RCB WPL 2026 Retention and Player Updates
Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), champions of the 2024 WPL, have confirmed their player retentions ahead of the WPL 2026 mega auction. The team continues to back key contributors from their title-winning squad.
Retained Players
- Smriti Mandhana – Captain and batting cornerstone, retained for ₹3.50 crore. She led RCB to their first WPL title and was also India's highest run-scorer in the 2025 ICC Women's ODI World Cup.
- Ellyse Perry – Veteran Australian all-rounder retained for ₹2 crore.
- Richa Ghosh – Wicketkeeper-batter retained for ₹2.75 crore.
- Shreyanka Patil – Indian spinner and top wicket-taker in WPL 2024 with 13 wickets in eight matches, retained for ₹60 lakh.
Financial Overview
RCB has spent a total of ₹8.85 crore on player retentions. Their remaining auction purse for WPL 2026 stands at ₹6.15 crore.
Right to Match (RTM) Option
The franchise will have the option to use one Right to Match card during the upcoming auction, which allows them to retain a released player by matching the highest bid.
Released Players
Several key Indian players have been released as RCB seeks to refresh its squad. These include:
- Sabbhineni Meghana
- Renuka Singh
- Sneh Rana
- Kanika Ahuja
- Asha Sobhana
- Ekta Bisht
"Mandhana, who also finished as India's highest run-scorer in the 2025 ICC Women's ODI World Cup, remains RCB's most expensive player, retained for ₹3.50 crore."
Author's summary: RCB has retained four standout players for WPL 2026, including captain Mandhana, while releasing several others to strategically rebuild their squad for the new season.
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