IPL & WPL 2026 Auctions: Key Dates, Retention Rules & Purse Details

IPL & WPL 2026 Auctions: Key Dates, Retention Rules & Purse Details

The IPL and WPL 2026 mega auction is scheduled to be held in November and December this year. For the first time, franchises will also have access to the RTM option.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has officially laid out the roadmap for the 2026 season of both the Indian Premier League (IPL) and the Women’s Premier League (WPL), confirming auction windows, retention policies, and purse enhancements. These announcements set the stage for two high-stakes mega auctions that will reshape team rosters across both leagues.

The IPL 2026 auction will be held over a three-day window from December 13 to 15, giving franchises a suitable time to strategise and bid for top talent. Ahead of this, teams must submit their retained player lists by November 15, allowing the league to finalise the pool of available players.

Meanwhile, the WPL 2026 mega auction is scheduled between November 26 and 29. Teams have until November 5 to confirm their retained players. The player registration deadline is set for November 18, and the final auction list will be released on November 20, giving franchises a week to prepare their bidding strategies.

For the IPL, franchises will be allowed to retain up to four players ahead of the auction. This includes a mix of Indian and overseas players, and teams will also be given Right to Match (RTM) cards, which allow them to re-sign previously released players during the auction by matching the highest bid.

In the WPL, teams can retain up to five players, with a maximum of three overseas players. This retention cap ensures a balance between continuity and fresh talent, encouraging teams to make strategic decisions about which core players to hold onto.

The IPL auction purse has been set at ₹100 crore per franchise, a significant boost that reflects the league’s growing commercial strength and competitive intensity. This increase gives teams more flexibility to go after marquee players and build deeper squads.

The WPL purse has also been increased from ₹12 crore to ₹16 crore, allowing franchises to invest more in talent and strengthen their lineups. This move is expected to attract more international stars and elevate the overall quality of the women’s league.

These mega auctions mark a major reset for both leagues. Franchises will have the opportunity to rebuild their squads from the ground up, while fans can look forward to dramatic reshuffles, surprise picks, and intense bidding wars. With retention limits in place, many big names could enter the auction pool, making this one of the most anticipated off-seasons in recent memory.

For the WPL, the increased purse and expanded retention rules signal the league’s growing stature and the BCCI’s commitment to developing women’s cricket. For the IPL, the three-day auction window and RTM options promise a strategic showdown among the ten franchises.