Mumbai Indians Wouldn’t Have Wanted A Mega Auction : JioStar Expert Veda Krishnamurthy
mumbai : TATA Women’s Premier League 2026 is gaining momentum with franchises finalizing their remaining players ahead of the much-awaited mega auction. With franchises announcing major productions, including stars such as Deepti Sharma, Amelia Kerr and Meg Lanning, the auction promises bold moves that will shape the season. Speaking at JioHotstar’s TATA WPL 2026 Retention Special, JioStar experts Veda Krishnamurthy and Anjum Chopra analyzed the strategic vision and evolving leadership within each franchise.
Speaking at the TATA WPL 2026 Retention Special, JioStar expert Veda Krishnamurthy analyzed Mumbai Indians’ strategy behind their retained players. “Two-time champions Mumbai Indians’ retention list was pretty easy and predictable. The big question was Hayley Matthews’ post-surgery fitness and retaining her confirms that she will be ready by the time the tournament starts. This meant letting go of Amelia Kerr and Shabnim Ismail, two players who played a crucial role in helping them lift the WPL Trophy twice. To be honest, Mumbai Indians wouldn’t have wanted a big auction, they have built a mostly family-like unit over three years. What impressed me the most was Harmanpreet Kaur was second in line as a World Cup-winning captain and star batsman, but she likely prioritized retaining Nat Sciver-Brunt, understanding that retaining both required compromise.
On Harmanpreet Kaur’s leadership and the difficulties faced by Mumbai Indians entering the Mega Auction, Veda said that winning two titles in three years is a terrific achievement for Harmanpreet Kaur, who has truly grown as a leader. The ODI World Cup victory silenced critics around the world. She has a deep understanding of the franchise’s core values and this will be crucial as new coach Lisa Keightley arrives following the successful tenure of Charlotte Edwards. The real challenge now begins at the auction table. “With limited funds and lack of RTM cards for released players like Amelia Kerr and Shabnim Ismail, Mumbai must find smart alternatives to build another title-winning squad around their retained core.”
He expressed his thoughts on the strategic thinking behind UP Warriorz’s bold retention decisions after a tough season: “UP Warriorz could certainly have retained at least two key players from their core group of Deepti Sharma, Alyssa Healy and Sophie Ecclestone. Their disastrous season was due to the struggle to find the right combination and the lack of a strong Indian contingent beyond Deepti Sharma carrying the team single-handedly. They have potentially the biggest auction and RTM cards. Sophie “With their buybacks of players like Ecclestone and Kiran Navgire, the imbalance of the team was evident with a lot of openings but a dearth of mid-level options, I really wonder about the management’s vision going forward.”
Talking about Gujarat Giants’ bold retention strategy and potential plans to use RTM cards for key released players, he said: “It must have been difficult for the Gujarat Giants to release players like Phoebe Litchfield and Laura Wolvaardt, especially after their World Cup performance. But this is a team that is yet to reach its potential and that is encouraging significant changes. While Ashleigh Gardner and Beth Mooney are excellent retentions, I believe they will use RTM cards to bring back Litchfield and Wolvaardt. Big deficit.” Player values generally remain manageable in auctions and this strategy can help them rebuild effectively around their core players”_
Speaking at the TATA WPL 2026 Retention Special, JioStar expert Anjum Chopra analyzed RCB’s retention strategy and Smriti Mandhana’s growth. “Skipper Smriti Mandhana is extremely confident and looks crucial to RCB’s campaign. Her growth since her first season in the WPL, coupled with her World Cup experience as part of India’s leadership group, will benefit the team significantly. RCB have retained expected selections such as Ellyse Perry, Richa Ghosh and local talent Shreyanka Patil, showing their faith in her despite injury setbacks. However, they have released proven players such as Renuka Singh Thakur and World Cup winner Sneh.” Rana offers interesting strategic choices for the series moving forward”.
Speaking about the strategic balance and leadership issues faced by Delhi Capitals post retention, Anjum Chopra said: “Delhi Capitals’ run to three successive finals shows remarkable consistency, but turning them into titles remains a challenge. While Meg Lanning has been an outstanding leader, the emergence of Annabel Sutherland has created the necessary depth. Their decision to keep all four international players within the same financial framework demonstrates balanced team valuation. The question of captaincy has Jemimah Rodrigues immediately on the side.” “It remains to be seen whether he should lead or lead right away, with Marizanne Kapp, a truly experienced campaigner for South Africa, taking on that leadership role, or they could even look for an external option in the Mega Auction, showing smart investment in future talent with national team selection potential.”
Anjum explained the Delhi Capitals captaincy and why an Indian leader could be the way forward. “Jemimah Rodrigues certainly stands out as the leader in Delhi’s captaincy role. Most teams would prefer an Indian captain to be the leader, especially with Meg Lanning being the only consistent overseas captain in WPL history. While Marizanne Kapp offers another option, the key is to appoint someone who will play all matches consistently. With current retention rates, all indications are that Jemimah Rodrigues is the likely choice unless a new international player is brought in who can immediately take on the leading responsibilities”.
