WPL 2025: Retentions and releases of each team ahead of the auction

All five teams announced their retentions and releases before the Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2025 auction. The list is largely predictable, with only a couple of names coming as a massive surprise.

71 players, comprising 25 overseas, have been retained, while 24 players have been released. The purse for each franchise has been increased to INR 15 crores from INR 13.50 crores, which must have played a role in deciding the retentions and releases of players.

Below is a breakdown of players retained and released by each WPL franchise.

Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB)

The defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) made a big move before the retention deadline. They brought Danni Wyatt-Hodge via an all-cash trade deal with UP Warriorz.

Hence, they have released Heather Knight since they had no overseas slot for Danni. Further, RCB also let six other players go, including Nadine de Klerk.

Players Retained: Smriti Mandhana (c), Sabbineni Meghana, Richa Ghosh (wk), Ellyse Perry*, Georgia Wareham*, Shreyanka Patil, Asha Sobhana, Sophie Devine*, Renuka Singh, Sophie Molineux*, Ekta Bisht, Kate Cross*, Kanika Ahuja, Danni Wyatt* (Traded from UPW)

Players Released: Heather Knight*, Simran Dil Bahadur, Disha Kasat, Shubha Sateesh, Shradda Pokharkar, Indrani Roy, Nadine de Klerk*

Mumbai Indians (MI)

Mumbai Indians (MI) have focused on keeping the core intact, leaving out only four players. However, the biggest shock was leaving out Isabelle Wong, who was the first player to take a WPL hat-trick.

Apart from her, the inaugural champions left three Indian players, who didn’t get enough opportunity to contribute last season. Those releases were expected, given it will allow some options during the auction.

Players retained: Harmanpreet Kaur (c), Yastika Bhatia (wk), Amelia Kerr*, Chloe Tryon*, Hayley Matthews*, Jintimani Kalita, Nat Sciver-Brunt*, Pooja Vastrakar, Sajeevan Sajana, Shabnim Ismail*, Saika Ishaque, Amanjot Kaur, Amandeep Kaur, Keerthana

Players released: Priyanka Bala, Humairaa Kaazi, Fatima Jaffer and Isabelle Wong*

Also Read: Thomas Draca: Meet Italy’s IPL Hopeful who has Registered for IPL 2025 Auction

Delhi Capitals (DC)

Delhi Capitals (DC) have not made many changes either. However, one notable name omitted was Poonam Yadav, a skilled leg-spinner who didn’t play in the league last season.

Further, DC have let Laura Harris go, along with two other Indian players. However, like MI, they have kept their core unbroken.

Players retained: Meg Lanning* (c), Shafali Verma, Jemimah Rodrigues, Taniya Bhatia (wk), Alice Capsey*, Annabel Sutherland*, Marizanne Kapp*, Radha Yadav, Shikha Pandey, Arundhati Reddy, Jess Jonassen*, Titas Sadhu, Minnu Mani, Sneha Deepthi

Players released: Poonam Yadav, Laura Harris*, Ashwani Kumari, Aparna Mondal

UP Warriorz (UP-W)

UP Warriorz (UP-W) traded Danni Wyatt-Hodge to Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), which remains the story of WPL 2025. Overall, they have released four players, including Lauren Bell.

Their main focus will be to target a solid all-rounder and have worked accordingly with their retentions and releases. They have released three Indian players and one overseas from the squad.

Players retained: Alyssa Healy (c)*, Kiran Navgire, Shweta Sehrawat, Deepti Sharma, Chamari Athapaththu*, Grace Harris*, Sophie Ecclestone*, Tahlia McGrath*, Rajeshwari Gayakwad, Saima Thakor, Anjali Sarvani, Gouher Sultana, Poonam Khemnar, Uma Chetry, Vrinda Dinesh

Players released: Laxmi Yadav, Parshavi Chopra, S Yashasri, Lauren Bell* and Danni Wyatt

Gujarat Giants (GG)

Sneh Rana was the biggest exclusion from Gujarat Giants’ side, for she captained the team in Beth Mooney’s absence in the inaugural edition. Apart from them, GG have also released two quality overseas options, Kathryn Bryce and Lea Tahuhu.

Further, they have also released an experienced Veda Krishnamurthy. The Giants will go into the auction with the biggest purse.

Players retained: Beth Mooney (c)*, Laura Wolvaardt*, Phoebe Litchfield*, Ashleigh Gardner*, Harleen Deol, Dayalan Hemalatha, Tąnuja Kanwer, Mannat Kashyap, Meghna Singh, Shabnam Shakil, Bharti Fulmali, Kashvee Gautam, Priya Mishra, Sayali Satghare

Players released: Sneh Rana, Kathryn Bryce*, Trisha Poojitha, Veda Krishnamurthy, Tarannum Pathan, Lea Tahuhu*

(* indicates overseas players)

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