Royal Challengers Bengaluru Women’s WPL 2026 retention list: Full list of retained players

Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) announced their list of retained players on November 5 for the upcoming Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2026 season. For the first time in the league’s history, the season will feature a mega auction, allowing each franchise to retain a maximum of five players.

According to the WPL retention guidelines, franchises are permitted to retain up to three capped Indian players, two overseas players, and two uncapped Indian players. If a team decides to retain the full quota of five players, at least one must be an uncapped Indian. Additionally, the league has introduced the Right to Match (RTM) option for the first time, enabling franchises to buy back one of their former players during the auction if another team bids for them.

Each franchise has been allotted a purse of INR 15 crore for the upcoming auction, which is expected to be held in Delhi on November 27. The WPL also announced guideline prices for player retention across various salary slabs.

Taking these regulations into account, RCB have retained four players, leaving them with one RTM card and a remaining auction purse of INR 6.25 crore. As per ESPNcricinfo, the retained players include Smriti Mandhana, the Indian vice-captain, Richa Ghosh, Shreyanka Patil, and Australian veteran Ellyse Perry.

RCB, who clinched their maiden WPL title in 2024, will look to strengthen their lineup through the upcoming mega auction. Having failed to reach the finals in the inaugural and 2025 editions, where Mumbai Indians Women emerged victorious, the Bengaluru-based franchise will aim to rebuild a balanced squad capable of lifting their title in the 2026 season.

Royal Challengers Bengaluru Women (RCB-W) WPL 2026 Retained players

Smriti Mandhana, Ellyse Perry, Richa Ghosh, Shreyanka Patil

Royal Challengers Bengaluru Women (RCB-W) WPL 2026 Remaining Purse

INR 6.25 crore