WPL 2026: 3 franchises that can target Danni-Wyatt Hodge in the mega auction

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The England opener, Danni Wyatt-Hodge, is a veteran T20 batter known for her aggressive strokeplay and high strike rate at the top of the order. Released by Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) ahead of the Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2026 Mega Auction, Wyatt-Hodge offers a wealth of experience, having played over 160 T20 Internationals for England and featuring in various global leagues.

Despite her release, she has been in excellent recent form in the Women’s Big Bash League (WBBL), scoring 251 games so far in 4 matches with an average over 80 and strike rate around 156. For WPL teams looking to solve their overseas opening slot with a proven, hard-hitting partner, Wyatt-Hodge represents a high-impact solution who can quickly set the tone for the innings.

1. Gujarat Giants (GG)

Gujarat Giants will enter the auction with the second-highest purse of INR 9.00 crore and a need to rebuild nearly their entire Indian core. Their primary overseas focus will be complementing their retained opener, Beth Mooney, with a consistent partner. Wyatt-Hodge fits this need perfectly, offering an aggressive right-hand batting foil to the left-handed Mooney. GG’s previous overseas opening combinations have been inconsistent, and Wyatt-Hodge provides a guaranteed, high-tempo start which aligns with the team’s need for big scores. Her recent form in the WBBL makes her a compelling target for a team that must rebuild with power and experience.

2. UP Warriorz (UPW)

UP Warriorz possess the largest auction purse of INR 14.50 crore and a significant rebuilding job, having retained only one player. While they may prioritize re-acquiring overseas all-rounders like Sophie Ecclestone and Grace Harris, they critically lack a dependable and aggressive overseas opener after releasing Alyssa Healy. Wyatt-Hodge offers an immediate fix, providing a proven, high-strike-rate opener who can maximize the powerplay. Given their huge budget, UPW can afford to be aggressive in bidding for Wyatt-Hodge to ensure an explosive start that sets the platform for their powerful middle order.

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3. Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB)

Despite releasing her, RCB may still target Wyatt-Hodge, especially if they fail to secure a higher-priority target or if her price remains reasonable. RCB has a purse of INR 6.15 crore and a strong retained core including captain Smriti Mandhana. Wyatt-Hodge has successfully partnered Mandhana previously (notably in The Hundred), forming a destructive opening combination. If RCB uses their RTM card on a bowler like Renuka Singh Thakur, they will still need a quality overseas batter. Knowing the team dynamics and the high praise she received from Mandhana for her WPL 2025 performance, RCB may view her as a cost-effective, high-impact option to re-secure.

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This article was first published at WomenCricket.com, a Cricket Times company.