As the Women’s Premier League (WPL) gears up for its 2026 mega auction, fans were left stunned on November 6 when several big stars found themselves out of their old squads. Only 17 players were retained across the five WPL teams and while familiar names like Harmanpreet Kaur, Smriti Mandhana, Richa Ghosh, Jemimah Rodrigues and Shafali Verma stayed with their franchises, some major performers did not make the cut. Surprisingly, two of the brightest stars from the 2025 ODI World Cup final – Deepti Sharma and Laura Wolvaardt – were among those released.
Other experienced players including Meg Lanning, Amelia Kerr, Renuka Thakur, Alyssa Healy and Sophie Ecclestone were also let go, leaving fans shocked and eager to see how the auction will reshape the teams.
Below is a look at the 10 most unexpected releases before the WPL 2026 mega auction:
1. Deepti Sharma (UP Warriorz):
Deepti Sharma has been a key all-rounder for UP Warriorz, scoring 507 runs and taking 27 wickets in 25 matches. She even captained the side in 2025 but could not turn around their season as the team finished last. Fresh off winning the Player of the Tournament in the 2025 ODI World Cup, her release has surprised many.
2. Laura Wolvaardt (Gujarat Giants):
Despite an outstanding 2025 ODI World Cup, the South African captain was released by Gujarat Giants. Laura Wolvaardt scored 342 runs in 13 WPL matches and was one of their most reliable batters.
3. Alyssa Healy (UP Warriorz):
The Australian captain Alyssa Healy has scored 428 runs in 17 WPL matches. Although she missed the 2025 season due to injury, her experience and impact made her release a surprising move from UP Warriorz.
4. Renuka Thakur (Royal Challengers Bengaluru):
One of India’s premier pace bowlers, Renuka Thakur took 13 wickets in 23 matches for RCB. She was signed for Rs 1.50 crore in the first WPL auction and recently helped India win the 2025 ODI World Cup, making her release quite surprising.
5. Meg Lanning (Delhi Capitals):
A legend of the game, Meg Lanning is Delhi Capitals’ all-time leading run-scorer with 952 runs in 27 matches. Signed for Rs 1.10 crore in the inaugural auction, she led Delhi to three consecutive WPL finals. Her exit marks the end of a dominant era for the franchise.
6. Amelia Kerr (Mumbai Indians):
One of the tournament’s most consistent performers, Amelia Kerr is the second highest wicket-taker in the WPL history with 40 wickets in 29 matches. She also contributed 437 runs with the bat, making her release quite unexpected.
7. Grace Harris (UP Warriorz):
A powerhouse performer, Grace Harris scored 581 runs and took 13 wickets in 22 matches for UP Warriorz. She is the franchise’s highest run-getter and often their match-winner, which makes her release one of the biggest surprises of all.
8. Sophie Ecclestone (UP Warriorz):
Sophie Ecclestone is the top wicket-taker of UP Warriorz, with 36 wickets in 25 matches. As one of the best spinners of the world, seeing her name on the release list was a big shock for fans.
9. Sophie Devine (Royal Challengers Bengaluru):
A legendary all-rounder from New Zealand, Sophie Devine was signed for Rs 50 lakh and gave RCB strong performances with 402 runs and 9 wickets across 18 matches. Her exit leaves a big gap in their experience.
10. Jess Jonassen (Delhi Capitals):
One of Delhi’s most reliable performers, Jess Jonassen is their highest wicket-taker with 33 scalps in 24 matches. She also contributed 295 runs, making her release another unexpected decision from the franchise.
We are pretty shocked with these releases, what about you?
