WPL Retentions: Laura Wolvaardt, Deepti Sharma released

Gujarat Giants have made the big call of not retaining Laura Wolvaardt as all five teams confirmed their retentions ahead of the WPL Auction. Wolvaardt top-scored in the recently-concluded ODI World Cup and led South Africa to the final but with the rules allowing only two overseas players to be retained, Giants opted for the Australian duo of Beth Mooney and Ashleigh Gardner.

Apart from Wolvaardt, the other big name not retained as reported earlier by Cricbuzz is India's premier allrounder Deepti Sharma. The World Cup winner came up with a terrific performance in the final and was also named the player of the tournament. Deepti had also won the player of the tournament award in the WPL in 2024. On expected lines, the other big Indian stars like Harmanpreet Kaur, Smriti Mandhana, Shafali Verma, Richa Ghosh and Jemimah Rodrigues have all been retained by their respective teams.

List of retained players

Mumbai Indians - Nat-Sciver Brunt (INR 3.5 Cr), Harmanpreet Kaur (INR 2.5 Cr), Hayley Matthews (INR 1.75 Cr), Amanjot Kaur (INR 1 Cr), G Kamalini (INR 50 lakh)

Royal Challengers Bengaluru - Smriti Mandhana (INR 3.5 Cr), Richa Ghosh (INR 2.75 Cr), Ellyse Perry (INR 2 Cr), Shreyanka Patil (INR 60 lakh)

Gujarat Giants - Ashleigh Gardner (INR 3.5 Cr), Beth Mooney (INR 2.5 Cr)

UP Warriorz - Shweta Sehrawat (INR 50 lakh)

Delhi Capitals - Jemimah Rodrigues (INR 2.2 Cr), Shafali Verma (INR 2.2 Cr), Annabel Sutherland (INR 2.2 Cr), Marizanne Kapp (INR 2.2 Cr), Niki Prasad (INR 50 lakh)

As reported earlier, DC have let go of their skipper Meg Lanning despite reaching three successive finals. Verma, Rodrigues, Marizanne Kapp and Sutherland have all been retained for the same value with young Niki Prasad becoming their fifth retention. MI have also placed their faith in young G Kamalini whereas the 2025 edition player of the tournament Nat-Sciver Brunt has been retained at a higher price than skipper Harmanpreet.

UP Warriorz have opted for a fresh start by retaining just a former Under-19 World Cup winner, Shweta Sehrawat.