Earlier reports suggested the BCCI was considering hosting the auction once again in the Gulf region, with Abu Dhabi as the front-runner and Oman and Qatar also being considered. However, a recent Times of India report confirms that the auction is set to return to India, though the exact venue is yet to be officially announced.
Bringing the auction back to India is expected to boost fan engagement and media coverage, adding to the excitement ahead of the 2026 season. With the retention deadline approaching, teams now face key decisions on which players to keep and which to release into the auction pool.
WPL 2026 Auction Slated for November 27
Meanwhile, the Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2026 auction will take place on November 27 in Delhi — marking the first-ever mega auction in the league’s history. The retention list, released earlier this week, revealed several notable player releases, including Deepti Sharma (UP Warriorz) and Laura Wolvaardt (Gujarat Giants).
India’s top stars — Harmanpreet Kaur, Smriti Mandhana, Jemimah Rodrigues, Shafali Verma, and Richa Ghosh — have all been retained by their respective franchises, setting the stage for an exciting new chapter in women’s cricket.
