Delhi Capitals Women in the WPL 2026 (Source: AFP)The countdown to the fifth edition of the Women’s Premier League (WPL 2027) has begun, with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) confirming the player auction date and the schedule for WPL 2027.Notably, according to the latest updates, the five franchises will have less than a month to finalise their retention plans before heading to Kochi for the auction on October 28.WPL 2027 will be played from January 14 to February 7, with the player retention deadline set for September 28, 2026.As the teams begin reshaping their squads for the upcoming season, in this article, let’s examine Delhi Capitals women’s performance in the latest edition and explore 4 names whom the franchise would look to release.WPL 2027 Player Auction RulesThe auction will give the five teams a chance to fill gaps and build their combinations for the upcoming season.Here’s all you need to know about the WPL 2027 player auction:It will be a mini auction this time around.The 18-member squad must include up to six overseas players.The salary cap for the current cycle is Rs 15 crore.Each franchise can have a maximum of 18 players in its squad.There is no cap on the number of players that can be retained.Delhi Capitals Women Performance over the years in the WPLDelhi Capitals Women have been one of the most consistent teams in the WPL, reaching the final in all four seasons from 2023 to 2026.In the inaugural season, they finished top of the group table with 6 wins from 8 matches, directly qualifying for the final. But lost the inaugural championship match to Mumbai Indians by 7 wickets.In the 2024 and 2025 seasons, DC-W continued their dominant run at the top of the standings, consistently making the knockouts and maintaining their status as heavy contenders.In the latest edition, Jemimah Rodrigues-led team overcame a slow start (losing three of their first four games), defeated Gujarat Giants in the eliminator and reached their fourth consecutive WPL 2026 final against Royal Challengers Bangalore.DC Women WPL 2026 Full SquadJemimah Rodrigues (c), Taniyaa Bhatia (wk), M Mamatha (wk), Laura Wolvaardt, Shafali Verma, Marizanne Kapp, Chinelle Henry, Lizelle Lee, Alana King, Lucy Hamilton, Sneh Rana, Minnu Mani, Shree Charani, Deeya Yadav, Niki Prasad, Nandani Sharma.4 Players whom DC can release before WPL 2027 Auction1) Taniyaa BhatiaFor many, the league comes as an opportunity to perform and secure a place in the national squad. However, the Delhi Capitals’ wicketkeeper-batter, Taniyaa Bhatia, has been out of India’s plan since 2022.Bhatia last represented India in August 2022; she lost her place in the side when Richa Ghosh impressed one and all with her power-hitting skills in the middle-order.Even in the WPL, she hasn't had a chance to play since the 2023 edition, showing her diminishing value in the circuit.Also read: Performance Breakdown Of Indian Players In The Hundred Women 2026Delhi Capitals had acquired Bhatia for ₹30 lakh in the WPL 2026 mega auction, looking to her as a secondary wicketkeeper-batter.Thus, in the upcoming player auction, the franchise would like to let go of her and seek an uncapped young talent within the base price, freeing them of ₹20 lakh.2) Sneh RanaOne of India women team’s match-winners, Sneh Rana endured a tough lowlight in the most recent edition.After being bought for a hefty ₹50 lakh, Rana finished her campaign with only one wicket in 10 games. She was also plundered for runs throughout the tournament, ending with an overall economy of 10.88. On top of that, she conceded 32 runs in a single over against her former WPL franchise, Gujarat Giants. Conceding 32 runs in an over (4, 4, 6, 6, 6, 6), her over became the most expensive over in the WPL history.Delhi Capitals also has an abundance of quality spinners, namely, Minnu Mani, Shree Charani, and Alana King. On top of that, DC can also consider Shafali Verma for her impact with the ball.3) Madiwala MamathaAfter joining the franchise at the base price of INR 10 lakh, Madiwala Mamatha was ruled out for the remainder of the WPL 2026 season due to an injury, with the franchise naming Eddla Srujana as a replacement.She was part of the Delhi Capitals squad as a backup or young option, though she had not yet made her official WPL debut prior to her injury.Franchises generally evaluate player recoveries, domestic performances, and squad balance closer to the mini-auction or retention deadlines ahead of the 2027 season.Notably, she hasn’t been as impressive in the recent domestic cycle, with only a solitary fifty in her last 9 games.4) Lucy HamiltonLucy Hamilton was bought by the Delhi Capitals in the WPL Auction for ₹10 lakh as a young, promising Australian all-rounder/pacer.She made an immediate impact on debut, scoring a quickfire 36 off 19 balls (including three fours and three sixes) at number nine to help recover the innings.However, she struggled with the ball in her brief appearances, including figures of 0/34 against RCB and 0/36 against Mumbai Indians (MI).Though the 20-year-old Australian left-arm quick is widely regarded as a rare commodity, her performance in the WPL 2026 was below par and didn't live up to expectations. Thus, releasing her frees up an overseas player slot and extra purse space for the WPL 2027 auction.Also read: Travis Head Achieves Major Record For Australia In The Second ODI Against Zimbabwe
