The 2026 Women’s Premier League (WPL 2026) is almost here, and as teams gear up for another high-intensity season, one squad that fans across India are watching closely is the Royal Challengers Bangalore Women (RCB Women).
After winning their first WPL title in 2024 and following it up with strong performances throughout 2025, RCB have evolved into one of the most consistent, exciting, and well-balanced sides in women’s T20 cricket.
Now, ahead of the 2026 mega-auction, RCB have officially revealed their retained squad, keeping four players who form the heart of the team:
Smriti Mandhana, Richa Ghosh, Ellyse Perry, and Shreyanka Patil.
In this VijayBet 11 exclusive, we take a full look at why these four were retained, how the purse structure works, what this means for auction strategy, and why RCB could once again be a top title contender in 2026 WPL.
Official RCB Women Retained Players – 2026 WPL
RCB have decided to retain four key players:
1️⃣ Smriti Mandhana (India | Opening Batter | ₹3.50 crore retention)
Mandhana remains the face of RCB Women and one of India’s most technically gifted top-order batters.
She brings elegance, stability, and leadership — and her captaincy influence has grown massively since 2024.
Why she is crucial:
- Controls the Powerplay
- Sets the team’s batting tone
- Handles pressure in big games
- Guides younger players
- Provides consistent starts in tough conditions
Mandhana staying on means RCB retains its core identity.
2️⃣ Richa Ghosh (India | Wicketkeeper-Batter | ~₹2.75 crore)
Ghosh is India’s most explosive wicketkeeper-batter and has become RCB’s designated accelerator.
Her power-hitting in the middle and death overs has repeatedly turned matches in RCB’s favour.
What she brings:
- Fearless six-hitting ability
- Perfect complement to Mandhana
- Finishing potential in the final overs
- Sharper wicketkeeping with every season
Mandhana + Ghosh remains one of the strongest Indian batting combinations in the league.
3️⃣ Ellyse Perry (Australia | All-Rounder | ~₹2.00 crore)
One of the world’s greatest all-rounders, Perry gives RCB both balance and maturity.
She offers seam bowling, stability in the middle overs, and finishing experience — making her one of the most impactful overseas players in WPL history.
Why Perry is irreplaceable:
- Calm under pressure
- Accurate medium-pace bowling
- Match awareness and experience
- Ability to anchor or accelerate when needed
Her presence keeps the squad grounded and tactically sharp.
4️⃣ Shreyanka Patil (India | All-Rounder | ₹0.60 crore)
Patil is one of India’s fastest-rising women’s cricketers.
Her off-spin, improved boundary-hitting, and athletic fielding make her a long-term investment for RCB.
Why she was retained:
- High potential and consistent improvement
- Provides flexibility in bowling combinations
- Great in fielding positions that require agility
- Future core player for the franchise
RCB sees Shreyanka as a multi-season project who will only get better.
What RCB Will Likely Target in the Auction
Based on VijayBet 11 match-up data and performance models, RCB will aim to fill these gaps:
🔹 1. A specialist death-overs bowler
Their biggest weakness in 2025 was the 17th–20th overs.
🔹 2. A consistent No. 3 batter
Someone who can steady the innings if Mandhana gets out early.
🔹 3. A backup overseas all-rounder
Perry is brilliant, but RCB will want extra depth.
🔹 4. A left-arm spinner or mystery spinner
This adds variation, especially on slow pitches.
🔹 5. A late-order power hitter
To finish games aggressively.
RCB now has the purse and flexibility to aggressively chase big names.
Why RCB Retained Only Four Players
1️⃣ A perfect batting flow across all phases: Powerplay → Middle Overs → Death Overs
- Mandhana = Elegant and reliable Powerplay starter
- Ghosh = The accelerator who lifts the run-rate in the middle and late overs
- Perry = The stabiliser who can rebuild or finish depending on the situation
- Shreyanka Patil = A flexible option who can contribute in the death overs with both bat and ball
With these four, RCB already has clear solutions for every batting phase.
They don’t need more retained batters — they need the right additions through the auction.
2️⃣ RCB didn’t need more players — they needed “room to fix the gaps.”
If RCB had retained five players, they would have lost their RTM (Right-to-Match) card, which is extremely valuable in the WPL auction.
Losing RTM would mean:
❌ No chance to bring back a high-potential player
❌ Less flexibility to outbid rival teams
❌ Fewer options for tactical adjustments during the auction
But by retaining only four players:
👉 RCB keeps their RTM card
👉 RCB keeps more purse money
👉 RCB gains better control during the auction
This is smart roster management, not a weakness.
3️⃣ Retention fees follow a fixed deduction structure
Under WPL retention rules, the deductions are:
- 1st player → ₹3.5 crore
- 2nd player → ₹2.5 crore
- 3rd player → ₹1.75 crore
- 4th player → ₹1 crore
- 5th player → ₹0.5 crore
RCB chose to use the first four deduction slots on their most important players, maximizing value and ensuring the core stays intact.
By not using the fifth retention, the team:
✔ Saves purse money
✔ Keeps RTM
✔ Gains auction flexibility
This balance of stability + flexibility is exactly what top WPL teams aim for.
RCB’s Growth from 2024 → 2026
Over the past two seasons, RCB has massively improved in key phases:
- More stability in Powerplay
- Better bowling rotations
- Improved finishing ability
- Stronger match awareness
- Significantly better fielding
- Defined leadership structuref
These upgrades built the foundation for their 2024 title and continued competitive performance in 2025.
With the right auction buys in 2026, RCB can elevate even further.
VijayBet 11 Expert View – Strengths & Weaknesses
💪 Strengths
- One of the strongest top orders in WPL
- Balanced all-round core
- High match-awareness from experienced leaders
- Good purse left for targeted upgrades
- Excellent young talent in Patil
⚠️ Weaknesses
- Death bowling still inconsistent
- Dependence on Mandhana for powerplay starts
- Requires a stable No. 3 batter
These weaknesses are fixable—and the 2026 auction could be the solution.
Why RCB Could Be a Top Title Contender in 2026 WPL
Based on VijayBet 11 season-simulation models, RCB is currently ranked among the top three favourites to win the 2026 season.
Why?
- Their retained core is strong, balanced, and experienced
- Their purse allows aggressive upgrades
- Their leadership group is settled
- Their young players are improving fast
If they sign the right death bowler and a reliable middle-order hitter, RCB will be extremely hard to beat.
RCB’s 2026 Squad Is Built for a Deep Run
The Royal Challengers Bangalore Women have entered 2026 WPL with a clear strategy and a powerful core.
Their four retained players form one of the most complete groups in the league, balancing firepower, experience, and future potential.
With ₹6.15 crore available and a valuable RTM card, RCB are in a perfect position to dominate the 2026 auction and assemble a title-ready squad.
For fans, analysts, and bettors following the tournament closely, RCB is absolutely one of the must-watch teams of 2026 WPL.
Stay tuned to VijayBet 11 for the fastest updates, expert auction analysis, match predictions, and in-depth WPL coverage throughout the season.
