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WPL 2026 player auction list released
DELHI: The Women’s Premier League is set for a full-throttle shake-up as 277 players go under the hammer in New Delhi on November 27, setting the stage for one of the most aggressive squad rebuilds the league has seen. With 52 capped Indians, 66 capped overseas players, 142 uncapped Indians and 17 uncapped overseas names in the mix, the day-long auction promises a tug-of-war across all five franchises.
The bidding begins at 3:30 p.m. IST with the marquee set, featuring eight heavyweights: Deepti Sharma, Renuka Singh, Sophie Devine, Sophie Ecclestone, Alyssa Healy, Amelia Kerr, Meg Lanning and Laura Wolvaardt. All eyes will be on this opening burst, expected to jolt the auction into action.
A total of 19 players have listed themselves in the top bracket of Rs 50 lakh, 11 in the Rs 40 lakh tier and 88 in the Rs 30 lakh category. Four Associate-nation cricketers also join the contest at a base price of Rs 10 lakh: Theertha Satish and Esha Oza from UAE, Tara Norris from USA and Thipatcha Putthawong from Thailand.
Retentions earlier this month set the stage for contrasting strategies. UP Warriorz retained just one player, Shweta Sehrawat, and walked into the auction with the largest purse and most open slots. Mumbai Indians and Delhi Capitals each held on to five players, while Royal Challengers Bengaluru kept four. Gujarat Giants, fresh from their first Playoffs appearance in WPL 2025, saved two pillars in Ash Gardner and Beth Mooney.
The league’s fourth season is expected to start earlier than its usual February-March window as India prepares to co-host the T20 World Cup with Sri Lanka in early February. Mumbai Indians enter as defending champions after toppling Delhi Capitals in last season’s final.
With a star-packed roster, swollen purses and franchises hungry for turnaround stories, New Delhi is primed for a fast, fiery and fiercely fought WPL auction that could redraw the power lines of women’s cricket in a single afternoon.
NEW DELHI: Hamdard Laboratories gathered a cross-section of India’s achievers in New Delhi on Friday, handing out the Hakeem Abdul Hameed Excellence Awards to figures who have left their mark across healthcare, education, sport, public service and the arts.
The ceremony, attended by minister of state for defence Sanjay Seth and senior officials from the ministry of Ayush, celebrated individuals whose work blends professional success with a sense of public purpose. It was as much a roll call of achievement as it was a reminder that influence is not measured only in profits or podiums, but in people reached and lives improved.
Among the headline awardees was Alakh Pandey, founder and chief executive of PhysicsWallah, recognised for turning affordable digital learning into a mass movement. On the sporting front, Arjuna Awardee and kabaddi player Sakshi Puniya was honoured for her contribution to the game and for pushing women’s participation onto bigger stages.
The cultural spotlight fell on veteran lyricist and poet Santosh Anand, whose songs have echoed across generations of Hindi cinema. At 97, Anand accepted the honour with characteristic humility, reflecting on a life shaped by perseverance and hope.
Healthcare honours spanned both modern and traditional systems. Manoj N. Nesari was recognised for strengthening Ayurveda’s place in national and global health frameworks. Padma shri Mohammed Abdul Waheed was honoured for his research-backed work in Unani medicine, while padma shri Mohsin Wali received recognition for his long-standing contribution to patient-centred care.
Education and social development also featured prominently. Padma shri Zahir Ishaq Kazi was honoured for decades of work in education, while former Meghalaya superintendent of Police T. C. Chacko was recognised for public service. Goonj founder Anshu Gupta received an award for his dignity-centred rural development initiatives, and the Hunar Shakti Foundation was honoured for empowering women and young girls through skill development.
The Lifetime Achievement Award went to former IAS officer Shailaja Chandra for her long career in public healthcare and governance, particularly in the traditional systems under Ayush.
Speaking at the event, Hamdard chairman Abdul Majeed said the awards were a tribute to those who combine excellence with empathy. “These awardees reflect Hakeem Sahib’s belief that healthcare, education and public service must ultimately serve humanity,” he said.
Minister Seth struck a forward-looking note, saying India’s young population gives the country a unique opportunity to become a global destination for learning, health and wellness by 2047.
The ceremony also featured the trailer launch of Unani Ki Kahaani, an upcoming documentary starring actor Jim Sarbh, set to premiere on Discovery on 11 February.
Instituted in memory of Unani scholar and educationist Hakeem Abdul Hameed, the awards have grown into a national platform that celebrates those building a more inclusive and resilient India. For one evening at least, the spotlight was not just on success, but on service with substance.
