 |
| Delhi Capitals | ₹1.10 crore | 5 | 1 | 13 |
| Mumbai Indians | ₹90 lakh | 6 | 0 | 12 |
| Total | ₹8.15 crore | 27 | 7 | 63 |
These figures include the Tara Norris trade of 12 October 2026, when the USA seamer moved from UP Warriorz to Mumbai Indians at her ₹10 lakh fee. Before that trade, UPW had ₹3.65 crore and seven slots (two overseas), and you will still see those numbers in older previews.
The rule nobody prints: the maximum single bid
A team’s purse is not its maximum bid. Because squads need at least 15 players and the cheapest player costs ₹10 lakh, a team must keep back ₹10 lakh for every compulsory slot it has not yet filled.
The formula is: maximum bid = purse left − (₹10 lakh × compulsory slots still to fill after this player).
Take Delhi Capitals. They have 13 players, so they must buy at least two more. If one of those is the player being bid for, they still need one more at ₹10 lakh. So DC’s real ceiling is ₹1.10 crore − ₹10 lakh = ₹1.00 crore. Gujarat Giants already have 15 players, so they can put the entire ₹1.25 crore on one name.
In 2023 the BCCI also reminded teams of a minimum squad spend (₹9 crore out of ₹12 crore that year). The current minimum spend figure has not been published, so we have left it out of the calculations here.
WPL squad size and overseas player limit
Every WPL squad must have between 15 and 18 players. Teams can stop buying once they reach 15, which is why a franchise sometimes goes quiet in the last sets even with money left.
Overseas limit in the squad
A squad can hold a maximum of six overseas players. This rule shapes mini-auctions more than any other. For 2027, Mumbai Indians already have six overseas players after the Norris trade, so they cannot bid for a single overseas name, however good she is.
Across the league, only seven overseas slots are open: three for UPW, two for RCB and one each for DC and GG. With 27 overseas players registered, roughly four players chase every overseas seat.
Overseas limit in the playing XI
On match day, a team can field four overseas players. It can field a fifth if one of the five is from an Associate nation such as Scotland, the Netherlands, the UAE or the USA.
This is why Associate players carry extra value at the auction. A team that buys one can effectively add an overseas player to its XI. The 2027 pool has six Associate players, all at ₹10 lakh: Kathryn Bryce, Sarah Bryce, Darcey Carter and Kirstie Gordon of Scotland, Babette de Leede of the Netherlands and Esha Oza of the UAE.
What “capped” and “uncapped” mean
A capped player has played international cricket for her country. An uncapped player has not. The distinction matters for base prices, because uncapped players register in the lower slabs, and for retention rules, which set separate limits for capped and uncapped players.
WPL base price rules: the five slabs
The base price is the opening bid for a player. Players choose it when they register, from five slabs: ₹50 lakh, ₹40 lakh, ₹30 lakh, ₹20 lakh and ₹10 lakh. Capped players register in the ₹30 lakh to ₹50 lakh range, and uncapped players at ₹10 lakh or ₹20 lakh.
The base price is a floor, not a valuation. If any team bids at the base, the player is sold for at least that amount. If none does, she goes unsold. So a high base price is a gamble: it signals confidence, but it can also scare off teams with small purses.
| Base price | Typical player | 2027 pool |
|---|---|---|
| ₹50 lakh | Established internationals | 2 (Sophia Dunkley, Sophie Molineux) |
| ₹40 lakh | Capped players with strong WPL records | 4 |
| ₹30 lakh | Capped Indian and overseas players | 30 |
| ₹20 lakh | Uncapped players with some pedigree | 4 |
| ₹10 lakh | Uncapped domestic players, Associate players | 106 |
Why low base prices can still produce big fees
History shows the base price tells you little about the final fee. Kashvee Gautam went from ₹10 lakh to ₹2 crore with Gujarat Giants at the 2024 auction, and Simran Shaikh was the top buy of the 2025 auction at ₹1.9 crore. On the other side, Sophia Dunkley went unsold at ₹50 lakh in 2025, and Alyssa Healy found no takers at ₹50 lakh at the 2026 mega auction.
How bidding works: increments and the paddle
Once the auctioneer opens at the base price, each new bid must go up by a fixed step. These are the increments reported for the WPL since the first auction, and no change has been announced since:
| Current bid | Next bid goes up by | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Up to ₹1 crore | ₹5 lakh | ₹40 lakh → ₹45 lakh → ₹50 lakh |
| ₹1 crore to ₹2 crore | ₹10 lakh | ₹1 crore → ₹1.10 crore → ₹1.20 crore |
| ₹2 crore to ₹3 crore | ₹20 lakh | ₹2 crore → ₹2.20 crore → ₹2.40 crore |
| Above ₹3 crore | Auctioneer’s discretion, at least ₹20 lakh | ₹3 crore → ₹3.20 crore or more |
A team raises its paddle to accept the next price. It cannot jump ahead with a bigger number of its own; the auctioneer sets each step. When no team accepts the next step, the auctioneer calls the bid and the last paddle wins.
Two practical points follow. First, a team cannot bid more than its maximum single bid, and the auctioneer’s team checks purse balances live. Second, a team cannot bid for an overseas player once its six overseas spots are full. Those two checks explain most of the bidding wars that stop suddenly.
Worked example: one WPL auction bid from paddle to purse
This is the heart of the rules. Below is one imaginary bid, using the real 2027 purses and slots, so you can see every rule working at once. “Player A” is a made-up overseas all-rounder with a ₹40 lakh base price. This is an illustration, not a prediction.
Who can bid? Mumbai Indians cannot, because their six overseas spots are full. That leaves four teams. Each team’s ceiling comes from the formula above.
| Team | Purse | Squad now | Compulsory slots after this buy | Maximum bid for Player A |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| UP Warriorz | ₹3.75 crore | 10 | 4 | ₹3.35 crore |
| Gujarat Giants | ₹1.25 crore | 15 | 0 | ₹1.25 crore |
| Royal Challengers Bengaluru | ₹1.15 crore | 13 | 1 | ₹1.05 crore |
| Delhi Capitals | ₹1.10 crore | 13 | 1 | ₹1.00 crore |
| Mumbai Indians | ₹90 lakh | 12 | – | Cannot bid (no overseas slot) |
The bidding. In our example, Gujarat Giants are not interested, and three teams take part.
| Step | Team | Bid | What is happening |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | RCB | ₹40 lakh | Opens at base price |
| 2 | DC | ₹45 lakh | ₹5 lakh step applies below ₹1 crore |
| 3 | RCB | ₹50 lakh | Bidding continues in ₹5 lakh steps |
| 4 | DC | ₹55 lakh | |
| 5–9 | RCB, DC | ₹60 lakh to ₹80 lakh | Two teams trading paddles; RCB hold the bid at ₹80 lakh |
| 10 | UPW | ₹85 lakh | UPW enter late, a common tactic |
| 11 | DC | ₹90 lakh | RCB drop out to protect their second overseas slot |
| 12 | UPW | ₹95 lakh | |
| 13 | DC | ₹1.00 crore | DC reach their exact ceiling |
| 14 | UPW | ₹1.10 crore | Increment doubles to ₹10 lakh at ₹1 crore |
At step 13, DC bid ₹1.00 crore, their exact ceiling. The next step is ₹1.10 crore, because the increment doubles to ₹10 lakh at ₹1 crore, and UPW take it. DC cannot reply: ₹1.10 crore would leave them nothing for their one remaining compulsory slot. RCB cannot come back either, because their ceiling is ₹1.05 crore and the next step would be ₹1.20 crore.
The hammer falls: Player A to UP Warriorz for ₹1.10 crore.
What changes after the sale.
| UP Warriorz | Before | After |
|---|---|---|
| Purse | ₹3.75 crore | ₹2.65 crore |
| Squad size | 10 | 11 |
| Slots left | 8 | 7 |
| Overseas slots left | 3 | 2 |
| Compulsory slots left | 5 | 4 |
| New maximum single bid | ₹3.35 crore | ₹2.35 crore |
Notice what the rules did here. DC “lost” not because they wanted the player less but because the ₹10 lakh reserve and the ₹1 crore increment jump stopped them at exactly ₹1 crore. RCB walked away early because spending big on one overseas player would have wrecked the plan for their second. The final price was set by the second-highest ceiling in the room, not the highest.
RTM in the WPL: how the right-to-match card works
The right-to-match card lets a franchise buy back a player who was in its squad the previous season by matching the winning bid. The WPL used it for the first time at the 2026 mega auction.
How many RTM cards a team got
The number of RTMs depended on how many players a team retained. The cap was five combined, so retaining fewer players meant more RTMs.
| Players retained before 2026 mega auction | RTM cards available | Retention slab for that player |
|---|---|---|
| 0 | 5 | – |
| 1 | 4 | Player 1: ₹3.5 crore |
| 2 | 3 | Player 2: ₹2.5 crore |
| 3 | 2 | Player 3: ₹1.75 crore |
| 4 | 1 | Player 4: ₹1 crore |
| 5 | 0 | Player 5: ₹50 lakh |
Teams could retain at most three capped Indians, two overseas players and two uncapped Indians. The slab amounts were guidelines; if a team paid a retained player more than the slab, the higher amount came off the purse.
The RTM process, using the Deepti Sharma case
The best real example is Deepti Sharma at the 2026 auction. She came up at a base price of ₹50 lakh and drew only one bid, from Delhi Capitals.
- Bidding ends: DC are the highest bidder at ₹50 lakh.
- RTM offered: Her 2025 team, UP Warriorz, are asked if they want to use an RTM. They say yes.
- One final raise: The highest bidder gets one chance to raise the price. DC raised it to ₹3.2 crore.
- Match or walk away: UPW could either match ₹3.2 crore or let her go to DC. They matched.
Deepti became the joint second-most expensive buy in WPL history. The rule protects the original team but lets the rival make it expensive, which is exactly what DC did. UPW also used RTMs to bring back Sophie Ecclestone (₹85 lakh), Kiran Navgire (₹60 lakh) and Kranti Gaud (₹50 lakh) at that auction.
Is RTM available at the 2027 auction?
Reports say RTM is not used at mini-auctions, so a team that released a player has to win her back in open bidding. The WPL has not put out a separate public note on this for Kochi, so treat it as the reported position until the pre-auction briefing confirms it.
Mega auction vs mini-auction: which rules change
The WPL now has two kinds of auction, and the rules change between them. Mega auctions reset squads; mini-auctions top them up.
| Rule | Mega auction (2026) | Mini-auction (2024, 2025, 2027) |
|---|---|---|
| Retention limit | Up to 5 players | No limit |
| RTM cards | Up to 5, linked to retentions | Reported as not used |
| Purse on the day | Fresh ₹15 crore minus retention costs | Whatever is left after retained salaries |
| Slots available | Large (73 in 2026) | Small (19 to 30) |
| Typical top price | ₹3 crore or more | Around ₹2 crore |
| Main strategy | Build a core | Fill gaps, buy injury cover |
In a mini-auction, teams usually keep most of their squad, so purses are small and the fight is over a few slots. In a mega auction, everyone has money and the RTM gives some teams a second chance at their old players.
How WPL auction rules and numbers have changed since 2023
| Auction (for season) | Type | Venue | Players | Slots | Key rule change | Top buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 2023 (2023) | Inaugural | Mumbai | 409 | – | ₹12 crore purse; 15-18 squads; 6 overseas | Smriti Mandhana, ₹3.4 crore (RCB) |
| Dec 2023 (2024) | Mini | Mumbai | 165 | 30 | First mini-auction | Annabel Sutherland, Kashvee Gautam, ₹2 crore each |
| Dec 2024 (2025) | Mini | Bengaluru | 120 | 19 | – | Simran Shaikh, ₹1.9 crore (GG) |
| Nov 2025 (2026) | Mega | New Delhi | 277 | 73 | ₹15 crore purse; 5 retentions; first RTM | Deepti Sharma, ₹3.2 crore (UPW, RTM) |
| Oct 2026 (2027) | Mini | Kochi | 146 | 27 | No retention limit; no RTM (reported) | To be decided on 28 October |
The biggest shifts have been the move to ₹15 crore purses and the arrival of the RTM. On the field, the competition has stayed tight: RCB (2024, 2026) and Mumbai Indians (2023, 2025) have two titles each, as our WPL winners list shows. RCB’s 2026 title came with the highest successful chase in WPL history, 204 against Delhi Capitals at Vadodara, built on a record 165-run stand between Mandhana and Georgia Voll.
iSportsLeague take: the three numbers that decide every WPL bid
Read any WPL auction with three numbers per team: purse, compulsory slots, overseas slots. Everything else is noise.
1. The ₹10 lakh reserve sets the real ceiling. Subtract ₹10 lakh for every compulsory slot still to fill after the player on the block. That number, not the purse, is what a team can bid. For 2027, the five teams have ₹8.15 crore, but filling all 27 slots at the minimum costs ₹2.7 crore. That leaves ₹5.45 crore of genuine bidding money, and UP Warriorz hold ₹2.95 crore of it, about 54 per cent.
2. The ₹1 crore wall is real. Below ₹1 crore, bids move in ₹5 lakh steps; above it, in ₹10 lakh steps. A team whose ceiling sits between ₹1 crore and ₹1.10 crore gets stuck there, exactly like DC and RCB in our worked example. In a mini-auction, where most ceilings are around ₹1 crore, expect many sales at ₹95 lakh to ₹1.10 crore and few just above.
3. Overseas slots kill bidding wars faster than money. Once a team fills its six overseas places, it is out of every overseas set, however rich it is. Count overseas slots as they fill on auction night and you can predict when overseas prices will crash.
Our conclusion: in any mini-auction, the final price of a good player is set by the second-highest ceiling among teams that still need her role and still have the right slot. Work that out before the paddle goes up and you will be closer to the hammer price than any base-price guess.
How to follow the WPL auction on the day
The next WPL auction starts at 5:30 PM IST on Wednesday, 28 October 2026, at the Grand Hyatt in Kochi. The official TV and streaming partner for the auction had not been confirmed when this page was published; the 2026 auction was on Star Sports and JioHotstar.
A quick checklist for following any auction with these rules:
- Write down each team’s purse, squad size and overseas slots before the first set.
- Work out each team’s maximum single bid using the ₹10 lakh rule.
- Update the three numbers after every sale.
- Watch for teams reaching 15 players; they can stop buying.
- In a mega auction, note which teams still hold RTM cards.
For our player-by-player predictions, read WPL 2027 auction players to watch. Once the squads are complete, the season runs from 14 January to 7 February 2027, with 22 matches in a double round-robin; the table-topper goes straight to the final and second plays third in the Eliminator. Venues have not been officially confirmed; Brabourne Stadium in Mumbai has been reported, with Kotambi Stadium in Vadodara or the new stadium in Varanasi in line for the second.
WPL auction rules: FAQs
What is the purse limit in the WPL auction?
The total salary purse is ₹15 crore per team, the figure used for the 2026 mega auction and reported unchanged for 2027. The amount available at the auction is what remains after retained players’ salaries are deducted. For 2027 that ranges from ₹90 lakh (MI) to ₹3.75 crore (UPW).
How many overseas players can a WPL team have?
A WPL squad can have a maximum of six overseas players. In the playing XI, a team can field four overseas players, or five if one of them is from an Associate nation.
What is the minimum and maximum squad size in the WPL?
Each WPL team must have at least 15 and at most 18 players. Teams can stop buying at the auction once they reach 15.
What is RTM in the WPL auction?
RTM, or right to match, lets a team buy back a player from its previous season’s squad by matching the winning bid. After bidding ends, the highest bidder gets one final raise, and the old team can then match it or let the player go. It was first used at the 2026 mega auction.
Is RTM allowed in the WPL 2027 auction?
Reports say RTM cards are not used at mini-auctions, and the 2027 auction in Kochi is a mini-auction. That means teams must win back released players in open bidding, unless the pre-auction briefing says otherwise.
What are the base prices in the WPL auction?
There are five base price slabs: ₹50 lakh, ₹40 lakh, ₹30 lakh, ₹20 lakh and ₹10 lakh. Capped players register at ₹30 lakh or above, and uncapped players at ₹10 lakh or ₹20 lakh.
How much is the bid increment in the WPL auction?
Bids rise by ₹5 lakh up to ₹1 crore, by ₹10 lakh from ₹1 crore to ₹2 crore, and by ₹20 lakh from ₹2 crore to ₹3 crore. Above ₹3 crore, the auctioneer decides the step, with a minimum of ₹20 lakh.
Who is the most expensive player in WPL auction history?
Smriti Mandhana is the most expensive WPL auction buy at ₹3.4 crore, bought by RCB in 2023. Ashleigh Gardner, Nat Sciver-Brunt and Deepti Sharma (via RTM in 2026) are next at ₹3.2 crore each.
Last updated: 20 October 2026, 4:30 PM IST
