NEW DELHI: In a surprise move ahead of the Women’s Premier League (WPL) mega auction on Thursday, India all-rounder Deepti Sharma and South Africa captain Laura Wolvaardt were released by UP Warriorz and Gujarat Giants, respectively. Both players had been standout performers in the recent ODI World Cup.

Deepti, who played a pivotal role in India’s World Cup triumph with 215 runs and 22 wickets – earning the player-of-the-tournament award – had starred in the final with a half-century and a five-wicket haul against South Africa.

WPL Retentions: Full list of players retained ahead of mega auction

Despite her stellar record and being the 2024 WPL player-of-the-tournament, the 28-year-old was not retained by the Warriorz, who instead opted to keep only former Under-19 World Cup winner Shweta Sehrawat as part of a fresh strategy for the upcoming season.

Similarly, Gujarat Giants decided to release Wolvaardt, who had finished as the World Cup’s top run-scorer with consecutive centuries in the semifinals and final. The move opens the door for new strategies and player combinations ahead of the 2026 WPL season.

The Gujarat Giants chose to retain their Australian duo, Beth Mooney and Ashleigh Gardner, in line with WPL rules that allow teams to keep a maximum of two overseas players.

Among the other retentions, Indian stars Harmanpreet Kaur, Smriti Mandhana, Jemimah Rodrigues, Shafali Verma, and Richa Ghosh have all been secured by their respective franchises ahead of the upcoming season.

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

Delhi Capitals retained five players, including youngster Niki Prasad, even as Lanning, who had led the side to three successive finals, was released.

Mumbai Indians also retained five players, including young G Kamalini, while player-of-the-tournament Nat Sciver-Brunt was retained at a higher price than skipper Harmanpreet Kaur.

In fact, it Harmanpreet had requested MI to retain Sciver-Brunt ahead of her.

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.

The mega auction will take place in Delhi on November 27.

List of retained players:

Mumbai Indians: Nat-Sciver Brunt (Rs 3.5 Cr), Harmanpreet Kaur (Rs 2.5 Cr), Hayley Matthews (Rs 1.75 Cr), Amanjot Kaur (Rs 1 Cr), G Kamalini (Rs 50 lakh).

Royal Challengers Bengaluru: Smriti Mandhana (Rs 3.5 Cr), Richa Ghosh (Rs 2.75 Cr), Ellyse Perry (Rs 2 Cr), Shreyanka Patil (Rs 60 lakh).

Gujarat Giants: Ashleigh Gardner (Rs 3.5 Cr), Beth Mooney (Rs 2.5 Cr)

UP Warriors: Shweta Sehrawat (Rs 50 lakh).

Delhi Capitals: Jemimah Rodrigues (Rs 2.2 Cr), Shafali Verma (Rs 2.2 Cr), Annabel Sutherland (Rs 2.2 Cr), Marizanne Kapp (Rs 2.2 Cr), Niki Prasad (Rs 50 lakh).