Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) has announced its retained players ahead of the Women's Premier League (WPL) 2026 mega auction, confirming that Smriti Mandhana, Richa Ghosh, Ellyse Perry, and Shreyanka Patil will remain with the franchise. The retention of Shreyanka Patil comes as a significant boost, especially considering her recent journey back from injury.
RCB, the 2024 WPL champions, aim to build on their past successes. After a fourth-place finish in the 2025 tournament, RCB is looking to rebuild its roster around a strong core. The team has retained four players from their 2025 squad, including captain Smriti Mandhana. Mandhana, also India's highest run-scorer in the 2025 ICC Women's ODI World Cup, remains RCB's most expensive player, retained for ₹3.50 crore. Joining her are veteran Australian all-rounder Ellyse Perry (₹2 crore), wicketkeeper-batter Richa Ghosh (₹2.75 crore), and Indian spinner Shreyanka Patil (₹60 lakh). In total, the franchise has spent ₹8.85 crore on retentions and will head into the WPL 2026 mega auction with a remaining purse of ₹6.15 crore. RCB also has the option to use one Right to Match (RTM) card during the auction.
Newly appointed Head Coach Malolan Rangarajan outlined the thinking behind each retention. He noted that Mandhana will continue to lead RCB as captain, highlighting her aggressive batting style and calm leadership. He praised Richa Ghosh as one of the best middle-order batters and a phenomenal wicketkeeper, viewing her as a player with leadership potential. Rangarajan lauded Ellyse Perry's achievements and the high standards she sets within the team, emphasizing her top-order batting, seam bowling, and elite fielding skills.
The decision to retain Shreyanka Patil was carefully considered, especially given her time on the sidelines due to injury. Rangarajan mentioned that the team gave her opportunities to play in a couple of tournaments, closely watched her performance, and had discussions among the coaches and core group before deciding to retain her. He emphasized that Shreyanka is an exceptional cricketer, an off-spinner capable of bowling in multiple phases of the game.
Shreyanka's journey to recovery has been marked by resilience and determination. After being sidelined for nearly eleven months due to multiple injuries, including a fractured finger during the Women's Asia Cup clash against Pakistan in July 2024, Grade 3 shin splints, a wrist stress reaction, and a fractured thumb, she has made a comeback. Missing WPL 2025 proved to be a breaking point for her. She had visualized defending the championship, but instead, she watched from the sidelines.
Shreyanka's return to cricket was emotional. Before a match in the Women's Caribbean Premier League (WCPL), she was in tears of relief, expressing her gratitude to be back on the field. She had been selected in the India A squad for a tour of Australia in July 2025, signaling her return to the national setup. During her time away from the game, Shreyanka spent time at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) and the Centre of Excellence (COE), where she received support and met other cricketers, including Jasprit Bumrah and Suryakumar Yadav.
The WPL Auction is scheduled for November 27 in Delhi. RCB, with a solid retained core and a healthy purse, aims to rebuild and compete for another WPL title in 2026.
