WPL Auction vs IPL Auction (Source: X.com/@wplt20&@IPL)
The Women’s Premier League (WPL) auction is all set to take place on November 15, followed by another mighty sports bidding war, the Indian Premier League (IPL) auction on December 15.
Both the tournaments, IPL and WPL, have heavily impacted the Indian cricketing set-up, yielding a pool of talented cricketers representing the nation at the highest levels. The start of both the cricketing festivals begins with a star-studded player bidding war.
As both the auction dates approach, let's go through an elaborate comparison of WPL Auction vs IPL Auction across rules, purse size, and much more.
WPL Auction vs IPL Auction: Key differences at a glance
As they say, half the battle is won by teams on the auction table, as it determines the strengths of their squads and allows them to fill the loopholes of the previous season. Considering the importance of the auction, teams strategise for months to build a strong roster on the auction table.
That being said, let's take a look at the differences between the IPL and WPL auctions.
Player retetions rules
| Category | WPL Retention Rules | IPL Retention Rules |
| No. of rmax retention | 5 players | 6 players |
| Breakdown of Retentions | Up to 3 capped Indian, 2 uncapped Indian, 2 overseas | Up to 5 capped Indian + overseas, 2 uncapped Indian |
| Retention Slabs | ₹3.5 cr, ₹2.5 cr, ₹1.75 cr, ₹1 cr, ₹50 lakh | ₹18 cr, ₹14 cr, ₹11 cr, ₹8 cr, ₹6 cr |
| Total Deduction for Maximum Retention | ₹9.25 crore | ₹75 crore |
| Team Purse Size | ₹15 crore | ₹120 crore |
| RTM (Right to Match) Cards Available | Depends on number of player retained | Depends on number of player retained |
| RTM Deduction Rule | Lose 1 RTM for each player retained | Lose 1 RTM for each player retained |
Auction purse value
The 10-team IPL 2026 auction has a total money pool of 120 crore, out of which they have to spend a minimum of 90 crore to build a team of 18 players, which could go up to 25 players.
On the other hand, in the WPL auction 2026, each one of the five teams is provided with a total purse of 15 crore. The franchises have to make a team of 15-18 players.
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Foreign players qouta
The foreign players' quota rules in the WPL are different from the IPL. In the cash-rich IPL, teams are allowed to have eight players in their squad and 4 in the playing 11.
Meanwhile, in the WPL, the number of foreign players allotted to each team is 6 and 4 in the playing XI. On top of that, there must be at least one player from an associate nation.
FAQs: WPL Auction vs IPL Auction
Q. 1. What is the difference between IPL and WPL?
Ans. The IPL auction involves more teams, higher purse values, and larger salaries, whereas the WPL is a newer tournament, with only five teams.
Q.2. What is the price of the WPL player auction?
Ans. WPL player auction prices vary, with the total team purse of ₹15 crore, and the base prices starting from ₹10 lakh upto ₹50 lakh.
Q.3. Who is the most expensive player in WPL history?
Ans. Currently, Smriti Mandhana holds the tag of the most expensive player in WPL history after Royal Challengers Bengaluru secured her services for INR 3.4 crore at the WPL 2023 mega auction.
Q.4. Is IPL 2026 a mega auction or a mini auction?
Ans. The IPL 2026 is set to be a mini auction featuring fewer players.
Stay tuned for more IPL 2026 and WPL 2026 news, including schedule, auction, player trades, and much more.
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