Royal Challengers Bengaluru revealed their retention list on November 5 ahead of the Women's Premier League 2026 season. The franchise retained four players: Smriti Mandhana, Ellyse Perry, Richa Ghosh, and Shreyanka Patil. This marks the first mega auction in WPL history, scheduled for November 27 in Delhi. Each team received a purse of INR 15 crore and can retain up to five players, including three capped Indians, two overseas, and two uncapped Indians. The league introduced the Right to Match option for the first time, allowing franchises to reclaim one former player during bidding. With four retentions, RCB has INR 6.25 crore remaining and one RTM card available. The 2024 champions aim to strengthen their squad through the auction after missing the finals in the inaugural and 2025 editions.
RCB's Strategy and Retained Core
Royal Challengers Bengaluru retained four key players while keeping one RTM option in reserve. The retained core includes Indian vice-captain Smriti Mandhana, wicketkeeper Richa Ghosh, all-rounder Shreyanka Patil, and Australian veteran Ellyse Perry. This strategy leaves the franchise with INR 6.25 crore for the mega auction. RCB, who secured their maiden WPL title in 2024, failed to reach finals in the inaugural and 2025 seasons when Mumbai Indians Women triumphed. The Bengaluru-based team will use the upcoming auction to rebuild a balanced squad capable of defending their championship. With retention guidelines allowing up to three capped Indians and two overseas players, RCB has structured their roster to maintain experienced leadership while preserving flexibility for auction purchases.
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