Smriti Mandhana and Harmanpreet Kaur are not in the WPL 2025 (actually 2026) mega-auction pool because they have already been retained by their respective franchises – Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) and Mumbai Indians (MI) – as part of the pre-auction retention process. Retained players do not go into the auction, which is why you don’t see their names in the bidding list. ESPN+1
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Why Smriti Mandhana And Harmanpreet Kaur Are Not Part Of WPL 2026 Mega-Auction?
The Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2026 mega-auction is being held in New Delhi on Thursday, November 27, with 5 franchises rebuilding their squads for the fourth season of the league, scheduled from January 9 to February 5.
Fans following the auction live have one big question in mind:
Why are Indian superstars Smriti Mandhana and Harmanpreet Kaur not part of the WPL 2026 mega-auction?
The answer is simple – and very strategic from their franchises.
Retained, Not Released – So They Skip The Auction
Before every WPL season, franchises submit a list of retained and released players. Only the released players and new registrations go into the mega-auction pool.
For WPL 2026:
- Smriti Mandhana has been retained by Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB).
- Harmanpreet Kaur has been retained by Mumbai Indians (MI). ESPN+1
Because they are retained, they are already under contract with their teams and do not need to be bought in the auction. That’s why their names are missing from the bidding lists and live-auction graphics.
Smriti Mandhana & Her WPL Journey With RCB
Smriti Mandhana was one of the hottest properties in the inaugural WPL 2023 auction, where RCB bought her for ₹3.40 crore, making her the costliest player at the time. Deccan Herald
Since then:
- She has been captaining RCB from the first season.
- She led RCB to their maiden WPL title in 2024, beating Delhi Capitals (DC) in the final.
- She is second-highest run-getter for RCB, scoring 646 runs in 26 matches, while Ellyse Perry leads their run charts with 972 runs and 14 wickets. (Stats as per latest reports).
Ahead of the WPL 2026 mega-auction:
- RCB retained Smriti Mandhana for ₹3.50 crore.
- Other RCB retentions:
- Richa Ghosh – ₹2.75 crore
- Ellyse Perry – ₹2 crore
- Shreyanka Patil – ₹60 lakh ESPN+1
- After retentions, RCB entered the mega-auction with a purse of ₹6.15 crore for the remaining slots. The Financial Express
By paying ₹3.5 crore to retain Mandhana, RCB have made it clear that she remains the face of the franchise and their long-term captaincy bet.
Harmanpreet Kaur & Her Role In Mumbai Indians’ Success
Mumbai Indians signed Harmanpreet Kaur in the first WPL auction for ₹1.80 crore and immediately handed her the captaincy. Under her leadership:
- MI won the inaugural WPL title in 2023.
- They later became two-time champions, adding another trophy in WPL 2025.
With the bat:
- Harmanpreet has scored 851 runs for MI, making her their second-highest run-scorer.
- Nat Sciver-Brunt is MI’s and the league’s leading run-getter, with 1,027 WPL runs, and remains the only batter to cross the 1,000-run mark in the tournament’s history so far. ESPN Cricinfo+1
For WPL 2026, MI’s retention strategy shows how highly they rate her:
- MI retained Harmanpreet Kaur for ₹2.50 crore.
- Their most expensive retention is Nat Sciver-Brunt at ₹3.50 crore.
- Other MI retentions:
- Hayley Matthews – ₹1.75 crore
- Amanjot Kaur – ₹1 crore
- G. Kamalini – ₹50 lakh ESPN+1
- MI have ₹5.75 crore left in the purse for the auction. The Financial Express
So again, because Harmanpreet is already retained and contracted, she is not available in the auction pool.
WPL 2026: Retention Rules In Brief
To understand why top Indian stars like Mandhana and Harmanpreet don’t appear in the auction, it helps to know the basic retention structure:
- Teams submit retentions first
Each franchise decides which core players to keep and which ones to release based on:- Performance
- Age and fitness
- Role balance (batting, bowling, all-rounders)
- Budget and purse management
- Retained players skip the auction
Their salaries are fixed at the retention value and directly deducted from the franchise purse. - Only released + new players enter the mega-auction
The pool includes:- Released domestic and overseas players
- Newly registered uncapped players
- Big global stars who opted in but weren’t retained
- Right to Match (RTM) in play for some teams
Certain franchises have RTM cards they can use to “match” the highest bid for a player they previously had, bringing her back even after she enters the auction. (For WPL 2026, RCB, for example, have one RTM card available.) ESPN+1
How RCB And MI Are Building Around Their Captains
Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB)
- Core built around: Smriti Mandhana, Ellyse Perry, Richa Ghosh, Shreyanka Patil
- Auction objective:
- Find a consistent opening partner for Mandhana
- Strengthen the pace attack, especially at the death
- With the confidence of a 2024 title and Mandhana’s popularity, RCB are clearly planning a multi-season project with her as the leader. The Financial Express+1
Mumbai Indians (MI)
- Core built around: Nat Sciver-Brunt, Harmanpreet Kaur, Hayley Matthews, Amanjot Kaur
- Auction objective:
- Rebuild after releasing big names like Amelia Kerr
- Add depth in bowling and middle-order batting
- MI have balanced star power (Sciver, Harmanpreet) with youth, indicating a plan that looks beyond just one season. revsportz.in+1
Will Mandhana And Harmanpreet Ever Be Back In The Auction?
Yes, they can be back in a future mega-auction, but only if:
- Their franchise chooses not to retain them in a future season, or
- The league’s rules change in a way that forces all players back into the auction pool.
For now, though, both are securely tied to their franchises and are central to RCB’s and MI’s branding, fanbase, and on-field tactics.
Key Takeaways
- Smriti Mandhana and Harmanpreet Kaur are not part of the WPL 2026 mega-auction because they have been retained by RCB and MI respectively.
- Mandhana has been retained for ₹3.50 crore, Harmanpreet for ₹2.50 crore.
- Retained players skip the auction by rule – only released and new players are bid on.
- Both captains remain the face and backbone of their franchises and will continue to lead RCB and MI in the upcoming WPL season.