The WPL 2026 is approaching fast, and this season already feels different.
With new retention rules, earlier scheduling, and rising competitiveness across all franchises, the league has entered a more tactical and data-driven era. Among all teams, the Delhi Capitals Women have become one of the most intriguing contenders after announcing their five-player retained core for the 2026 season. The franchise has come close to winning multiple times, often finishing as runners-up, but their latest retention strategy signals a shift from maintaining consistency to actively building a championship blueprint.
In this VijayBet 11 Exclusive, we break down the full meaning behind Delhi’s retention decisions, player roles, purse strategy, auction implications, team identity, and projections for the 2026 WPL. This is the most complete breakdown of the Delhi Capitals Women heading into the new season.
Delhi Capitals Women Retained Squad for WPL 2026
Delhi has retained five essential players—two Indian batting stars, two overseas all-rounders, and one emerging domestic talent. This selection reflects balance, depth, and long-term development.
⭐Jemimah Rodrigues (India – Middle-Order Batter)
Rodrigues remains the technical stabilizer of the team. She handles pressure, anchors the middle overs, and maintains strike rotation even on slow tracks. Her ability to guide chases and rebuild innings makes her one of Delhi’s most valuable assets.
⭐Shafali Verma (India – Opening Batter)
A pure powerplay destroyer. Verma’s explosive nature can change match momentum within minutes. She represents aggression, unpredictability, and early-innings dominance—qualities essential in modern T20 cricket.
⭐Marizanne Kapp (South Africa – All-Rounder)
One of the world’s best all-rounders, Kapp is the backbone of both Delhi’s bowling plans and lower-order hitting. She brings tactical intelligence, seam control, and match-winning calmness during tense phases.
⭐Annabel Sutherland (Australia – All-Rounder)
A rapidly rising star known for her pace, bounce, athleticism, and finishing ability. Sutherland offers Delhi flexibility in both departments and represents long-term reliability across formats.
⭐Niki Prasad (India – Uncapped Talent)
A future-ready prospect who adds energy and fielding sharpness. Prasad gives Delhi depth and developmental potential, showing the franchise’s commitment to building beyond just the 2026 season.
Why These Five Players? VijayBet 11 Tactical Breakdown
Delhi’s retention choices are not random—they reveal a well-structured plan built on balance, predictability, versatility, and long-term value.
1. A Multi-Phase Team Structure
Delhi has ensured it has match-winners in every phase:
- Powerplay dominance → Shafali Verma
- Middle-overs stability → Rodrigues
- Bowling backbone → Kapp
- Death-overs options → Sutherland + Kapp
- Fielding excellence → Prasad
This prevents collapse in specific game phases, a problem Delhi faced in earlier seasons.
2. Ideal Mix of Experience and Youth
Kapp and Rodrigues bring international maturity.
Verma adds fearless aggression.
Sutherland and Prasad introduce future-driven athleticism.
This blend allows Delhi to perform now while also building a sustainable core for at least the next 3–4 seasons.
3. Data-Aligned Retention Under the New WPL Rules
Under the 2026 retention deduction system:
- 1st retained player = ₹3.5 crore
- 2nd = ₹2.5 crore
- 3rd = ₹1.75 crore
- 4th = ₹1 crore
- 5th = ₹0.5 crore
This means Delhi enters the 2025 mega-auction with roughly ₹5.75 crore for targeted reinforcements rather than complete restructuring.
This purse is enough to chase:
- A death-overs specialist
- A middle-order finisher
- Pace backup
- A value overseas utility player
Delhi’s strategy reflects control, stability, and surgical improvement—not random spending.
What Makes WPL 2026 Unique?
WPL 2026 has several defining features that elevate the stakes for all teams.
Early Season Start
The league begins in the first week of January to avoid overlap with the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup.
This means:
- Higher match density
- Shorter recovery cycles
- More tactical rotation
- Faster momentum swings
Teams with deeper benches—like Delhi—will benefit.
Auction Will Be More Intense
Since Delhi and Mumbai retained the maximum five players, both teams:
❌ Lose Right-to-Match cards
✔ Must compete aggressively for specific roles
✔ Will push auction prices higher
This leads to one of the most heated auctions in WPL history.
YoY Growth in Fan Analytics and Betting Activity
Platforms like VijayBet 11 have seen a large increase in:
- Live match trends
- Player-form tracking
- Score projections
- Fantasy-style predictions
- Ball-by-ball probability models
Women’s cricket has transformed from a niche category into a serious, analytically rich environment.
Why VijayBet 11 Believes Delhi Capitals Are a Top Contender in 2026
1. They Have No Weak Phase of Play
Delhi’s retained five cover all key cricketing phases.
This is rare in women’s T20 leagues where most teams rely on one superstar.
2. Their Tactical Identity Is Finally Clear
Delhi now has:
- A defined opening plan
- A stable middle order
- Two-way all-rounders for flexibility
- A growing domestic talent line
This clarity has been missing in earlier seasons where combinations changed too often.
3. A Sustainable 3-Year Roadmap
This retention group is not built for one season—it’s built for multiple cycles.
Sutherland and Prasad are long-term investments.
Kapp and Rodrigues provide stability.
Verma peaks in explosiveness and experience.
This is how champion teams are built.
4. Delhi Is Now More Analytical Than Ever
Delhi has become one of the most data-driven teams in the league, using:
- Match-up charts
- Boundary rate mapping
- Bowler usage modeling
- Game-state simulation
- Impact player indexing
On VijayBet 11, fans will be able to access these patterns through expert match previews and in-game insights.
Delhi Capitals Are Entering Their Best Winning Window
The WPL 2026 season marks the beginning of a new phase for women’s cricket—bigger crowds, higher budgets, and heightened tactical detail.
Delhi Capitals Women have embraced this shift with a clear, calculated approach:
retain influential players, invest in youth, and maintain balance across all phases.
Their 2026 retained squad positions them not only as strong competitors but as legitimate title contenders.
This could be the season where Delhi finally ends their near-miss narrative and lifts the WPL trophy.
For real-time updates, auction analysis, tactical previews, and expert insights throughout the WPL season, stay connected with VijayBet 11—your trusted home for WPL 2026 coverage.
