Shocking Releases: Deepti Sharma and Laura Wolvaardt Among World Cup Stars Dropped in WPL 2026 Retentions
Shocking Releases: Deepti Sharma and Laura Wolvaardt Among World Cup Stars Dropped in WPL 2026 Retentions
In stunning moves that dominated headlines on November 6, two of the Women’s ODI World Cup 2025’s most decorated performers—India’s Player of the Tournament Deepti Sharma and record-breaking South Africa captain Laura Wolvaardt—were released by UP Warriorz and Gujarat Giants respectively, triggering widespread speculation about franchise strategies ahead of the November 27 mega auction in New Delhi. The retention announcements saw 17 players secured across five franchises, with defending champions Mumbai Indians controversially retaining Nat Sciver-Brunt ahead of captain Harmanpreet Kaur, while Australian legends Meg Lanning and Alyssa Healy also found themselves released.
The Shocking Releases
Deepti Sharma (UP Warriorz)
Deepti’s release stunned the cricket world. The 28-year-old all-rounder:
Won Player of the Tournament at World Cup 2025 (22 wickets, 215 runs)
Delivered match-winning final performance (5/39 bowling, 58 runs)
Was Player of the Tournament in WPL 2024
UP Warriorz retained only uncapped opener Shweta Sehrawat, signaling a complete rebuild after finishing last in WPL 2025.
Laura Wolvaardt (Gujarat Giants)
The South African captain’s release was equally surprising:
Tournament’s highest run-scorer (571 runs at 71.37 average)
Consecutive centuries in semifinal and final
Set record for most runs in single World Cup edition
Gujarat Giants retained only Australians Ashleigh Gardner (Rs 3.5 crore) and Beth Mooney (Rs 2.5 crore), using their two overseas slots.
Other Major Releases
Australian Legends:
Meg Lanning (Delhi Capitals) - Former DC captain who led team to three consecutive finals
Alyssa Healy (UP Warriorz) - World Cup-winning captain
Rising Stars:
Amelia Kerr (Mumbai Indians) - New Zealand all-rounder
Renuka Singh Thakur (RCB) - India’s frontline pacer
Full Retention List by Franchise
Mumbai Indians (5 retentions)
Nat Sciver-Brunt (Rs 3.5 crore)
Harmanpreet Kaur (Rs 2.5 crore)
Hayley Matthews (Rs 1.75 crore)
Amanjot Kaur (Rs 1 crore)
G Kamalini (Rs 50 lakh)
Purse Remaining: Rs 5.75 crore RTM Options: 0
Royal Challengers Bengaluru (4 retentions)
Smriti Mandhana (Rs 3.5 crore)
Richa Ghosh (Rs 2.75 crore)
Ellyse Perry (Rs 2 crore)
Shreyanka Patil (Rs 60 lakh)
Purse Remaining: Rs 6.65 crore RTM Options: 1
Delhi Capitals (5 retentions)
Jemimah Rodrigues (Rs 2.2 crore)
Shafali Verma (Rs 2.2 crore)
Annabel Sutherland (Rs 2.2 crore)
Marizanne Kapp (Rs 2.2 crore)
Niki Prasad (Rs 50 lakh)
Purse Remaining: Rs 5.70 crore RTM Options: 0
Gujarat Giants (2 retentions)
Ashleigh Gardner (Rs 3.5 crore)
Beth Mooney (Rs 2.5 crore)
Purse Remaining: Rs 9 crore RTM Options: 3
UP Warriorz (1 retention)
Shweta Sehrawat (Rs 50 lakh - uncapped)
Purse Remaining: Rs 14.50 crore RTM Options: 4
Strategic Insights
Mumbai Indians: Sciver-Brunt Over Harmanpreet
MI retained England’s Sciver-Brunt as their top pick (Rs 3.5 crore) ahead of captain Harmanpreet Kaur (Rs 2.5 crore)—reportedly at Harmanpreet’s own request, recognizing Sciver-Brunt’s all-round value.
UP Warriorz: Complete Rebuild
Retaining only Shweta Sehrawat gives UPW maximum auction flexibility with Rs 14.50 crore—the largest purse—and four RTM cards to potentially buy back released stars like Deepti, Healy, or Sophie Ecclestone at lower prices.
Gujarat Giants: Overseas Focus
Retaining only Gardner and Mooney suggests GG will target Indian batting depth at auction, having released stars like Wolvaardt, Dayalan Hemalatha, and Harleen Deol.
The November 27 Auction Preview
With only 17 retained players across five franchises, approximately 73 slots remain available for the mega auction. World Cup stars like Deepti and Wolvaardt will likely trigger bidding wars, potentially exceeding their previous salaries.
Auction Details:
Date: November 27, 2025
Venue: New Delhi
Total Purse: Rs 15 crore per franchise