RCB, MI retain core ahead of WPL 2025 auctions

RCB, MI retain core ahead of WPL 2025 auctions (Image X)

Defending champions Royal Challengers Bangalore, last year's winners Mumbai Indians, and the runners-up Delhi Capitals have all managed to retain their core players ahead of the Women's Premier League 2025 auction. Of the five franchises, four have kept 14 players each, while UP Warriorz have retained 15 players.

World Cup-winning England captain Heather Knight is among the six players released by RCB, with Nadine de Klerk, who replaced Knight last season, also being let go. Earlier, Danielle Wyatt joined the RCB squad following a successful trade deal with UP Warriorz.

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Mumbai Indians have released England pacer Issy Wong, who took the first-ever WPL hat-trick in their championship-winning inaugural season. However, her opportunities were limited this year after the acquisition of Shabnim Ismail, with the latter being preferred over Wong.

Leg-spinner Poonam Yadav and Australian batter Laura Harris have been released by the Delhi Capitals, along with uncapped players Aparna Mondal and Ashwani Kumari. Poonam, who has been out of the Indian squad since 2022, didn’t play a single game last season, so her release was anticipated.

UP Warriorz have let go of Parshavi Chopra, Laxmi Yadav, S Yashasri, and England pacer Lauren Bell. There are no unexpected releases from the Warriorz, who will enter the auction with the second-largest purse available.

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To the surprise of many, all-rounder Sneh Rana, who led the Gujarat Giants in the inaugural season when regular captain Beth Mooney was sidelined with an injury, has been released. Rana played only four games in this year’s WPL, managing just 13 runs and failing to take any wickets. She's also currently out of India’s T20I squad, which may have prompted the management to let her go. The Giants have also released Scotland captain Kathryn Bryce and New Zealand pacer Lea Tahuhu. Veteran Indian cricketer Veda Krishnamurthy, with 76 T20I appearances, has been left out ahead of the next season due to poor batting returns. The team will enter the auction with the highest purse, set at INR 4.4 crore.

Full list of retained players for WPL 2025:

Royal Challengers Bengaluru: Smriti Mandhana, Ellyse Perry, Richa Ghosh, Sabbineni Meghana, Shreyanka Patil, Georgia Wareham, Asha Sobhana, Renuka Singh, Sophie Devine, Sophie Molineux, Ekta Bisht, Kanika Ahuja, Kate Cross, Danielle Wyatt.

Released players: Disha Kasat, Indrani Roy, Nadine de Klerk, Shubha Satheesh, Shraddha Pokarkar, Simran Bahadur, Heather Knight. (Available Purse: INR 3.25 crores).

Mumbai Indians: Harmanpreet Kaur, Yastika Bhatia, Amelia Kerr, Chloe Tryon, Hayley Matthews, Jintimani Kalita, Nat-Sciver Brunt, Pooja Vastrakar, S Sajana, Shabnim Ismail, Saika Ishaque, Amanjot Kaur, Amandeep Kaur, Keerthana Balakrishnan.

Released players: Issy Wong, Fatima Jaffer, Humaira Kazi, Priyanka Bala. (Available Purse: INR 2.65 crores)

Delhi Capitals: Jemimah Rodrigues, Shafali Verma, Radha Yadav, Arundhati Reddy, Shikha Pandey, Taniyaa Bhatia (WK), Minnu Mani, Sneha Deepthi, Titas Sadhu, Meg Lanning, Marizanne Kapp, Jess Jonassen, Alice Capsey, Annabel Sutherland.

Released players: Laura Harris, Poonam Yadav, Ashwani Kumari, Aparna Mondal. (Available Purse: INR 2.5 crores)

UP Warriorz: Alyssa Healy, Kiran Navgire, Shweta Sehrawat, Deepti Sharma, Chamari Athapaththu, Grace Harris, Sophie Ecclestone, Tahila McGrath, Rajeshwari Gayakwad, Saima Thakor, Anjali Sarvani, Gouher Sultana, Poonam Khemnar, Uma Chetry, Vrinda Dinesh.

Released players: Laxmi Yadav, Parshavi Chopra, Lauren Bell, S Yashasri, Danielle Wyatt (Traded). (Available Purse: INR 3.9 crores)

Gujarat Giants: Ashleigh Gardner, Beth Mooney, Dayalan Hemalatha, Harleen Deol, Laura Wolvaardt, Shabnam Shakil, Tanuja Kanwer, Phoebe Litchfield, Meghna Singh, Kashvee Gautam, Priya Mishra, Lauren Cheatle, Mannat Kashyap.

Released players: Sneh Rana, Lea Tahuhu, Kathryn Bryce, Trisha Poojitha, Tarannum Pathan, Veda Krishnamurthy. (Available Purse: INR 4.4 crores)