The mega auction reshaped the landscape of the Women’s Premier League, and while several teams made bold moves, UP Warriorz walk away with the strongest on-paper squad. Mumbai Indians and RCB remain close contenders thanks to squad continuity, while Delhi Capitals and Gujarat Giants enter the season with more uncertainty than firepower.
UP Warriorz: Biggest transformation and highest ceiling
UP Warriorz had the largest budget and used it aggressively to build a new identity. Bringing back Deepti Sharma with an RTM card made her the highest-paid player of the auction at ₹3.2 crore. Pairing her with Meg Lanning for ₹1.9 crore gives the squad a leader with proven championship pedigree and stability in pressure games.
With Sophie Ecclestone already part of the setup and Australian batting talent Phoebe Litchfield joining the group, the Warriorz now have a lineup with elite all-round strength, depth and experience. On paper, UP have the clearest path to the playoffs and potentially their strongest season since the league began.
Mumbai Indians: Quiet strategy, maximum impact
Mumbai Indians entered the auction with confidence and continuity. Instead of big reshuffles, they reinforced an already stable core built around Harmanpreet Kaur, Hayley Matthews and Natalie Sciver-Brunt.
Their headline move was Amelia Kerr for ₹3 crore. Her addition gives Mumbai four world-class all-rounders who can influence both batting and bowling across all conditions. MI’s structure now offers unmatched tactical flexibility and squad balance, even without the headline drama seen with UP’s spending spree.
Delhi Capitals: New era begins without Meg Lanning
Delhi Capitals retained a strong backbone including Shafali Verma, Jemimah Rodrigues, Marizanne Kapp and Annabel Sutherland. The major shift is leadership and batting direction after releasing Meg Lanning, who led them to three consecutive finals.
Their auction approach focused on utility players, domestic growth and versatility instead of one marquee signing. While still competitive, the side enters 2026 with questions over the middle order, finishing power and captaincy strategy.
RCB: Same champion core, familiar concerns
Royal Challengers Bengaluru kept their key names including Smriti Mandhana, Richa Ghosh, Ellyse Perry and Shreyanka Patil, giving them the strongest continuity advantage among all teams.
They strengthened the middle order and seam options by signing Grace Harris, Nadine de Klerk and Lauren Bell. The squad looks deep and resilient, but the biggest test remains their bowling in high-pressure overs. If execution improves at the death, RCB stay firmly in title contention.
Gujarat Giants: Strong top order, thin bowling resources
Gujarat Giants once again invested heavily in batting talent and pace names including Sophie Devine, Danni Wyatt-Hodge and Renuka Singh. With Beth Mooney and Ashleigh Gardner retained, the top order has power and match-winning experience.
Concerns continue around bowling consistency and depth. Despite additions like Rajeshwari Gayakwad, the unit lacks the same balance and threat seen in the top three squads.
Early season verdict
UP Warriorz emerge as the biggest winners of the mega auction, gaining leadership, all-round strength and finishing power in one cycle. Mumbai Indians remain the most balanced and reliable squad, while RCB hold strong title hopes if bowling execution improves.
Delhi and Gujarat retain individual star power, but both squads start the season with key structural questions that could define their campaign.
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