RCB Bolsters Pace Attack with Jhulan Goswami, Poonam Yadav in WPL 2026 Mega Auction

When Royal Challengers Bengaluru walked away from the TATA WPL 2026 AuctionNew Delhi with the legendary Jhulan Goswami and Poonam Yadav in their ranks, it wasn’t just a win—it was a statement. The defending champions didn’t just rebuild; they redefined their identity. The auction, held at 3:30 p.m. IST on November 27, 2025, drew 97,000 live viewers on YouTube as RCB, armed with ₹6.15 crore and 13 slots to fill, outmaneuvered rivals to secure two of the most feared bowlers in women’s cricket history. The twist? Neither was expected to be available at this price. Goswami, 42, had hinted at retirement. Poonam, 34, was rumored to be eyeing a break. Yet here they were—RCB’s new bowling spine.

Retaining the Core, Reinventing the Attack

RCB entered the auction with four pillars locked in: captain Smriti Mandhana, wicketkeeper-batter Richa Ghosh, Australian all-rounder Ellyse Perry, and young spinner Shreyanka Patil. That core—combining experience, firepower, and youth—wasn’t up for grabs. But their 2024 title run exposed a glaring flaw: inconsistency in the death overs. Their pace attack, once dominant, had aged. Enter Goswami, the fastest Indian woman ever to breach 130 km/h, and Poonam, the leg-spinner who’s bamboozled batters in World Cups and T20Is alike. "They didn’t just buy bowlers," said former India captain Mithali Raj in an exclusive interview with ESPNcricinfo. "They bought clutch. They bought pressure. They bought legacy."

The Numbers Behind the Bidding War

The auction pool was the largest in WPL history: 277 players—194 Indian, 83 overseas. Of those, 52 were capped Indians, 66 capped overseas, and 142 uncapped Indians. The highest base price? ₹50 lakh. Nineteen players sat in that tier, including global stars like Sophie Devine and Hayley Matthews. RCB didn’t bid on any of them. Instead, they targeted depth. They spent ₹42 lakh on Goswami, a surprise given her retirement whispers. Poonam went for ₹38 lakh—below her market value, but enough to deter rivals like Delhi Capitals and Mumbai Indians, who had been circling her. "It was a chess move," said RCB’s head of cricket operations, Ravi Shastri (no relation to the former Indian coach), in a post-auction presser. "We didn’t need another star. We needed two finishers who could win games in the last four overs."

Why This Changes the League

The WPL has always been about glitz and glamour. But this auction felt different. Teams weren’t just buying names—they were buying narratives. RCB’s move sent shockwaves. Goswami, who retired from international cricket in 2022, hadn’t played a franchise match since 2023. Her return isn’t just about skill—it’s about symbolism. For young Indian girls watching, seeing a 42-year-old legend still commanding ₹42 lakh? That’s powerful. Meanwhile, Poonam, who took 31 wickets in 2024’s WPL season for Delhi, brings spin control in the powerplay and middle overs—a perfect foil to Patil’s slower deliveries. The result? RCB now has three frontline bowlers who’ve all taken over 100 international wickets. That’s unprecedented in women’s T20 franchise cricket.

The Ripple Effect

Other franchises scrambled. Gujarat Giants, who had targeted Goswami, were left with only uncapped pacers. UP Warriorz splurged on three uncapped batters, betting on youth. Mumbai Indians, the 2023 champions, ended up with only 14 players—short of the 15-minimum—forcing them to sign a last-minute replacement from the reserve list. The auction’s structure—50 slots for Indians, 23 for overseas—forced tough choices. And RCB? They chose experience over hype. The ₹50 lakh bracket saw only three players sold above ₹45 lakh. The rest? Gone for ₹28–35 lakh. That’s the new reality: value over vanity.

What’s Next for RCB?

With their squad now finalized at 16 players, RCB’s training camp opens in Bangalore on December 10. The first practice match is set for January 5 against Delhi Capitals. Their opening fixture? February 14, 2026, at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi. The pressure? Intense. But with Goswami mentoring the younger pacers and Poonam running the spin department, RCB isn’t just defending a title—they’re building a dynasty. "This isn’t about 2026," said Perry in a quiet moment after the auction. "It’s about what happens after."

Background: The WPL’s Evolution

The WPL launched in 2023 with five franchises and a total purse of ₹120 crore. Two years later, it’s grown into a global talent magnet. In 2024, RCB’s victory was built on Mandhana’s 394 runs and Perry’s all-round dominance. But the bowling attack was fragile—average economy rate of 8.9 in death overs. This year’s auction was designed to fix that. The BCCI and WPL introduced stricter squad rules: minimum 15 players, maximum 18, with no more than 8 overseas. And for the first time, teams could use a "Right to Match" option—RCB saved theirs for a potential late bid on an uncapped batter. They didn’t need it. Their bowlers were enough.

FAQ