A क
  1. News
  2. Photos
  3. Sports

5 marquee cricketers released before WPL 2026 auction

Published on: November 06, 2025 23:38 IST
England spinner Sophie Ecclestone, with 36 WPL wickets in 25 matches at an economy of 6.68, was released by UP Warriorz. Bought for INR 1.8 crore previously, she is currently the third-leading wicket-taker of the tournament. She is expected to fetch a lot if not the most in the WPL 2026 auction.
1/5 Image Source : BCCI/IPL
England spinner Sophie Ecclestone, with 36 WPL wickets in 25 matches at an economy of 6.68, was released by UP Warriorz. Bought for INR 1.8 crore previously, she is currently the third-leading wicket-taker of the tournament. She is expected to fetch a lot if not the most in the WPL 2026 auction.
2/5 Image Source : BCCI/WPL
Delhi Capitals shocked fans by releasing former Australia captain Meg Lanning, who had led the team to three WPL finals. Previously bought for INR 1.1 crore, Lanning couldn't fit in the team's retention plans as DC preferred Marizanne Kapp and Annabel Sutherland as two overseas players.
3/5 Image Source : BCCI/WPL
UP Warriorz surprisingly released Deepti Sharma, WPL 2025 stand-in captain and World Cup Player of the Tournament. She scored 507 runs and took 27 wickets in 25 matches. Despite her consistency, she now re-enters the auction pool and is expected to command significant bids from multiple franchises.
4/5 Image Source : BCCI/WPL
UP Warriorz released captain Alyssa Healy, who scored 428 runs in 17 WPL matches at a strike rate of 130.48 and missed parts of the season due to injury. After her back-to-back World Cup centuries and being a premium keeper-batter, she is expected to find multiple buyers.
5/5 Image Source : BCCI/WPL
South Africa captain Laura Wolvaardt, who scored 342 runs in 13 WPL matches, was released by Gujarat Giants after they retained Ashleigh Gardner and Beth Mooney. Following her consecutive centuries in the 2025 ODI World Cup semis and final, she is expected to attract strong interest in the 2026 auction.